Jerry Said:

Need career advice for promotion...?

We Answered:

It is difficult to out-compete others with relevant work experience. They will be able to drop into the new position with less training and less guidance. Depending on what the bank is looking for, and how impersonal the relationship is between the manager and the new personal banker, that may win out. Also I don't know what the relationship is between personal bankers and the manager, or how this position is viewed by the manager.

But young people with little prior experience bring important career advantages to the table.

It is nice to know that you work for a major national bank. Large corporations tend to develop a culture. They like to do everything the *company way.* They write memos the company way. They dress the company way. If you cut them, they bleed company blood. They place value on the ability to train new people THEIR way, young and fresh out of college.

Smaller companies will grab outside talent whenever possible. For them, the more outside experience the better. But in large businesses, they often like to "incubate their own eggs." You can also see why it is personally beneficial for a manager to surround themselves with loyal young employees whom they have trained themselves. Career managers in business are always afraid of being stepped on by their subordinates. A loyal mentor-protege relationship can be very valuable to both you and your boss, in the context of your careers. This is one reason why you may have the beneficent eye of management: even if your boss isn't in the market for a protege, they still see you as somebody who can be groomed.

In this context, outside experience can be a major disadvantage to job applicants. So, you bring two very big advantages to the table:

(1) You are young, energetic, and willing to work hard for less money.

(2) Even though you might require a little bit more direction in the beginning, you are the blank slate. If you are hired for this job, you will be a company man.

Your asset is your young, bright-eyes eagerness, intelligence, and willingness to learn. Leverage it. You are the young grasshopper. Put emphasis on your genuine curiosity and eagerness. Be sure to mention that you are considering a long-term career with the company, and that this might be the deciding factor. If your manager sees long-term career potential in you, the temptation to hire the fresh graduate can be very strong.

Rick Said:

What should my major in college be? and what career fits my interests?

We Answered:

I would recommend economics, with a minor in business