What advice would you offer prospective candidates on
transitioning from school to the workplace?
Candidates should be
assertive and willing to learn. They should familiarize
themselves with excel as strong technical skills will show in
the speed and accuracy of their work and this will distinguish them
from their peers. Finally, they should look for mentors
at all levels in and out of their groups.
What do you consider Citi’s competitive
edge?
Citi is a melting pot of
talent from different parts of the world. The combination of
its people and its presence in over 100 countries creates a
competitive edge. Citi also has a varied product base, all
these joined together create a window of opportunity that is
unimaginable.
How do you apply your
degree to what you’re doing now?
As an Economics major, I was able to develop strong
analytical and problem solving skills. This has translated directly
to my work because 80% of my work consists of projects where I have
to think through an entire process from start to finish. The
projects I worked on in school gave me the skills to be able to see
the big picture and identify the elements needed to create it.
What skills have you found to be the most useful in your
position?
In my current position, my technical
skills have been the most useful. Proficient use of Microsoft
Office, especially Excel has helped me be more efficient in my job.
In addition, my position requires excellent time management and
organizational skills. My job constitutes of about 70%
Adhoc projects so you have to be able to organize and prioritize
your work to ensure you meet your deliverables. Finally,
attention to detail is vital because your work is only as good as
its accuracy.
Describe your experience in
your specific training program.
Prior to training, I heard that Citi had one of the highest
ranking training programs on the street. I can confidently say that
this is a fact. Our training of accounting, finance, and computer
classes followed by presentations about Citi by senior management.
I did not have an accounting background but the classes equipped me
with the basic skills I needed for my job. The presentations were
also useful because they gave me an overview of the history,
structure and culture of Citi.
During training, we also had weekly
events which were a good way to unwind while creating an
opportunity to network with peers across the bank.
How did your summer internship help you
make the decision to pursue a career at Citi?
My summer internship was the deciding factor
for my decision to join Citi full time. It gave me a first hand
experience of what the core values of Citi are. Even though I was
an intern, I worked on projects that were meaningful and this gave
me a sense of achievement. The internship program was a very
structured program. We were given peer and senor level mentors who
were always accessible. Also, there were a lot of events where we
got to hear from or meet the senior management at Citi. Overall my
summer internship showed me Citi’s commitment to career development
which is very important to me as a young professional.