Higher education organization pushes future careers in banking
A new, free platform aims to encourage college students and career changers to consider a job in banking — a field with roughly 14,5000 open positions statewide. The Pennsylvania Bankers Association and the PASSHE Foundation — the philanthropic arm of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education — launched careersinbankingpa. com,
A new, free platform aims to encourage college students and career changers to consider a job in banking — a field with roughly 14,5000 open positions statewide. The Pennsylvania Bankers Association and the PASSHE Foundation — the philanthropic arm of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education — launchedcareersinbankingpa. com, a site that matches someone’s skills and interests to potential future careers in the banking industry. “It was designed by the industry itself,” said Shelley Scherer, president and CEO of the PASSHE Foundation. “It’s also designed to get college students and high school students to understand career pathways in banking. … One of our goals is to align with other statewide organizations, especially those with a workforce employer focus. ”On the site, people can take interest and skills surveys, and veterans can use a “military match” tool to connect military occupation codes to civilian banking careers. People can also explore career paths, find banking institutions, and access education and training resources for people new to the career or current employers wanting to build skills. “With over 100 banks operating across the state, the industry provides stable, well-compensated careers with clear paths for advancement,” said Duncan Campbell, PA Bankers’ president and CEO. “Whether you are a recent graduate, a career changer or a veteran transitioning to civilian life, there is a place for you in Pennsylvania banking, and our new website will help you to find your path. ”The foundation is pushing the site into the system’s 10 universities — locally, Slippery Rock, Indiana and Pennsylvania Western universities — community colleges, K-12 guidance offices, and workforce boards statewide. “This benefits students in the state system as it would at any university,” Scherer said. “A value to this is a value to the commonwealth. Ultimately, we serve Pennsylvania and this is a project we could collaborate on with a large sector in Pennsylvania. ”Scherer believes there’s multiple skills students can learn in college that they can later use in the banking field. She said skills in hospitality, like interpersonal skills and money handling, translate well to becoming a bank teller. “Banks have a tremendous need for IT roles ranging from cybersecurity to data science, and not all college students make that connection,” Scherer said. “Banks have an extraordinary need for IT talent. ”The Foundation is looking into other partnerships with the healthcare system in Pennsylvania, Scherer said. The state is experiencing a shortage of nurses and health care professionals. Scherer identified needs for students to get clinical training placements as well as a shortage of nursing educators.