Shi Yujia, enrolled into the program of Business Administration in 2000, first working in the post of operations and internal control compliance at Bank of China, then joining in 2012 Citibank as an operation manager, and in 2018 joining HSBC as a Senior Compliance Manager for Regulatory Affairs and Policy.
1) Why I choose to work in banks
When I started job hunting in the senior year at college, I thought of two options for my career: state-owned or commercial banks, and the top four accounting firms. I made this decision partly because at that time a bank post was considered stable and partly because I am not that kind of outgoing and sociable person. I thought I would be fit for a post in banks with fixed rules and regulations. I decided to pursue my career in banks as soon as I received the first offer from a state-owned bank.
From Bank of China, to Citibank, and then to HSBC, I worked on different posts, from a retail teller to the deputy director of the sales department, and shifted from Chinese employers to foreign employers. Along the way, I have benefited from the great mentors and friends who accompanied me in all periods of my career. I have learned from their experiences and also accumulated my own career experience.
2) Why I chose to work in foreign banks
Choosing a foreign bank is actually a coincidence. In the eight years of employment in a Chinese bank, I nearly abandoned the use of English language, which was an advantage to a graduate from SISU. Working in a foreign bank may help me regain my advantage in language and more importantly provide me a chance to break through the career bottleneck.
Afterwards, it proved to be a very big but worthwhile leap. When confronted with challenges and difficulties arising in the completely different work environment, I often remind myself of the priority in career development: to climb up in a sequence of professional strength. This truly provides me a sustainable advantage in career development.
I have a few advantages. The first is the language proficiency. Graduates from Shanghai International Studies University are more likely to adapt to the working environment of foreign banks thanks to their strength in foreign languages. The second advantage is professional advantage. Students of School of Economics and Finance have benefited from the comprehensive learning platform of the school in the field of finance and economics so that they are usually well equipped in professional knowledge and skills.
3) How I understand work
Passion for work. At the beginning of a career, the passion for work is usually more of a thirst for knowledge that has continued from the college years. In state-owned banks, employees have more opportunities for internal job rotation, which requires of strong adaptability to new posts and changing circumstances. In this stage, passion for work is more embodied in your devotion to strengthening fundamental skills and proficiency demanded in various posts. After we take up the professional sequence, the passion for work comes more from knowing what you want to be, and then taking steps to walk your own way. To me personally, passion is being careful about choices and being steadfast in fulfilling my choices.
Moreover, passion cannot be presented alone in a career. Perhaps it is working overtime with your colleagues to complete and release a core system online in a state-owned bank, or starting a project from scratch in s foreign bank. In all, the passion for work comes from the heart, presents itself in bits and pieces of our daily work.
Boredom of work. It is impossible to say that there is no fatigue or boredom at work. As for the work itself, a lot of fatigue mainly comes from the need to keep learning so as to constantly gain strength. Seeking advice from seniors, and spitting out with friends can alleviate a lot of pressure in this regard. We should always remember the old saying: Time can change everything. Our insistence over time will pay sooner or later. In this sense, boredom or fatigue in work makes sense.
4) Essential skills
Chinese-funded banks and foreign-funded banks still have some differences in the requirements for graduates. For more details, please refer to the campus recruitment seminars. But some requirements are common: presentation skills, Microsoft Office skills, confidence, solid professional foundation, sensitivity to some specific areas, achievements in college, etc.
For example, some students actively participate in projects in college and accumulate experience in practice, which help to improve one’s leadership and coordination, a great bonus in job hunting.
Another important skill is the skill to stabilize yourself, or the ability to stay composed. This ability or skill is essential when a person is always ready to respond to possible changes. Actually this is what we need to cultivate most in the middle of a career.
Certainly different career directions may pose different requirements and we have to take into account some factors like posts, career choices, majors, etc. when we talk about career requirements.
5) My suggestion
In an era of information explosion, it is very important for students to make good use of information sources. Students who want to pursue a career in banking need to accumulate financial knowledge and expand their financial horizons by using information available. You can selectively read some financial news posts, analysis, regulatory policy directions, etc. Moreover, you may try to implement your theoretical knowledge in practice by doing some research into and analysis of some current issues. This ability to apply knowledge into real problem-solving can facilitate and accelerate your career development.
