How to get hired by one of Australia’s Big Four Banks

Australia’s Big Four BanksWithin the Australian banking industry, the term ‘Big Four’ refers to Australian banks NAB, Commonwealth, Westpac and ANZ; who between them hold 85% of the wealth in the country and are among the biggest, most profitable businesses around the world.

With the advent of modern technology, applying for roles within the audit, risk, compliance & assurance divisions of these companies is not as simple as it once was. Internal auditors and compliance manager professionals must think outside the box to make sure they stand out from other candidates. The below are our top tips on how to find, apply for and get offered your dream role working within a Big Four bank:

 
1. Do the ground work
Familiarising yourself with the in’s and out’s of the company you want to work for is jobseeker 101. But for audit and compliance experts, it is especially important. Visit the websites of the companies you want to work for, sign up for any e-newsletters they may offer, and where applicable follow the same banks on social media networks such as Twitter, LinkedIn & Facebook to get a feel for how they run.

2. Network, Network, Network!
80% of all new roles are not advertised, which means that the eventual hires for those jobs likely heard about the role through friends, colleagues, or somewhere else along the grapevine. Seek out and join associations within the quality assurance and internal audit industry to get to know other like-minded professionals, and to ensure that you will be the first to know of any new roles coming up.

3. Consider an internship
Sometimes taking a step backwards helps to kick-start your auditing career. The easiest way to score your dream role is to start from the bottom up by applying for an internship or leadership training program offered by the company you want to work for. Many large companies have internal hiring policies - focus on being diligent, hardworking and impressing senior management so that when an internal role becomes available you will be first in line.

4. Conduct an audit on your resume
How long since you updated your resume style and format? Your resume is very often the first impression you make on a would-be employer and it needs to be clear, concise and impressive. Make sure you list your past success within the audit & compliance industry and outline in your cover letter your unique selling points which make you the perfect candidate for the role.

5. Register with a specialist recruitment company
Many top banks (not just the Big Four!) have exclusive staffing contracts with specialist recruitment firms to ensure that they hire the very best talent to fill internal audit vacancies. The benefit of using a specialist recruiter also comes with their expert knowledge of your job responsibilities, and if you keep in touch after the recruitment process, consultants will likely come to you when any senior management opportunities come up in the future.

 

How did you score your dream role? What are your top tips on what to do (and what not to do) when applying for a roles within Big Four banks and other financial institutions across Australia?

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