Financial Institution Tellers, Clerks, and Related Workers

High School

Most banks today prefer to hire individuals who have completed high school. If you take courses in bookkeeping, mathematics, business arithmetic, and business machines while in high school, you may have an advantage when applying for a job. Most banks now use computers to perform the routine tasks that workers formerly did by hand, so be sure to take computer science courses. Take English, speech, and foreign language classes to improve your communication skills, which you will need when interacting with customers and other workers. Some banks are interested in hiring college graduates (or those who have completed at least two years of college training) who can eventually move into managerial positions. Exchange clerks may be expected to know foreign languages. Additionally, some banks hire tellers who are proficient in one or more foreign languages to assist customers who do not speak English.