This is your Golden OpportunityPeople often ask me how I got started....positivity and enthusiasm go a long way – for many employers, one of the main things they’re looking for is the right attitude. I had no formal 'financial' qualifications when I first entered the Wealth Management Industry and it was my genuine interest and proactive attitude that helped me cross the line into a junior role.
Get a foot in the doorApplying for internships and graduate programs can open doors that were otherwise closed. While these do not guarantee you a job, they offer great hands-on experience and give you an upper hand if a position becomes available within the company. Businesses admire people who are willing to put in the time and effort to do unpaid work and this will show your passion for the industry.
This is also a great way to network and build up your contacts. As an example, a Financial Planning Manager from the firm you’re interning at may leave to start his/her own business and remember you. Chances are there will be several other graduates interning at the same time, so be sure to impress them with your eagerness and hard work.
Start at the bottomStarting at the bottom of the food chain is also another way to get your foot in the door. I started as a superannuation consultant in a call centre environment and if the only position available at your dream company is for a mailroom clerk then don’t be disheartened. The CEO of Colonial First State, Brian Bissaker, also started his career as a superannuation consultant before working his way to the top. So paying your dues in the mailroom may one day land you that gig as a financial planner. Work smart, work hard, get to know the key players in the company, and you may be noticed. You also have a better chance of hearing about job vacancies from within the company.
Stay focussedThroughout your job-hunting process, remain resilient. Be proactive, positive and enthusiastic. Look through newspapers, job search sites and social media sites. Ask your friends and family to ask their friends. Keep an open mind about jobs you’d accept – you are not going to get your dream job a month out of university. You may have to settle for something unexpected, but don’t give up. You never know what might be around the corner.
See my interests are twofold, I have a passion to develop & refine the skills of new & existing financial planners and I also have a genuine enthusiasm to attract quality talent into the financial planning industry. Please contact me at
maria.steele@colonialfirststate.com.au to discuss how we might be able to open doors for you.
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Maria Steele
With a passion to improve the quality of advice in the financial planning industry, Maria rejoined the Colonial First State Advice Business in 2010 to focus her energy on the targeted professional development of advisers from recruitment to retirement. Maria explains that in the best interests of the client it is imperative to foster a model of ‘understanding’ and thereby build public perception of advisers as professionals who deliver expert advice.
Maria started her career in Sydney as a superannuation consultant at ING Australia in 2000 and then made a calculated move into the Adviser Services business. This experience inspired her to complete a Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning) and Certificate IV in Assessment & Workplace Training, giving her the ability to build a learning & development career in wealth management.
In addition to Colonial First State, Maria has worked for AMP Financial Services and more recently Mercer. Maria is thrilled at the opportunity to excite the iPlan2 audience about a career in Financial Planning. To chat off-line, she can be contacted at maria.steele@colonialfirststate.com.au
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