Bank teller during undergrad

I attend The University of Michigan. I have a year and a half or so left until I graduate and I am an aspiring investment banker. A local Bank of America branch in the Ann Arbor area has offered me a part time teller job during the semester and I was wondering if this part time teller job would be beneficial in any way? Is it easy to move from a teller position to a position with Merrill Lynch? This is the only way I see this job being beneficial, but if someone has experience or a more educated opinion on this I would appreciate their insight. Thank you.

 

I don't really think this would be too beneficial. You'd be better served getting an internship in PWM or a boutique IBD or something similar if you can at this point in the game. Hell it'd even be better to network with UMich alumni (I'm sure Ross has an incredible array of alumni in investment banking who you could talk to). Being a bank teller and being an investment banker are two completely different things IMO.

 

Zero benefit, unless you're ballsy and use the company email list to email people, otherwise find something else. I speak from experience.

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 

Since my family's financial situation requires me to have a part time job during the semester in order to pay rent, textbooks, etc...what realistic job opportunities would you consider beneficial throughout the semester during my undergrad if I am interested in corporate finance after graduation? Thanks again for your advice.

 
Gourcuff10:
Since my family's financial situation requires me to have a part time job during the semester in order to pay rent, textbooks, etc...what realistic job opportunities would you consider beneficial throughout the semester during my undergrad if I am interested in corporate finance after graduation? Thanks again for your advice.
Part-time clerck/ admin assistant at a BB or a big 4
Power and Money do not change men; they only unmask them
 

I would take it. Although there's no overriding benefit of taking it but you make the best of the cards dealt. I don't know what you're majoring in but an obscure major away from finance allows interviewers to make judgments about your commitment level, while any exposure to the finance world, I believe, is a good thing. I'd agree with blackfinancier, be proactive, ahead of the curve, etc if you do take the position. It wasnt too long ago that there was a thread about a bank teller who got into HBS. Different story of course but it shows the potential if your work ethic is solid. Keep looking though. Good luck.

 

I really don't think it will help. If you need to have a job during the year, I think you'd be better served by doing something on campus because you could swing it as community service/giving back.

 

Currently I'm a research assistant on campus with a professor in Sports Management and I've been doing it for a year now. Would you say a bank teller or continuing as a research assistant would be the better choice? Or maybe I should ditch both options?

 

I suspect it will hurt you in the long run. Do something relevant in IB if that's the field you want to get into. Being a bank teller means that you want to be in customer service. Do you want to be a customer service rep?

 
dudguy:
I suspect it will hurt you in the long run. Do something relevant in IB if that's the field you want to get into. Being a bank teller means that you want to be in customer service. Do you want to be a customer service rep?

What the fuck? The kid will be working during college which most people do and delivering pizza while you are in college has nothing to do with IB. It's called having a fucking job and supporting yourself. No one expect you to do better than that while you are trying to survive in school.

OP can do whatever job he get, as long he do some nice internship during summer.

Power and Money do not change men; they only unmask them
 

If you wanna be a bank teller go marry a construction worker, put on 70 pounds, change your name to Denise and practice giving people $20's when they clearly asked for big bills.

"It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous. "
 

Well, I think your in the wrong place. Assuming you are serious

I would highlight: worked heavily with cash, handled x amount of customers, provided excellent customer service, did the books every night made sure the registers had correct cash inside.

IDK stuff like that, it links to your role as a teller.

 
Best Response

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it would be impressive early on in your college career, but not late. You need to find relevant experience. I would suggest jumping, unless the bank moves/advances people easily and frequently, to an internship, even if it's a non-paid internship.

For the record, I was once a teller and I know how miserable those jobs can be. God, I hated that.

 

Man, I was a teller, and then from there a service rep (loans and new accounts and shit) and that's such a fun job if you like being able to do absolutely nothing for people no matter how pissed off they get. At a restaurant or store if you throw enough of a fit you can usually get a discount or a meal comped or something like that. At a bank you just get to smile because no matter how pissed they get, what they have is what they have and that's it. No amount of yelling or tears or anything will change that. Which I got a guilty pleasure out of.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

@jdizzle- I plan on sitting for LI this summer, if I fail any of the exams though I can kiss my dreams of counting cash goodbye! Will likely be doing buyside soon as My uncle Leo wants me to start managing his business investment account (he owns a used car lot!).

@stryfe- There is nothing stress free about it.... we're talking about high finance.

@blueshirt-exit ops are plentiful, looking to jump over to a loanshark outfit at some point.... they will pay for your MBA, but only at semi-targets (think Devry, University of Phoenix) where the OCR (or VCR-virtual campus recruiting) is just so-so. I do think Goldman nabs a few every year though.

@blueapple- no models here- only a 250 pound secretary named Lori :( and my hotshot manager treats us to a bottle of peach schnapps at his place after work on Fridays.

@nemohoes- None yet, hopefully I get picked up post mba.

 

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