Bank jobs offer one perk in particular that makes workers in just about every field envious: banker's hours. At least in commercial banks, the typical day takes employees from 9 AM to 5 PM, no matter how much work needs to be done. Some banks even boast hours of 8 AM to 4 PM, giving their staff members practically a full day once they get home from the office.
The reality at most investment banks is somewhat different. Talk to any Wall Street investment banker, and the tale you'll hear is one of endless hours, high stress, irritable clients, deadlines, quotas, and a myriad of other headaches. The compensation can be enormous whether you specialize in equity or debt, but there's also tremendous risk that comes along with market volatility. If the Dow takes a dive, it can cost a major bank huge losses in both finances and personnel.
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Bank Jobs
For those who are risk-averse, a quality that's very becoming in the commercial banking industry, jobs as bank
tellers, customer service reps, managers, and mortgage consultants can be a solid fit. Again, these workers
benefit from set hours, but don't necessarily endure so much routine and monotony as to make these jobs
unbearable. As with any customer-intensive positions, bank jobs pose unique dilemmas to solve with each
passing customer. You may facilitate a funds transfer one minute and help set up a young family with a savings
account the next.
Needless to say, bank jobs have one central requirement: strong math skills. On top of that, problem solving skills, analytical ability, and patience are all highly prized, especially in the customer service division, where people can be pushy, demanding, and downright rude. If staying calm through a fusillade of gripes isn't your strong suit, you may want to consider a bank chain's accounting jobs or finance jobs as an alternative, provided these spots don't call for a perpetual smile and eagerness to please.
