DISTED COLLEGE NEWS
23 November 2009

Free training for banking careers

DISTED College is doing its bit to promote skilled workers for the banking industry by conducting the Train and Place Programme, which is a national initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Human Resources. 

“We conduct the programme in collaboration with SAGE Interactive, a staffing partner to several banks, to re-skill retrenched workers and unemployed graduates. 

“It’s a response to the need of local banks to recruit a large number of staff for full-time positions in customer relationship management, wealth management and personal banking,” said Josephine Chan Ie Lyn, DISTED administration manager. 

“The participants are paid a monthly allowance by the ministry while attending the 2-month programme,” she said. 

The Train and Place Programme held at DISTED opens up job opportunities in the banking industry.

DISTED marketing manager Jane Goh Mei Ping said: “This free training increases their employability by focusing on sales skills for the banking industry together with office skills and interview skills.” 

“Successful candidates are given interview opportunities with numerous banks which are recruiting new personnel. If selected, they can look forward to excellent starting pay and career progression,” she added. 

The Train and Place Programme participants (from right) Nuzahatul Fatihah Madar Sahin, Normasliana Ridzuan Chun, Lim Li Yen, Mohammad Ashraf Mohammad Tahir, Rodney Lee and Zulkafli Maidin.

Rodney Lee hopes the training will make his plan to change career come true. 

“I intend to switch from working in the engineering field to the banking sector as the latter is more lucrative and people-oriented. I hope to carve a niche in selling investment products,” the trainee said. 

“The training, conducted by experienced facilitators from the industry, is informative and practicable. 

“I’ve also honed useful working attributes such persuasion skills, time and stress management,” Rodney said. 

The participants (standing, from right) Lim Li Yen, Normasliana Ridzuan Chun and Nuzahatul Fatihah Madar Sahin in a role-play on selling an investment scheme.

For Nuzahatul Fatihah Madar Sahin, the programme is a lifeline to better career opportunities. 

“Since graduating with a civil engineering degree 2 years ago, I’ve only managed to find temporary jobs. 

“Hopefully, this training opens the door to working in the banking industry with better career prospects,” she said. 

They are among the 6 people who have taken up the Train and Place Programme at DISTED which is being run from 15 October to 10 December 2009.  

Putting their knowledge and skills into practice during the mock sales carnival are Train and Place Programme participants Zulkafli Maidin (right) and Rodney Lee.