Guest Comment: Online banking is on the rise – here's how to get a job in it

Online and direct banking are experiencing major growth in Australia. Most of the big four have cemented their place in the industry. ING Bank is one of the more established players, but the likes of UBank by NAB and Rabo Direct by Rabo Bank have been gaining ground. The banks have been pushing through the cheaper online brands and portals to expose their products to a younger market, complimenting these limited offerings with their main banking products.

Core banking functions rarely look outside professionals with extensive industry experience. However, with the online and digital movement being relatively new, firms are willing to consider candidates with general online experience – such as professionals in the tech-savvy retail and telecommunications sectors.

Professionals wanting to get into online banking should act quickly to capitalise on the opportunities available. If you don’t have the required skills, get as much exposure as you can. Upskill by asking to assist on current projects, or undertake formal training. If your employer is one of the many organisations struggling to recruit in online banking, ask for some work experience; this may kick start your training for you. Showing initiative is essential to any type of career progression.

Specialist professionals with in-demand skills will not only be highly sought after, but will be well remunerated. The candidates in most demand include:

• Online marketers ($70k – $90k), particularly those with experience developing shopping portals to market their online capabilities and roll out new products.

• Search engine marketers ($80k – $100k), particularly those with experience in new Google SEO guides, content creation and online advertising.

• General marketers ($90k – $120k), with exposure to integrated campaigns and digital roll-outs.

• Product developers ($120k – $130k) for the development of new products and consumer initiatives. They are responsible for finding opportunities to market new products and services for banking clients, from concept to release.

The key is to remember that most organisations will generally favour professionals with industry experience, so gaining that experience will give you the greatest chance of securing a new role.

Andrew Hanson, director of banking and financial services recruitment, Robert Walters