School Visit at the MFSA

• Introduction

Peter GrechManager – Human Resources UnitMalta Financial Services AuthorityAttard – BKR 3000tel: 2548 5539

email: pgrech@mfsa.com.mt

Objectives of the visit

enables students to learn slightly more about financial services

provides assistance and guidance to students who will shortly be making decisions about their future career

Financial Services

• Banking Players• Non-bank Financial Services Players• Investments & Trusts Services Players• Insurance Players

• Money Ball•

• Regulators Referee/Umpire

• Market Playing field

The Curriculum Vitae

• A CV is a document that provides an overview of a person’s qualifications (hard skills) and other skills (soft skills) in a clear and effective manner

• Examples:

– Hard skills certificate, diploma, first degree, masters degree, doctorate, others

– Soft skills communication skills, others

Hard Skills

• What are ‘hard’ skills?– ‘Hard’ skills are more of what might

appear on your CV (resume) - your education, experience and level of expertise

Hard Skills: Foundation

• List of ‘O’ Levels – required– English–Maltese–Mathematics– Accounts and Economics / Business

Studies– ECDL– Science Subject– Other language

Hard Skills: Foundation

• List of ‘O’ Levels – good to have any of these:– History– English Literature– Computer Studies– Any other subject/s

Hard Skills: Qualifications

Entries to the financial services industry:• University of Malta:

– Degree in Banking & Finance– Degree in Accountancy– Degree in Economics– Degree in Insurance– Degree in Law– Degree in Maths & Computing– others

• MCAST:– Diploma in Banking & Financial Services– Diploma in Business – Diploma in Insurance Studies– AAT Diploma in Accounting– BTEC Diploma in IT– others

Why this emphasis?

• To show that the University degree is not the only way into the financial services sector

Opportunities

• Opportunities available within the financial services sector: – Duty travel

Hard Skills - Opportunities

– Further studies and personal development• Training Providers:

MCAST Malta International Training Centre - MITC Institute of Financial Services Malta - IFS Institute of Legal Studies Malta – ILS Institute of Financial Services Practitioners – IFSP Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners – STEP Malta Institute of Accountants - MIA University of Malta Others

Hard Skills - Opportunities

– Career Advancement• Example:

– An Accounting Technician may join the financial services sector as a clerk and climbs up the scale through the undertaking of an A.C.C.A.

Planning Ahead

• Where do we go from now?– Immediate goal: achieve good results at

‘O’ level– Start thinking about what best fits your

aptitude: what do I prefer to do?– Get involved in activities other than

those organised at school

Soft Skills

• What are ‘Soft’ Skills?– ‘Soft’ skills are essentially people

skills – the non technical, intangible and personality–specific skills

– Soft skills are acquired and experienced – they cannot be developed by merely reading text books

Soft Skills: Personality Traits

• Questions to ask:– How well do I work with others?– How effectively do I communicate?– Am I a leader or a follower?– Do I often influence others?– How do I behave in a small group or a large group?– Would I be a flexible worker?.... Do I normally take an ‘I can do’

attitude?

• Answer to remember:– The answers to the above questions determine your strengths

as a leader, listener, negotiator and conflict mediator

Soft Skills: Developing Your Skills

• Work with others:–meetings– voluntary work– development and training opportunities– sports– adventure– drama

Soft Skills: Benefits

• Help advance in your career

• Offer personal growth

• Help you increase your self-confidence

• Help you stand out among job seekers

How to prepare a CV

• Personal details – name, address, phone number, email address, age

• Career history – starting with your most recent job first (if applicable) (hard skills)

• A personal profile which sells yourself and your qualities, tailored towards the job you are applying for (soft skills)

• Qualifications and training from previous job (hard skills)• Interests, especially if the skills or teamwork concerned

are relevant to the job (soft skills)• Any extra information, such as reasons for a career

change • References, ideally two or more

Before / At An Interview

• Prepare yourself well before the interview – visit the organisation’s website

• Be punctual• Be a good communicator• Make sure you are appropriately dressed • See that you are well groomed• Watch your body language – posture and eye contact• Switch off mobile • Don’t hold back from showing what you can do• Be ready to say why you are the one who should be

selected

6 things to never say at work

• "I can't take on any more work. I'm completely overwhelmed already"

• "Joe is an idiot"• "That's not fair!"• "That's not how we did it at my old

company"• "I'm bored"• "I'll have it on your desk by 3 p.m."

(when you know you won't)

Careers in Finance website