Hey everyone. I’ve been working at Wells Fargo as a teller for about 4 months now. It’s my first job in banking, and before this, I worked at Starbucks. I only work 30 hours a week, but I’m really not sure if I want to stay in banking long term. I didn’t finish college, just got some credits before dropping out, and I don’t love talking to customers. It’s mentally exhausting. The job has great benefits, and they’ve told me there’s room to move up if I want, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it if I’m not enjoying it. I do like my coworkers and boss, though. And I hate that I sometimes work Saturdays and then only get Sunday off before going into a full week. If you know, you know. Anyway, I’m only 19… what should I do?
It really depends on what you want out of life. If you left banking, what would you do instead? Do you want a family, and what kind of life do you want to give them? How much money do you need to make? Banking can be a great career if you stick with it and are good at it.
Honestly, I think you should stick it out for a while. Do your best at your current job, and then talk to your manager about moving into a back-office role. Those jobs pay more, and you won’t have to deal with customers as much. And if you want, Wells Fargo can help you finish your degree while working. Just think strategically about your next steps.
@Shay
Thank you for this! It’s funny because I’m doing well at the job even though I don’t like it. My coworkers always say I’m good at talking to people, and I just laugh and say, ‘Yeah, fake it till you make it!’
@Koa
I saw that you’re only 19, so you have a lot of time ahead of you to figure things out. Just know that if you jump around to different industries, it might be harder to grow in your career. Banking is pretty broad, and you’re only seeing a small part of it. Maybe do this job a bit longer and then try to get into a back-office position where you won’t have to deal with customers as much. From there, you can explore other areas like tech, audit, finance, or risk.
Also, think about moving to a city with more banking opportunities. I live in Charlotte, which has a big banking presence, and it makes it easier to move between companies and grow your earnings.
@Shay
Thanks! I’ll definitely think about all of this.
I used to be a teller too and got sick of dealing with customers, so I moved to a back-office job. It wasn’t my final destination, but it helped me figure out what I like and what I don’t. Maybe see if you can shadow some employees in other departments to see what they do. It’ll help you get a better feel for your options, and it looks good if you want to apply for a different role later.
If you’re thinking about leaving, maybe stay for a few more months to save up some money first. That way, you have a little cushion before you make any big decisions.
Having banking experience on your resume can open doors, so maybe stick it out for a year. You might end up liking it!
The experience is worth it. Stick with it for at least 8 months to a year, then decide if you want to move on. I work in banking but in a back-office role where I don’t deal with customers. It can be stressful, but at least I learned that banking isn’t for me.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to contribute to your 401k! If your company offers a match, max it out! That’s free money, and it’ll grow over time. You can’t touch it for a while, but it’ll be a big help when you retire.