BANKING CAREERS DON’T HAVE TO BE 9 TO 5
I’ll never go back. It’s great for me to have this opportunity to balance my personal and work lives
Bankers’ hours aren’t what they used to be and that’s good news for a growing number of people who aren’t interested in a standard 9 to 5 banking centre or head office job. Banks are responding with alternative career options that offer much more flexibility and mobility than ever before. A case in point is CIBC’ s mobile sales force, where mobile investment consultants and mortgage advisers have the freedom to work outside the office and adapt their hours to their lives and priorities.
Brandi Spence made the switch. She became a mobile investment consultant in May 2015 as part of a pilot project, after starting her career as a financial services representative in a CIBC Ottawa branch. When she was asked to take part, Spence says she had her doubts but decided to take a leap of faith. “At first I thought, ‘What are you talking about?’ But once they sat down and explained it, I realized it would give me a lot of freedom to travel and practice what I was good at. I figured I could always go back to the branch if I didn’ t like it. So I gave it a shot.”
Now Spence is completely on board, especially since the birth of her daughter. “I’ll never go back. It’s great for me to have this opportunity. If I want to put my daughter to bed or pick her up from daycare, have a doctor’s appointment or shop for groceries, I can get those things done because I’m not chained to branch hours. My time is my own and I decide what to do with it. I can provide a great income for my family by providing specialized knowledge to our clients, while balancing my dayto- day household activities and needs.”
While there is a strong need for people filling traditional roles, CIBC’s mobile sales force is growing by leaps and bounds across the country, says Grant Rasmussen, senior vicepresident mobile advice for CI BC .“We have had mobile mortgage advisers on the road for a number of years. But now we have extended that to other groups such as investment consultants.”
Rasmussen says for some people in his group, banking may not be their only job. “One of our people is a franchise owner, another works in the fire department, and they also happen to rank in the top 10 per cent of our mobile mortgage adviser team. We’re seeing more and more of that kind of thing in today’s Uber world, where employees can plug in their phone when they’re on and unplug when they’re off.”
For those who want the flexibility but are not interested in being on the road, CIBC is also seeking candidates for its recently launched Imperial Service Direct Group. The division offers voice, screen sharing and-Internet-based-services for customers looking for advice. The move to mobile is not just about keeping employees happy. It’s also a win for customers who are too busy or not interested in visiting their local banking centre and want support outside of office hours on their own terms. This can include ATMs, online banking, virtual support or having a professional adviser come to their home, office or a local cafe.
“This is the way banking is going,” Spence says. “Clients are telling us they don’t want to come to see us anymore. As a mobile adviser, you just have to be open and willing to work when the opportunities present themselves.” Much of the satisfaction she derives from her work comes from being part of a strong and effective team. “My partners are great at referring clients to me who could benefit from my help. They’re also open to receiving my referrals and maintaining the plan we put in place. All the partners are able to draw on each other’s knowledge and share the workload. Most importantly, clients respond positively, knowing they have a team of individuals with specialized skills to help them through their financial life stages. When I help clients get on the path to achieving their goals, that success makes me feel good at the end of the day.”
The best part for job seekers is that there are as many opportunities for advancement into leadership roles as you might find in more traditional roles whatever part of the country you’re in, Rasmussen says. “Innovation in the workplace is not just about new widgets and gadgets. It’s also about finding new ways to help our customers by meeting their need for flexibility and personalized service.”