The accidental career: That's what some people call the banking profession.

To help students chart a more direct path to the field, Lundquist College Career Services teamed with the college's Finance and Securities Analysis Center and the University of Oregon Department of Economics to hold an event last month titled "Careers in Banking."

The event included a discussion panel and career expo to introduce Business and Economics students to the world of banking careers.

Five panelists kicked things off by describing their career paths, what surprised them about the industry and why they recommend starting as a teller. They included Robin Burk, US Bank; Jen Smith, Umpqua Bank; Kate Salyers, Pacific Continental Bank; Malcolm Hodge, Columbia Community Bank; and Jesse Williams, Siuslaw Bank.

"The panel was designed to show the variety of banking environments – big, small, regional, and so forth,” said Career Services Director James Chang. “The idea was to help people see the different places you could go and the different things you could do."

At a bank-centric career expo in the Lillis atrium, more than 100 students mingled and networked with representatives from 11 financial organizations. Career paths were discussed and information was exchanged regarding job and internship opportunities, Chang said.

Among the take-aways for students: “Your first job is not your last job. If you want to be a leader, you’ll be in a better position to appreciate (and lead) the people under you if you’ve walked in their shoes.”

"Events like this highlight the enthusiasm local and regional employers have for the talents of our students, and the motivated students have stepped right up to grab internships and jobs for this next year," said finance instructor Jon Moulton, who teaches the college's commercial banking course and helped organize the event.

- from UO's Lundquist College of Business