A familiar scenario de'javu-ed one too many times
Someone: So where are you working?
Me: In an investment bank.
Someone: Ohh . . . . where? Public Bank? HSBC?
Me: Investment bank . . . .
Someone: . . . . . . your bank's credit card facilities good ah? . . .
Me: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Someone: erm . . . loans?
Pieces fall where they may. Not everyone is lucky enough to work as what they envisioned work to be, as they step up the stage getting their certificate during their graduation. Some people may work in places they thought they'd never work in a million years and ended up liking it. I'm one of them...
When we were young, when our brains are still in a naive state, we began to set stereotypes for certain things and occupations, may it be because of the media, teachers, or our own parents. We see an image on how a job should be and never realize the complexity of it. For example, when I was a kid, in my head:-
- Accountants - Nerdy looking people working on a "calculator printer" on one hand, and a pencil on the other fixating on book ledgers.
- Bankers - People sitting in front of the counter counting money. o_o . . .
- Doctors - HORRIBLE PEOPLE TO VISIT
- Lawyers - Crazy people wearing white curly wigs shouting at each other
- Stock brokers - Lots of crazy people shouting at a few other people in a big big hall.
As we grew older, things wouldn't have changed that much on what we think jobs should be like. You would probably think banking and commerce is all about sales, banking products, sales, money, unit trusts, did I mention sales? If you think that way . . .
most probably you're right. HAHA. However, as you go deeper, good banking executives are more complexed that you might think. On top of knowing what the products are, they would always have to update themselves with information that is changing EVERYDAY and how is it affecting the products that they are selling, do their own book-keeping and records, read A LOT about all types of industries because people would expect them to be the jack of all trades when it comes to the economy.
I work in an investment bank, so I am not a commercial banker or a banking executive. The difference is really my company do not promote credit cards, housing or personal loans or current accounts/saving accounts like commercial banks do. Investment banks, they specialize in
- stocks & equities
- futures
- unit trusts
- bonds
- estate & will planning.
I am currently dealing in equities, meaning after getting licensed by Bursa and the Securities Commission, I act as an intermediary to people who trade shares and stocks. I'm in the process of getting my license however and it's taking a long time because of certain complications. With this, clients expect people like us to know everything about everything.
No.1 most stressful job:- Prime Minister of Malaysia
2nd. Doctors
3rd. The chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)
4th. Stockbrokers
5th. School teachers
6th. Attorney generals
7th. The inspector general of police.
Number 4... Along side the anti-corruption commissioner. That's pretty high if I say so myself. Before even entering the real job comes exams, licensing, networking, learning and reading. Then the stress on getting good clients in order for you to at least earn something if you are a remisier, or meet the expectations of your company if you are a paid dealer. Even after you get a hold of a few good clients, comes the part of servicing them. One wrong press of a button and you're in trouble. It brings the term "goods sold are not returnable" to a whole new different level.
- Bought/Sold off the wrong stock?
- Bought/Sold too much of the stock?
- Bought/Sold it to the wrong client ID?
- Misinterpreted what the client said?
THERE IS NO UNDO BUTTON. CTRL-Z?
Apart from being penalized by Bursa Malaysia, the Securities Commission, the company, the client, your boss, sometimes you have to fork out your own bread and butter to solve it. Apart from that, clients would expect you to have a certain level of knowledge on stock picks / economics data / efficiency / technical analysis support / fundamental analysis and whole loads of other things that a stock broker must know in order to make the right decision.
But all in all. I like parts of my job because it's exciting and interesting at times. Anyway, the conclusion to my elaborate statement of my job industry is that, people must not underestimate the value and complexity of certain jobs even though it may seem simple in the outside. I'm sure you readers would understand what I am talking about as well on how other people underestimate the jobs that you are doing. Do they?
