Is your banking Job at risk

Is my job at risk? I doubt it. If you are a strong performer (and if you’re on this site, you probably are) then you are the last person your company wants to see go. If you continue to demonstrate your enthusiasm, commitment and ability, your company is likely to do everything they can to keep you on. Even if your department is being cut back or - heaven forfend - re-structured out of existence, then you’re likely to be offered something else, somewhere else in the company. And if you don’t fancy that – then don’t worry, there are other jobs…

Can I still get a job? Yes, of course. There are still plenty of jobs. Certainly, some sectors are pretty tough to break into at the moment – investment banking, for example – and many other companies are feeling cautious. That manifests itself in a reduction of planned hires, or at least a slowing of the process. But this shouldn’t be overstated. Most companies are doing fine. Increasing revenues, making profits and following the same strategies for growth as before. And pretty much every one of those strategies requires more good people to drive the business forward. Moreover, churn still happens – employees still move on – and that leaves holes that need to be filled. So of course you can get a job. But perhaps what you meant was …

Can I still get exactly the job that I want? Ah… now that’s a different question. The last six years or so has been something of a sellers market for candidates. There have been more ‘jobs requiring great people’ than, arguably, ‘great people’. That balance might well have shifted a bit. You might have to consider widening your search slightly. If you are only interested in working for either an investment bank, or, at the very least, a top strategy consultancy, then you might struggle. That’s pretty much what everyone says, and therefore those companies can still take the pick of the very best people in the country. You’ll need to have it all – superb academics, evidence of exceptional commercial acumen, multiple languages, good connections, a winning personality and (ideally) be related to the MD. And it still might be tough. But why not broaden your horizons…