If you're looking for a job in banking, or a financial career of any sort you'll know there's a lot of competition out there. In 2007 a lot of the big banks have cut back on top recruitment of top level staff, an effect that has filtered down to all steps on the financial career ladder. However there's still jobs available for the right candidate- whether graduate or trainee- right through to director level specialists and getting on the books of a reputable and specialist banking and financial recruitment agency is the best way to ensure your new or change of career in finance or banking is as successful (and easy) as possible. Below are some pointers on choosing a good agency.
Are they specialists?
Your search for a new job will likely start online and you'll soon become aware there's no shortage of job boards and virtual recruitment agencies out there claiming to specialise in all sectors of recruitment- but do they genuinely know the financial sector, and more importantly know about getting the best placements in banks and finance houses in the UK, Europe or Internationally? The first thing to do is talk to an agent- you'll soon get a feel for what they know and where their priorities lie.
Are they committed to you?
Do you have dedicated recruitment specialist working on your behalf, someone you can pick up the phone and talk to, turn to for advice on interviewing or when it comes to choosing the job that's right for you? Check whether you will have one point of contact- usually smaller, more specialist agencies will be better for this than the big multi-sector recruiters.
Can they get you a job?
At the end of the day this is what you care about- getting your dream job which will push your banking or financial career forward. You need an agency with access to the top positions at the top banks and financial firms, who can speak directly to their recruitment teams and recommend you for the right positions. A good financial recruitment agency will be able to demonstrate their track record of placing candidates at the top banks, just ask.
Once you've got a job offer what do they do?
A good financial recruitment agency will look to line you up with several interviews for jobs you are suitable for. If the agencies have done their job properly they should know the sort of role you are best suited too and so your success rate at the interview stage should be higher than if you are blindly promoting yourself. Hopefully you will have a number of job offers pretty soon- the agency then has the job of negotiating to get you the best employment package from your prospective employers and also advising you on what the vacancy will be best for your career.
Don't forget, when you're looking for a new job or change of career in the banking, leasing, asset finance or any financial sector an agency is a great place to start. But also remember the agency works for you, they should value you and your skills and work hard to ensure you get the career you want. If not, show them the door! Good luck in your hunt for a better job in finance.
Showing posts with label Choosing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Choosing. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Choosing The Best Credit Card Service
As we become more of a technology based society, having good credit and using it is beaming an integral part of most of our daily transactions. From online purchases around the holidays for gifts to buying a cup of coffee in the morning, we rely on our credit cards now more than ever. When we basically operate in a cashless society it is easy to forget that the credit card you are using should offer you not only accessible credit, but great customer service as well. What are the signs of good credit card service?
The first rule of any business or organization should be that they strive for effective communication with their customers. This is no different when it comes to credit card companies. If you cannot effectively and easily get in touch with customer service with your credit card company, then they are not offering good credit card service. Most credit card customers charge a premium in interest rates and other fees, so when you need to talk to them they should be readily available. If you find that you are often stuck in phone trees or unable to quickly get through to a customer service representative, it may be time to consider finding a new company that offers better credit card service.
Another good indicator of great credit card service is their availability of tools at your disposal. Ideally you should not only be able to contact your company by phone, but also have 24 hour online access to your account and customer service. And if your credit card provider really is interested in providing good credit card service, they will offer things like Smartphone apps so you can access your account on the go. This adds an element of convenience as well as a helpful tool to keep track or even make payments in some cases.
With any debit or credit card service, security and identity protection should be a top priority. If your credit card company offers identity theft protection, you should definitely sign up for it. Identity thieves will use a variety of methods in order to obtain your precious account number. Without proper protection it can be a big hassle to dispute charges an repair your credit in the worst case scenarios. Not only should your credit card company offer these services to you, they should give them to you free of charge whenever possible.
While sometimes it may feel like you work just to pay your credit card bill every month, you must remember that it is the credit card company that should be working for you. If you feel you are not getting the best credit card service with your particular company, you may want to lodge a complaint or do research to find new card that will serve you better. Just because we have to rely on our credit cards in many cases doesn't mean we shouldn't rely on the services they provide as well. If the only interest your credit card company shows in you is giving you a high interest rate, then it may be time to move on.
The first rule of any business or organization should be that they strive for effective communication with their customers. This is no different when it comes to credit card companies. If you cannot effectively and easily get in touch with customer service with your credit card company, then they are not offering good credit card service. Most credit card customers charge a premium in interest rates and other fees, so when you need to talk to them they should be readily available. If you find that you are often stuck in phone trees or unable to quickly get through to a customer service representative, it may be time to consider finding a new company that offers better credit card service.
Another good indicator of great credit card service is their availability of tools at your disposal. Ideally you should not only be able to contact your company by phone, but also have 24 hour online access to your account and customer service. And if your credit card provider really is interested in providing good credit card service, they will offer things like Smartphone apps so you can access your account on the go. This adds an element of convenience as well as a helpful tool to keep track or even make payments in some cases.
With any debit or credit card service, security and identity protection should be a top priority. If your credit card company offers identity theft protection, you should definitely sign up for it. Identity thieves will use a variety of methods in order to obtain your precious account number. Without proper protection it can be a big hassle to dispute charges an repair your credit in the worst case scenarios. Not only should your credit card company offer these services to you, they should give them to you free of charge whenever possible.
While sometimes it may feel like you work just to pay your credit card bill every month, you must remember that it is the credit card company that should be working for you. If you feel you are not getting the best credit card service with your particular company, you may want to lodge a complaint or do research to find new card that will serve you better. Just because we have to rely on our credit cards in many cases doesn't mean we shouldn't rely on the services they provide as well. If the only interest your credit card company shows in you is giving you a high interest rate, then it may be time to move on.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
How To Get Money Back At Closing When Choosing A Loan
I'm pretty sure you don't know what Yield Spread Premium (YSP) is. It is hidden in most mortgage transactions until the closing statement is presented and home buyers are ready to close escrow and complete the home buying process. I didn't know what is was either. Even with "truth in lending" and good faith estimates, you're probably going to miss the YSP. THe problem is, when you pay YSP, you pay it over the life of the loan... more on that later.
I'm a computer programmer and I was brought onto a project to create a transparent mortgage tool to help consumers get a fair, honest loan. The really cool thing about the project was the main goal was to take the hidden YSP, that normally goes into the pocket of the mortgage broker, into a rebate back to the consumer. The consumer can then use that rebate towards closing costs.
I look at some old records and found a closing statement that had YSP at over ,800. I didn't even realize that I paid it. Probably because I didn't write a check for it. It was wrapped up in the loan, so for the next 30 years I will be paying interest on that ,800... which will double or triple the amount owed. That is when it hit me that giving that money back to the consumer is a really good idea. Image what you will do, if on your next home loan you can get ,800 or more back that you can use.
Our nations current economic conditions has made the consumer demand transparency in mortgage services,. So next time you get a mortgage, simply ask that mortgage broker if they are a member of the Transparent Mortgage network, and even if they are not ask if you can get the YSP as a rebate that you can use towards closing costs to help you secure your house.
I'm a computer programmer and I was brought onto a project to create a transparent mortgage tool to help consumers get a fair, honest loan. The really cool thing about the project was the main goal was to take the hidden YSP, that normally goes into the pocket of the mortgage broker, into a rebate back to the consumer. The consumer can then use that rebate towards closing costs.
I look at some old records and found a closing statement that had YSP at over ,800. I didn't even realize that I paid it. Probably because I didn't write a check for it. It was wrapped up in the loan, so for the next 30 years I will be paying interest on that ,800... which will double or triple the amount owed. That is when it hit me that giving that money back to the consumer is a really good idea. Image what you will do, if on your next home loan you can get ,800 or more back that you can use.
Our nations current economic conditions has made the consumer demand transparency in mortgage services,. So next time you get a mortgage, simply ask that mortgage broker if they are a member of the Transparent Mortgage network, and even if they are not ask if you can get the YSP as a rebate that you can use towards closing costs to help you secure your house.
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