So im a permanent resident with a bcomm and my major was in banking and finance. Ive been trying to find work in banking for the past 4 months and im told the only way is to apply on the websites so ive been trying this and i havnt even had an interview yet.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I go to the different branches in person with my resume/cover letter in hand??

Any advice would be much appreciated...

Do you have any actual experience of working in banks? It would help.

Also do you have the Canadian Securities Certificate? A lot of jobs in banking seem to want you to have it.

No I dont have any experience, I only graduated in May. I dont have the CSC yet either but im going to take it in the new year so maybe il have a better chance then.

Any other suggestions?

Banks in Canada seldom advertise for employees at branch level. All banks have an internal posting system so if I, as an employee, have a relative/friend needing a job I can keep checking the job posting site for positions suitable for my contact. Many/most positions in branches are filled this way. With a B.Comm (assuming it's from a good university) you should go in person to the banks' head offices, including their investment arms and present yourself, resume in hand. I noticed that Nesbitt Burns (investment house for Bank of Montreal) was recently advertising for people to train as Investment Advisors.
Also banks in Canada are always on cost reduction programmes, consequently much competition for positions.

Yes unfortunatley I know BMO only accepted applications vis their website.

What sort of position are you looking for?

If it is at branch level then my advice would be to call a branch - find out who the area manger is and email them - worm your way in that way. (I bumped into the manager of the branch I ended up working with, had a chat a laugh and a coffee with her and ended up getting the job through her recomendation - if it wasn't for this I suspect i would never have heard back either).

The auto screening process for the online application is probably what has resulted in your lack of contact.

It never hurts to do that. You may have the same result that Mandy did.

Hi

I tried for months to get a job within a bank in town - no banking experience but 12 years of cash handling and controlling.

Was only when my cousin said that there was movement in the marketplace here in town, gave me the name of the CSM and told me to right her (my cousin's) name on the top of the resume did I get anywhere.

Have been working there now for 4 weeks but without this little leg up the ladder I had NO luck at all.

As others have said get the name of someone who is at your local branch, or friendly with the receptionist there and gradually worm your way in. I think that Banking in Canada totally proves the importance of the good old phrase "networking".

Good luck

If the thread poster has a B.Comm degree I fail to understand why he would want to work in branch banking. With such an education he should be looking for employment much further up the ladder, probably in Investment Banking. An entry level position paying $25k p/a wouldn't/shouldn't satisfy him.

I was thinking that. His best bet is Toronto and hawking himself around the investment banks based there.

Well I was hoping to get into investment banking but again I thought the only way was through the websites and I have been applying for better positions with no luck so I thought that if I could get a foot in the door it might be easier to move up/transfer to different areas within the bank.

Maybe thats not the right attitude to take though?

Is there anyone on here who works in investment banking? If so, how did you get into it and did you have any previous experience?

P.S. my degree is from UCD in Dublin.

you guys have made some important points, its all about networking. I live in Calgary, NW, and there are 3 banks in the mall near my house , will visit them soon. I am also planning to start my career in the banking sector soon . will like to start with 2 days of the week cos of child care. Am rounding up my MBA program and I guess i will go get the Canadian Securities Certificate .

All of the main 5 chartered banks have their own investment divisions. There are many other financial services companies out there as well. In addition to a background or a degree from a university, in many cases you will need to complete a course from the Canadian Securities institute depending on what you want to do. This acts like the governing body for the industry. If you get in with a financial institution they will likely pay for the courses for you. Getting your foot in the door is what I would do if I were you. I would try and arrange a face to face visit with a manager, even if it meant walking in and saying hello to them in person rather than an email.