MyDiary:
Good day guys,

I just got a job in a Nigerian bank as a full time staff, I'm presently in Lagos for training school. Please I need to drink from the wealth of knowledge of bankers and ex-bankers here. Please read on.

Banking life is something I always wanted; I needed a very busy kind of job where I would need to put a lot of time and get satisfaction from it as well. I kind of hate boredom and love doing lots of stuff as long as I'm enjoying it.

I'm in my late 20's and not planning to marry any time soon, so I have a lot of time on my hands for that.

Despite being new to Lagos, I'm have got used to the early rise and sleep late banking life as I easily wake up by 4am and reach work(training school) by 6:30am, all ready for the day. I rarely get stressed, I have handled lots of work load in my former job, all I do is just plug my earphones and the stress is deleted. I don't need to sleep much to be fixed from stress as 3-6 hours of sleep always fixes me easily.

Now I'm here at training school and I can't really get my mind made at which career path to follow in banking after training school, I would have a chance to pick a department I wanna work with after training school due to high performance at training school.

I have a B.Sc (Ed.) In Computer Science Statistics. I'm definitely getting professional certificates relevant to the banking sector as I grow on the job too.

I wanna work here in Lagos at the head office. I think I want a lot of career visibility and head office is my target.

I'm considering picking I.T because I have some I.T competence.
I'm also considering e-business/channels because I love it.

Also considering HR, and hoping to get into Talent management arm of HR as I have some education competence as well.

I'm also considering Corporate Communications because I love communication and I'm a skilled writer with years of impeccable writing and communication prowess.

I'm also considering Risk Management and Compliance department. I think I love Compliance because I hate it when things are not done right and according set rules.

Strategy department is also one I love to pick, because I love strategic thinking and the power of such a department.

Corporate Planning and Transformation is another department I'm in love with because I have a thing for such area as I'm a very creative thinker.

Treasury is another department I'm considering.

Now can you see how confused I'm? Please I need help from all the experienced bankers and ex-bankers in the house to help a newbie like me getting into the system.

Please which departments are better for career growth and the ones best suited for crossing to other sectors as I might not have to stay in banking all my life.

Please no advise or information would be useless, please I need all the bitter truth I can get as well. And please correct me as well in areas I have a wrong perception to.

I have quoted below in no particular order some bankers/ ex-bankers I have seen here on Nairaland, please I need feedback from all of you and God bless you all real good. Anyone else not mentioned can also contribute please.

musco4me, Breadfruit, Guitarlife, LuckyLadolce, moyinoluwabun, oblo, brainiac007, gazmann, magicminister, airsaylongcon, boneruns, scobaba, dkby, lastpage, dougivilla, kefmawin, Cultured, shilexholly, Moz22, engrshakespeare, ojuolu, Winneygirl, douchesnozzle, digitsolution, dearie, Davland, 400billionman, sashaa, slydog, HAH, balancediet, cbngov01, Masta2, flyboi1, blank, leighcon, icon8, bxcode

Thanks guys.

divinelove:
Congrats

Start planning ur exit from bank b4 it hits u bank no be job for long term

gazmann:
E-business should suit you if you can find your way to the department. The banks rely on this to get an edge in the service delivery. Technology is a game changer as most banks have same level ground. Good luck

bxcode:
Hello Op, congrats on your new job. Banking sector is a a good sector to be in, but you need to consider your long term plans, juxtapose it with the demands and time constraints that the sector is embodied with before taking a decision if you want to stay or exit after a while. Without you taking a look at this circumspectively, you will wake up one morning to discover you have done 5 years already without job satisfaction. The job will take your time from you, you will barely have time yourself, depending on the unit you are in.
I will advise you to target IT UNIT, because that's the future, most banks are going digital with new technologies introduced to alter the existing status quo. E business like someone has also mentioned is also good.Units like control, compliance are either being phased out or are reduced in terms of personnel as most of the things they do are being automated. Don't get comfortable and relaxed when you finally resume, except if you want to build a career in the sector, acquire as many certifications as you can and always strive towards personal development.
Lastly, save save and save....you didn't bring it up but it's also very important. DON'T BE BUOYED INTO COLLECTING HR LOAN FOR LIABILITIES LIKE CARS ETC, DO THAT ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE AN INVESTMENT TO MAKE. I like the fact that you are still single, so manage your income wisely. I wish you all the best.

blank:
Go into IT. This is knowledge you can use even if you decide to leave the country. Most banks are experiencing a shortage of IT staff right now. Think of E business channels as well. Banking is very deceptive. If you are not strategic, you can get trapped in the glitz and realise 5/10 years down the line that you wasted a good part of your youth.

I am not a banker and have never been but I have a lot of banking buddies. Most times, they put people into marketing regardless of what they chose except you finish top of your class or you have connections. Marketing is also the fastest way to grow once you surpass your targets.

blank:
Marketing is also the fastest way to grow once you surpass your targets.

MyDiary:


For sure, thanks a lot

Breadfruit:
Oh, sorry I just saw your mention. Congratulations on the new job. BRB please.

darqly:
Whilst it's ideal to draw up a path you want your career to take, it still depends on which financial institution you work for. Some will rotate you once you're deployed from training, others won't. The units you listed are head office units, if you get posted to a branch, you're doing operations or business banking strictly. If you're certified already, you can make a case for being retained at HO, otherwise you'll need to convince HR later, still depends on the bank and if staff policies are friendly. It's smart to specialize, but opt for a unit where you have more strength and interest. Bar a few options, you soon begin to do your job by rote and it becomes mundane. Wish you all the best

Chuks9000:
Start with HR if you can. That will allow you get acquainted with the bank policies. You can easily get into trouble or remain stagnated due to lack on relevant knowledge.
Transfer to IT thereafter. For reasons already mentioned above.
Achieving results that get the attention of decision making bosses is vital.
You can't float a bank with your salary. So, be wise in which dept you find urself (skills acquired) incase you find yourself outside the bank earlier than planned.
Again, the real deal in banking is the network of relationships you are able to build (If you get my point).

Chuks9000:

True but also tricky.
As a new staff, u need to know a few things in marketing.
If you are posted to corporate bank, then you are likely to inherit some accounts. If the accounts are performing accounts, then you are good to go. Else, you are fvcked for corporate (likes of Guinness, MTN etc) do not comeby easily.
If you find yourself in a branch, then it will depend on the quality of the existing accounts, the enviroment where the branch is located, who you know, your skills and above all, the God you serve.
A branch in HO, Idumota or Alaba can likely impact impact your life than one in Ketu.