A great way to get your foot in the door in the finance industry is to start out as a bank teller. It is a position from which a career can go in many directions and is in demand no matter where you live. The bank teller is the main point of contact from the bank to the customer and therefore requires a number of characteristics to be just right for the position. If you are interested in becoming a bank teller keep reading to see if you have what it takes.
From an education point of view, you do not need to have a college degree or an associate degree. It is recommended to have at least taken some college courses, but not required. You can get hired as a high school graduate or equivalent. This makes the position a great opening and starting point for many who want to have careers but are unable to land jobs that may be currently out of reach due to lack of experience or education. As the most important part of the job involves money, you need to show your math ability qualifies you for the position. If you received an A in your math courses, took advanced placement mathematics courses or were involved in other math education courses, be sure to mention that in your resume or interview.
If you are able to get a bank teller job based on high school degree, keep in mind that advanced education all the way up to a master’s degree will be needed in order to climb the ladder however.
Once you have the education you need to show you have the second skill set required, customer service skills. Bank tellers are the face of the bank. As such you need to be able to deal with a variety of customers who may be in horrible moods. If you have experience in past positions in which you worked with customers this will help you on your resume. Communication and customer service can sometimes make or break a banks reputation. As such they put emphasis on those skills when it comes to hiring new bank tellers.
Something to keep in mind about becoming a bank teller is that the job requires you to stand on your feet for long periods of time. Therefore the job may not be a good fit for anyone who has issues with their legs or discomfort after prolonged standing. The job requires a formal dress code traditionally and therefore you will need to have the proper attire and be able to ensure you present yourself in a professional fashion.
Above all to become a bank teller the bank needs to get a feeling that you are an honest and trustworthy individual. You will be handling money all day long and your history and appearance needs to show them that they can trust you as an employee. Past history of employment will be checked. If you have had bad experiences or complaints this will hurt your chances as banks are not willing to take on any risk when it comes to the hiring of new bank tellers.
