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Individuals will undergo eight weeks of facilitator-led technical training, a one-week professional skills building programme at Citi's New York HQ, and desk rotations for on-the-job experience.
Citi Singapore has a new programme for mid-career professionals looking to transition into the bank's Markets business.
Announced today (Wednesday, 16 August 2023), the programme, titled 'Strategic training for experience progressionals (STEP) Program', was designed as a comprehensive programme for talent of diverse backgrounds and experience, including those without any experience in banking. It will be conducted over 24 months per cohort.
STEP is being piloted in Singapore since April, with the inaugural cohort of five participants bringing with them an average of five to seven years of prior working experience from a variety of industries including technology, consulting, oil & gas, and clean energy.
Details on STEP
Talking about the rationale behind STEP, business sponsor Gunjan Kalra, APAC Head of Corporate Sales & Solutions, Citi Markets, said it "unlocks the diversity of thought and perspectives from individuals with varied experiences", which he notes are the foundation that drives the growth and innovation necessary to the continued success of the business.
"By hiring individuals without experience in banking, we also deepen our talent pool and provide access to someone who may have never considered or had the opportunity to pursue a career in banking", she added.
As part of the programme, individuals will undergo a structured learning journey which will cover:
- Eight weeks of facilitator-led technical training to build their foundational knowledge of banking and the Markets business.
- A one-week professional skills building programme at Citi's New York HQ, where they will also meet with peers from other regions and build their global network of colleagues.
- Post the learning journey, the participants will rotate across various desks in the Markets business over the remaining 20 months, to gain on-the-job experience.
- Upon completion of the programme, the plan is for them to join one of the business units within Citi's Markets business.
Citi added that participants of STEP will be provided support by buddies on the same level as them, mentors on the same seniority levels as their managers, and advocates who are heads of the businesses, who will play a key role in helping the participants transition to banking. This will, for instance, be through advocating for them, developing their technical skills in certain areas, and providing guidance.
Commenting on the programme, Devayani Tilak Sengupta, Citi's APAC Head of Talent, Learning and Diversity, said it reflects the bank's diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy to harness various aspects of diversity within its workforce, and "demonstrates our desire to elevate and develop local talent in Singapore and the markets we operate in."
Singapore serves as Citi's APAC hub for the Markets business, which serves corporates, institutional investors, and governments through the trading floor in underwriting, sales, and trading & distribution capabilities spanning asset classes (commodities, equities, rates, spread products) and currencies.
Photo: Shutterstock
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