The Professional Development Path For A Fresh Graduate Student In Chinese State-Owned Banks

Source: http://www.collegecrunch.org/jobs/ten-highest-paying-career-paths/

Chinese commercial banks' HR observed a strange phenomenon: every year the quality of new employees from universities is improving, from Tier-2 universities' undergraduate students 10 years ago, to Tier-1 universities undergraduate students 5 years ago, and then to Tier-1 universities graduate students or even returned students from oversee universities recent years. The entry threshold of Chinese commercial banks has been lifted a lot and makes a lot of banks' insiders raise their eyebrows. 


It is becoming much harder for a fresh graduate students in China to get into the commercial bank. But you are not safe even if you get into this industry.This post will mainly focus on what will happen if you get the opportunity to enter this industry which looks like a flashy workplace for most fresh graduate students. 


There are three possible directions a fresh employee can go after the orientation training: (1) Administrative Department in headquarter or branches; (2) Key Account Department; (3) Branches. Let's analyze them one by one.


(1) Administrative Department in headquarter or branches: this is not an option for over 90% new employees in Chinese commercial banks. Most core administrative departments such as risk management and credit extension department do not recruit fresh graduate students. But it is a possible way for new employees with a sophisticated family background or with an extremely rich family since those background will be beneficial for the bank you work for.



(2) Key Account Department. It is almost the same situation as the administrative department here. Unless you have some level of family background, it is almost impossible to enter this department as a fresh graduate student.


(3) Branches. This is the affiliation of over 90% of fresh graduate students who entered the commercial bank industry. It will be the beginning of your real banking life. It generally start with some kind of rotation within the bank for three months to half a year. Your will find this period will be your happiest time in the following several years. You will be assigned to a kind mentor in the branch without the pressure from performance indicators and your workload will not be too heavy. During the rotation, it will not make too much difference based on your different education background. It's better to relax your mind and dedicate yourself into the works. 




Next time we will talk more about the career path after your rotation in branches.