Learn the business strategy
The differentiating factor between a successful middle office professional who manages to cross over into a front office role, and those who don't, is that they dare to speak up. A middle office professional stands a higher chance of moving to the front office if they take a strong interest in the strategies that the front office is running. Understand what the traders are doing and how it helps the business. Having a strong commercial awareness places you in good stead for a front office role because you understand what works.
Be a people person
Front office professionals need to be good salespeople in order to sell the wide variety of financial services products. Middle office professionals are usually identified by traders when a role in the front office opens up - the ones who dare to speak up go to talk to traders and bounce ideas off them.
Those who stand out have an inquiring mind and understand the strategies that traders are implementing. Your personality really counts.
Being outgoing and able to network will serve you well in getting to know the right people, such that you’re the first to know about possible transfers within the company.
Have the right skill sets
As a middle office professional, you crunch numbers on a daily basis. Your employer is looking for someone who has good quantitative skill sets. Particularly for professionals who are over qualified for a role in the middle office, but had no choice but to take up a role in the middle office due to the economic situation, moving to the front office of an organisation may be plausible whenever the market picks up; and if your employers feels that you have the required skills and experience for a promotion.
Looking for a fulfilling job? Ask yourself these 6 key questions
Dreading another dull day in the office? If you’ve lost your passion for work, it could be time to make a break. Find a job you love by asking yourself these six essential questions… What do you actually like about work? When trying to figure out your dream job, it can be tempting to do just that: c
Read MoreHow to seek change when encountering a career bottleneck
For many people, there comes a time when their career reaches a point of stagnation. One becomes unsure of where their career is heading or if their role is still aligning with set career purpose or not. Often times they stop seeing any visible opportunity to progress – which could happen in any fie
Read MoreEmbracing change in the workplace
Embracing change in the workplace is a necessary skill for workers in 2020. As Covid-19 reached pandemic status, the world has been, in one sense, forced into the future of work. It’s a future where work is often location agnostic, and where the core focus is on outcomes to keep organisations moving
Read MoreCome join our global team of creative thinkers, problem solvers and game changers. We offer accelerated career progression, a dynamic culture and expert training.