bank teller position

What is a recipe to ace the bank teller interview? i've been through a few, but all seem to fail, i seem to get the basic, stay confident, smile, know your weaknesses. but how do i respond to situation questions about situations i have never had in any of my previous position. i want to mention that i have no money handling or teller experience. also how quickly do they get back to you if they want to hire you?

I've had the same trouble to. Teller is considered "entry-level" only in that it is the bottom of the finance ladder. But they do want you to already have experience cash handling and possibly retail sales. Usually you can get this sort of experience when you were in high school.

I'm 26 now, got a degree in Poli Sci and worked for the gov't off and on the last few years (including military). But I wanted to do a career change to Finance, so I figured Teller would be the way to go. Unfortunately, I'm having a hell of a time getting a job since I have already been a manager/supervisor and have a little tech background. I'm fine with the pay cut (about 50% less than I get now) so long as I can get the certifications and experience I need.

I'm also in the process of completing an MBA, but without finance experience, it's just a really expensive piece of paper.

If anything, I would recommend getting any job you can land that will pay the bills during the day and work some retail store in the mall at night for a few months (at least 6 for most teller positions). Most banks also care that you can make them money, so if you win any sales contests or get bonuses for high sales, be sure to mention those as well.

Good luck, hopefully we can both get a teller job eventually!

Currently working tellers: if you had the chance, what would you tell customers? What are your pet peeves? Please post here. Thanks.

RD in New Hyde Park, New York said: Currently working tellers: if you had the chance, what would you tell customers? What are your pet peeves? Please post here. Thanks.

People who overdraw their accounts then come into the bank and complain that it is somehow our fault! Trust me the bank didn't make you swipe your card or write a check that you didn't have the money for! So don't come in and yell at me to reverse your fees. Chances are everytime you have came in we have tried to help by offering some sort of protection for your account but you have declined!

Caitlin in Akron, Ohio said: People who overdraw their accounts then come into the bank and complain that it is somehow our fault! Trust me the bank didn't make you swipe your card or write a check that you didn't have the money for! So don't come in and yell at me to reverse your fees. Chances are everytime you have came in we have tried to help by offering some sort of protection for your account but you have declined!

Caitlin, thank you! I appreciate it. If you (or anyone else on this forum) think of anything else, please post. I'm writing a short article on the subject. For example, what's your reaction to people who come in with all those rolled coins, or people who want to open savings accounts for small children? Is it even sensible to do that anymore? Are there any subtle but common clues from customers' body language that you've learned to read that tell you something about them or their wealth? What are the things banks don't really want customers to know? If you want me to email you directly, just let me know. Thanks again.

jjohnsonCO in Colorado Springs, Colorado said: I've had the same trouble to. Teller is considered "entry-level" only in that it is the bottom of the finance ladder. But they do want you to already have experience cash handling and possibly retail sales. Usually you can get this sort of experience when you were in high school.

I'm 26 now, got a degree in Poli Sci and worked for the gov't off and on the last few years (including military). But I wanted to do a career change to Finance, so I figured Teller would be the way to go. Unfortunately, I'm having a hell of a time getting a job since I have already been a manager/supervisor and have a little tech background. I'm fine with the pay cut (about 50% less than I get now) so long as I can get the certifications and experience I need.

I'm also in the process of completing an MBA, but without finance experience, it's just a really expensive piece of paper.

If anything, I would recommend getting any job you can land that will pay the bills during the day and work some retail store in the mall at night for a few months (at least 6 for most teller positions). Most banks also care that you can make them money, so if you win any sales contests or get bonuses for high sales, be sure to mention those as well.

Good luck, hopefully we can both get a teller job eventually!

Thank you for your suggestions, but after dozens of interview, I have given up on this low life position. After all, the teller is a blue-collar worker and how high can you real get with a teller position? With almost no work experience, my only option is retail stores, since restaurants and any other place requieres some previous work experience. Where would you recommend to start?

Well, considering most retail stores give employee discounts, I'd say go with a store you shop at a lot. In addition to getting a decent discount, the fact that you like their products/services in particular should be a good selling point when you interview.

The problem I'm finding with most teller jobs now (I finally got some calls back) is that they are only 20 hours a week. While that's fine for someone who is doing the college thing, I need more hours than 20, especially considering that the max pay for Teller seems to be around 10-11 an hour.

But I would still recommend going for teller eventually depending on what you plan to do in the long run. Having a few years of teller/sales experience under your belt is a good thing for most private sector employers. They want to know you can sell something in a high pressure environment. Me, I'm not a salesman unless I totally buy into the product or service I'm selling. If I don't believe in it, then I'm not going to be able to sell it, because I'd feel like I was shoving a shoddy product on my customers.

But that's the nature of the teller game, you HAVE to push financial product on people who may not want them, or worse, who really don't need them. There are a lot of banks out there who push that sort of aggressive sales culture.

I just want to do teller for a few months max, move on to banker, maybe a branch manager after that, and then I'll be done with my MBA and move on to financial management and get away from sales. I just know I have to pay my dues. That's kinda how it works unfortunately.

Im a teller and the starting pay is 11. I have been to interviews where the starting pay is 13..14..15.. and almost everyone of my bosses started by being a teller.

christina in Swampscott, Massachusetts said: Im a teller and the starting pay is 11. I have been to interviews where the starting pay is 13..14..15.. and almost everyone of my bosses started by being a teller.

I agree with Christina.

The pay I have seen for bank teller (WITHOUT EXPERIENCE) has been 10$ the LOWEST (and that was a less known bank). PNC ive seen hiring at 12$ minimum, and 11$ with Wachovia.

Laura in Port Murray, New Jersey said: I agree with Christina.

The pay I have seen for bank teller (WITHOUT EXPERIENCE) has been 10$ the LOWEST (and that was a less known bank). PNC ive seen hiring at 12$ minimum, and 11$ with Wachovia.

The dollar sign goes before the numbers? Am I wrong?

Karin in Memphis, Tennessee said: The dollar sign goes before the numbers? Am I wrong?

anal?

meowmeow mrrrrrr in Minneapolis, Minnesota said: Thank you for your suggestions, but after dozens of interview, I have given up on this low life position. After all, the teller is a blue-collar worker and how high can you real get with a teller position? With almost no work experience, my only option is retail stores, since restaurants and any other place requieres some previous work experience. Where would you recommend to start?

BEING A TELLER IS NOT A LOW LIFE POSITION. SHOWS HOW MUCH YOU KNOW ON WHERE CAN YOU REALLY GO. YOU CAN WORK YOUR WAY UP TO BEING A PERSONAL BANKER, LOAN OFFICER JUST LIKE I DID. I HAD NO TELLER EXPEREIENCE WHEN I FIRST WORKED AT A BANK. IT WAS PERSONALITY AND GO GETIT ATTITUDE THAT LANDED ME THE JOB ITS HOW YOU COME ACROSS AND EASY YOU GIVE UP

(&&

christina in Swampscott, Massachusetts said: Im a teller and the starting pay is 11. I have been to interviews where the starting pay is 13..14..15.. and almost everyone of my bosses started by being a teller.