BankWork$ program gives students the foundation to start a rewarding banking career
Oakland Adult and Career Education’s Dr. Michelle Hector II helps adult students connect with banking careers through the BankWork$ program. Photo by George E. Baker Jr.
A job in the exciting world of finance is more attainable than many people assume. Through the Oakland Adult and Career Education (OACE) BankWork$ program, students learn the foundations of banking as well as get the support and preliminary credentials to start a banking career.
“I want to introduce banking to people that may not necessarily know how great a career it is,” says Dr. Michelle Hector II, program manager and instructor with OACE. “The program is free to the community. It is an 8-week program that really provides people with hard skills and soft skills to start outstanding careers.”
The BankWork$ program was started in 2006 by retired Wells Fargo Chief Operating Officer Les Biller with funding from banking giants Bank of America, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo. This national program has been part of OACE’s curriculum for the past three years and works with local partners to provide students with free training, job placement assistance and ongoing coaching to help them not just get the job, but to advance their career as well. Employers also reap the benefits of well-trained and job-ready workers.
“The partnership that we have shared with BankWork$ is one that has been mutually beneficial,” says Don M. Canario, market president for Bank of Montreal (BMO) in the Northern California Region. “I have been impressed with the talent that comes out of the program, as well as the level of instruction that they receive from their teacher. We have hired many graduates and found them to be extremely dedicated, hard-working and open to learning new skill sets. Several of these graduates have been promoted within our branch network, while others found terrific opportunities at neighboring banks, leveraging the skills they acquired at BMO/Bank of the West.”
“It’s just a better career … there are benefits, stability, career, work-life balance, and the trajectory to move up. That’s really how we market it. It’s a career and not a job.”
Dr. Michelle Hector II, BankWork$ program manager and instructor
Since 2006, OACE’s BankWork$ has had a 70% placement rate, with more than 4,000 students successfully embarking on their banking career. A majority of placements start as a teller with an average starting salary between $19 and $23 an hour. Compared to other service industry positions, there are significant benefits to working in banking.
“It’s just a better career … there are benefits, stability, career, work-life balance, and the trajectory to move up,” says Hector. “That’s really how we market it. It’s a career and not a job.”
The BankWork$ eight-week program breaks down into four modules:
- Workplace professionalism, including customer service skills, appropriate attire and communication.
- Financial fundamentals and learning about products, services and federal and state regulations.
- Sales.
- Career preparation, including banking resume preparation and interviewing skills.
During the course, students are connected with industry professionals to ensure their skills and education match what employers are seeking.
“Our Bank Managers and I have partnered to provide coaching and assistance to BankWork$ participants during mock interview sessions and by providing tours of our Fremont Branch office,” explains Canario. “During these tours, we provide the participants with an opportunity to share their ‘30 second commercial’ which is their way of ‘selling themselves’ to the interviewer and explaining why they are the best person for the job.”
Eligibility for the BankWork$ program include being over the age of 18, having a high school diploma/GED, English and math literacy of 9th grade or higher, eligibility to work in the United States and a minimum of one year’s customer service experience.
For more information on the Bankworks program, call 510-793-6465 or apply at www.face.edu. To find out more about OACE, visit www.ousd.org/adult-and-career-education or call 510-879-1400.
Written by Jeff vonKaenel and Anne Stokes
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| Bay Area California | Careers in Business-Technology |
