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Company: BMO

Position: financial services manager

Employed: since June 2009

Where did you go to school? What program did you attend?
I am currently in my third year of the Bachelor of Applied Financial Services program at Mount Royal University in Calgary.

What drew you to your current field?
I have always been interested in and intrigued by the financial industry. Over the years I learned sensible money management skills from my parents who came to Canada as refugees with nothing and had to start building their life all over again. My desire to help others has also motivated me to pursue my career in the financial services industry.

How did you find your current position?
In 2009 I received the BMO Financial Group/Lime Connect Scholarship and Internship opportunity with BMO. As my internship term ended, I was invited to stay with the company on a part-time basis.

Tell us a bit about your responsibilities.
As a financial services manager I am responsible for helping customers with their personal and business financial needs. One of the most rewarding aspects of my job comes from carefully listening to my customers and being able to provide them with the necessary information to help them choose the right product or service that best suits their needs.

What is the most challenging aspect of your position?
It has been learning and keeping up with the considerable amount of information on bank policies and procedures which are continuously being updated in order to better serve and protect customers. I am continually learning new and more efficient ways of processing services.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
It's the people that I work with who make the difference. It is the most dynamic and diverse place that I have ever worked at. My workplace respects, supports, and provides career opportunities to individuals from many diverse communities.

What skills have you learned through your work experience?
I believe that we can learn and improve in many areas of our lives by just being in a positive environment and around great people who are supportive and willing to help. I have always admired people with leadership skills and have tried to learn from them. My branch manager is a great leader with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. His mentorship during my internship and now during my employment has helped me build my confidence. I've learned from him and have been influenced by his leadership ability.

What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
You have to really enjoy interacting with people on a regular basis. Also, in order to be successful in the financial services industry one should have an aptitude for understanding people's unique financial needs, be an effective problem solver and have the desire to help others.

Is there one accomplishment you are particularly proud of?
My proudest achievements have been in my personal life. Those are going to have to wait to be included in a book someday! However, from an academic stand point, they have to be my academic achievements over the last couple of years. Since I was granted some support and accommodations, which are available through MRU for students with special needs, I have been rewarded for my hard work.

What are your future career aspirations?
My goal is to become an investment advisor and help families with their investment and financial planning. I also have future aspirations to work for a public institution such as the Bank of Canada, or international organizations such as International Monetary Fund and The World Bank. I think it would be a rewarding experience to be a member of any organization whose mandate is to secure global financial stability, promote employment and sustainable economic growth with hopes of reducing poverty around the world.

What advice do you have for students looking to land their first job?
Start looking for networking opportunities and connecting with people in the industry that you are hoping to find your job in. Take part in career fairs; get involved in your community clubs, associations, and committees. My other advice to students is to cultivate a positive and pleasant attitude because potential employers take notice of positive people. jp
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