After working at a retail store for two years, Ingrid V. knew she wanted to explore a different career path. She wasn’t sure what exactly, but she wanted an opportunity to grow and didn’t see that for herself within the retail industry.
Shortly after leaving the retail job, her mom told her about a two-week bank teller program through the Association House of Chicago, which would provide her the foundational knowledge of the banking industry. While Ingrid never previously considered banking as a career, she thought it would be a step in the right direction and signed up. At the end of the program, they offered participants resources for job placement assistance, with Skills being one of them.
Ingrid connected with Skills and applied for a Teller position with Bank of America. She was offered the position, started working, and had the opportunity to advance repeatedly, gaining leadership skills at the Bank of America branches. She was promoted to Implementation Advisor in the corporate office this past February. We talked with Ingrid about her career growth in her nearly eight years working with Bank of America.
How was your experience working with Skills?
It was a really good experience. I really feel like the banking program gave me the banking skills, while Skills helped polish my resume and interview skills for the job. Everyone was very helpful and nice throughout the process.
How did it feel when you were offered the position with Bank of America?
I was shocked but excited when I got the call. I thought the interview went well, but I was not expecting the interview to be as in-depth with the Spanish as it was (it was a bilingual role), and I was nervous about that. I was ready to start my career but wasn’t expecting it to happen that fast.
What opportunities has this job provided for you?
This job has provided me a lot of opportunities. With not having a finance or banking background, I’ve been able to learn about personal finances for myself, clients, and even my family to better their financial literacy. I’m even working on buying a house with my sister because I now have the knowledge to do so.
What are your career goals and how is Bank of America supporting them?
Now that I’m in the corporate world, the opportunities with Bank of America are endless. I can stay within my department but there’s also comfort in knowing I can shadow in another area and follow a different path. It’s nice to know now that I’m not stuck and there are opportunities to grow.
Would you recommend Skills to other job seekers?
I would recommend Skills because they helped me get a job at Bank of America! I would also recommend Skills for job opportunities because they have a lot of options within many industries.