Banking and Investment Sector Essentials
Banking and Investment
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AT A GLANCE
About the Industry
Must-have Skills
Getting In
Singapore is one of Asia’s premier financial centres due to its proximity to emerging markets in Southeast Asia and economic stability. This remains true even now during the pandemic, as much of the stock market worldwide is fuelled by aggressive stimulus packages rolled out by central banks and governments to boost growth. As a result, employees in the sector can work long hours – 12-hour days aren’t uncommon, especially for front office roles. Due to the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of the field, employees can find their job highly intensive and stressful at times as well. However, hard work doesn’t go unrewarded; graduates will enjoy excellent structured career progression, high salaries, as well as plenty of chances to gain responsibilities early in their careers.
Working in the banking and investment field doesn’t only call for resilience and the ability to work under pressure, but also a wide range of skills. Numeracy, alongside excellent verbal and written communication skills will come in handy when tasked with presenting complex concepts to colleagues and clients who may not have backgrounds in finance. A strong understanding of the financial markets, as well as the ability to think laterally and discern market trends, are also essential.
The sector is relatively hard to break into in Singapore. For starters, the market itself is small, and many investment banks fill the bulk of roles available through graduate schemes. However, scoring a relevant internship with an investment bank and performing well can give you an advantage in getting a place in a graduate scheme. Networking is also key to opening up potential employment opportunities. Fortune favours the bold, so be sure to conduct your own research on potential employers. More than that, don’t shy away from approaching recruiters directly during career fairs and other outreach events where they look out for outstanding candidates
Finance Career Guide 2023
