Please introduce yourself and tell us about your background
I graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Communications. I initially thought I wanted to pursue journalism, so I joined the school's journalism organization. However, after a year, I lost my passion for it and explored other tracks like marketing and advertising under my communications degree.
Towards the latter part of college, I rediscovered my interest in accounting, which I took in high school. I ended up applying for a financial management minor, taking subjects like accounting, financial ratios, projections, and risk management. This reignited my passion for finance, leading me to decide I wanted a career in banking after graduating.
Why did you choose EastWest Bank?
I wanted to work in an environment where I could quickly learn about banking since I had already decided that's the industry I wanted to be in. When I saw the relationship manager trainee opening at EastWest Bank, I knew it was a big opportunity as it's an intensive 5-month program to prepare for that role. From the get-go, I could already see the potential for growth.
What did you consider before applying for EastWest Bank?
Growth was the primary consideration for me. I wanted to join a place that would allow me to develop my skills and knowledge in banking rapidly. The relationship manager trainee program at EastWest Bank seemed like the perfect fit for that.
What is the application process like as a Management Trainee at EastWest Bank?
I found the job opening for the relationship manager trainee program on LinkedIn. EastWest Bank has a very quick hiring process, at least for this role. After I applied, they reached out to me within a couple of days to schedule an interview. I had to complete an application form, attend the interview, and then they sent me a financial statement analysis exam to complete within the same day. The entire process, from application to getting accepted, took just one week.
What was your onboarding experience like in the first few days as a Management Trainee at EastWest Bank?
The onboarding covered an introduction to the bank, what they do, the different divisions, and employee benefits. On the first actual day of the training program, we jumped right into the learning curriculum which I found engaging and enjoyable. I also got to meet my fellow management trainees and could tell we would work well together.
How does the training and development programs offered at EastWest Bank help their employees grow?
EastWest Bank offers many training programs depending on what area you're interested in, such as retail banking, management development, corporate banking (which my program falls under), and officer development.
My specific program so far has included intensive credit training across 9 modules on credit analysis, as well as training on credit policies, account management, legal management, and remedial management. The hands-on learning experience has been invaluable for building my skills in this field.
How stressful is your job role as a Management Trainee at EastWest Bank?
Currently, since I'm in the latter part of the training program, it's like an internship where we work 10 hour days from 8:30am to 6:30pm while doing on-the-job training as relationship managers. The hours are quite long right now, but I still feel I have a decent work-life balance.
I'm looking forward to an even better balance once I officially become a relationship manager after the program ends, when standard hours will be 9 hours per day from 8:30am to 5:30pm.
What is the benefit looks like as a Management Trainee at EastWest Bank?
From what I know so far, the benefits seem good. We get paid for 15 months instead of 12, have access to car loans where the bank will finance 60% of the car, and there is also profit sharing. However, I can't fully speak on the benefits until after the program when I become a regular employee.
What have been some of the coolest things about working there?
One of the most unique and coolest experiences so far was during our account management training. We had to role-play being a client coming into the office to discuss our company's needs and how the bank could support us. It was our first real glimpse into what being a relationship manager is like.
Would you do anything differently if given a chance to do so?
No, I wouldn't do anything differently. Banking is really what I wanted to pursue. EastWest Bank wasn't even my first choice initially - I had hoped to join BDO. But looking back, I landed in an ideal situation at EastWest. I'm grateful for how things turned out.
Any advice you would like to share for fresh graduates looking to start their career?
My biggest piece of advice is simply: be patient. After finishing college, I started applying for jobs in April but didn't get hired until October. For others it can take even longer, like a whole year. If you're looking to change careers, patience is key because you can't expect to pick up a brand new field immediately.
These career choices are important decisions that will impact your life for a long time to come. So don't rush into something. What you've worked hard for and waited patiently for will be far more meaningful. Things that come too quickly tend not to last. Just stay patient through the process.