Standard Bank

Life at Standard Bank"A successful graduate recruitment process is vital to any business which is committed to a bold strategic vision and sustainable business growth in the future. As graduates develop through their own hard work, our talent management processes and their own mobility, they quickly start to feature in our succession planning for the management of the organisation for tomorrow." David Duffy, CEO, CIB InternationalAt CIB, you'll find a challenging, stimulating and enjoyable work environment that encourages you to make the most of your potential. We're a global business with a presence on six continents, so we promote strong teamwork across borders. This means that, from day one, you could be working closely with some of our top performers across the world and benefiting from their expertise to exceed client expectations.Wherever you're based, you'll enjoy the scope to be innovative and creative, and to contribute and implement fresh ideas. You'll benefit from a strong support structure as you progress through the programme, but we believe in treating our people like adults. So you'll have the freedom to find your own way of developing solutions to achieve your goals. In fact, we won't try to change you into a 'Standard Bank person'. Because if we choose you, it means you already are.On our website, you can find out more about our unique CIB culture, and the ambitious vision we have for our business. You'll also find details of the training and Career development you can expect on our Graduate programmes. And you can read details of some of the unique Emerging markets transactions we've been involved in around the world and how our graduates get directly involved in improving the communities we work in.   Culture and visionStep into any one of our offices around the world and you'll find a real buzz. They're full of people thinking creatively and working together in international teams to develop unique client solutions. As a genuinely global business with a focus on Emerging markets, we promote a culturally diverse environment to reflect the variety of clients we work with and the markets we work in. So, whichever programme you join, you'll discover a dynamic, highly professional and varied place to work.Our aim is to go beyond expectations so that we can achieve the impossible for our clients. We positively encourage an open and friendly culture, where people from different teams and countries work together to understand the markets we work in, and deliver imaginative solutions that meet our clients' needs. We believe this creates a vibrant atmosphere that encourages innovative thinking and different ways of getting things done – a place where you, as a graduate, will enjoy opportunities for both Career development and personal enrichment.   Enjoying ourselvesWhile we're an incredibly successful business, we're careful to guard against arrogance. So, although we enjoy taking bold steps and encourage our people to think for themselves to make things happen, we don't like to shout about our achievements. That's not to say we don't like to celebrate – far from it. In fact, you'll discover a sociable atmosphere where people take a genuine interest in you and your work, and you'll enjoy an excellent work/life balance. In short, we get on with doing an excellent job, in the knowledge that we're benefiting our clients, our own business and emerging economies around the world. And when it's time to enjoy ourselves, we know how to party – just ask to see some of the videos!   Your career with usVisit any of our global offices and you'll soon realise that we're a global business with a real passion for what we do. The sheer variety of the work we're involved in, the clients we do business with and the markets we operate in offer you the scope to develop a colourful, enjoyable and successful career in international corporate and investment banking, right on your own doorstep.Our DealsOur commercial focus on emerging markets means that we get involved in a variety of unusual and exciting deals in countries that few other global banks are active in.The kind of transactions we're involved in have a major impact on the economies we work in. From organising finance for key infrastructure projects to developing pioneering deals in emerging markets, we combine innovative thinking with in-depth knowledge of these markets to develop unique solutions for our clients. So it’s no wonder we were named Best Investment Bank in Africa by Euromoney magazine for 2008.Many of our transactions are firsts for the countries we operate in. Learning and developmentAs one of our core values, we encourage and help our people to develop to their full potential and measure our leaders on how well they grow and challenge the people they lead. This means you'll have access to a wide variety of stimulating development opportunities once you join the programme. InductionFrom day one, you'll begin to develop your knowledge and understanding of our diverse business and the variety of emerging markets we operate in.As an organisation we're proud of our heritage and will try to present at least part of your induction in South Africa, whichever programme you join.The induction starts with a general introduction to the bank. On most programmes, you'll then learn more about the corporate and investment banking sector, the financial markets and treasury. You'll even get involved in case studies and will be exposed to tailored development opportunities in a range of useful skills such as project management, negotiation and conflict resolution. Networking and community initiativesThe induction will give you the chance to mix with graduates from different cultures, develop some lasting friendships and start to build a valuable network of contacts. This will all stand you in good stead as you develop your career in the bank. You'll also have the chance to meet our senior directors and relevant business unit heads.As part of our vision we strive to ensure long-term sustainability by harmonising the needs of our customers, our people and our shareholders, and by being relevant to the society we operate in. In line with this we strongly encourage all our graduates to get involved in a community initiative and you'll be involved in the Habitat for Humanity project as part of your induction. This project is one of our corporate social responsibility initiatives – building homes for disadvantaged communities in the Johannesburg area. Global Leadership CentreThe Global Leadership Centre (GLC) is Standard Bank Group's focal point for leadership development programmes. The Centre offers world-class programmes presented by top international and local academics, as well as other experts.As part of your induction, you will get the opportunity to be exposed to some courses offered at the GLC. You'll also be able to rub shoulders with some of our managers who will be at the centre. Development through your careerWe offer extensive opportunities for you to expand your skills beyond your induction. Your manager will work with you to create a personal individual learning and development plan. As you develop your career, you'll have a wide choice of classroom-based, technology-based and on the job development initiatives available, enabling you to continue to build your skills and expertise.These development initiatives could be aligned to your own specific needs as well as those of the business you find yourself in, to enable you to excel in your role. We also believe in offering opportunities aimed at your long-term development.As you can see, there's a range of development opportunities available to you, but it's up to you to discuss them with your manager and/or mentor, and to identify those that match both your and your business unit's needs. Professional qualificationsIf you want to further your education or to boost your career with a professional qualification, we'll support you all the way. This could include bursaries, mentorship opportunities, and/or study leave to prepare for exams.Career developmentOur graduate programmes are designed to help you to develop a successful, enjoyable and rewarding career through the bank. We'll help you to make the most of a broad range of development opportunities, with continuous monitoring and feedback to ensure that you're happy with the way your career's developing, and to guide you on which skills areas you may need to strengthen.   Personal development planWhichever graduate programme you join, you'll go through a series of challenging rotations in different CIB business areas. To enhance your professional development, at the end of each rotation we'll review your performance with you. This gives your line managers the chance to rate your performance, as well as giving you the opportunity to assess your experience on the rotation. You'll receive feedback that will inform your own personal development plan, giving you opportunities to improve on areas you need to develop, as well as finding ways to continue building on your strengths. Similarly it is also important for us to receive your feedback as this will help our business units to continually improve the programmes for the future.At the end of the graduate programme, your personal development plan will give a detailed view of your abilities for managers who are thinking about placing you in their business area. They'll be able to see your progression through the programme, as well as your strengths and development areas, and how you've developed them. As your career progressesOnce you have successfully started your first role in your chosen business area, you'll join our performance management programme. You'll have a variety of opportunities to continue to develop your knowledge and experience through a variety of methods. You'll have access to a broad range of skills and career development courses to support and enhance your personal and professional growth and unlock your potential.Community projectsAt Standard Bank, we take our commitment to the communities we work in very seriously. In fact, one of our core values is to ensure that the work we do is relevant to the societies we work in. So, once you join the graduate programme, you'll soon get a taste for the kind of project we like to get involved in. As part of your induction, you'll spend a day working on our Habitat for Humanity initiatives, helping to build homes for disadvantaged communities in Johannesburg.Our graduates choose a number of Community projects each year to invest in and you'll get the chance to be involved in projects like these. Inkululeko Yesizwe Primary SchoolIn 2007, our graduates supported this school in Vlakfontein, an informal settlement south of Johannesburg. As the only school in this impoverished area, Inkululeko Yesizwe caters for a wide range of pupils. When the graduate team first visited, the school had no permanent structures – just prefab buildings – and 90% of the 680 pupils were on the government feeding scheme. For most, the two pieces of bread and jam they got at school was their only meal of the day.The graduates really threw themselves into raising funds to support the school. The London graduates organised an incredibly popular Pub Quiz that got the whole business involved and raised around R5000 ($725). And graduates in Johannesburg ran a raffle to win lunch for the winner and 4 friends in the bank's wine cellar, which raised over R50,000 ($7,250). By developing a strong working relationship with the Group's Corporate Social Investment unit, the graduates then persuaded the unit to match their fund-raising rand for rand. So the total raised from the raffle was over R100,000 ($14,500).The result? The first permanent structure on the school's grounds – a kitchen – is being built with the funds the graduates raised, which will be well stocked to give the pupils the nutritious meals they need every day.   Winter warmers – Salvation ArmyAnother of the graduate fund-raising initiatives was a collection of winter clothes and blankets throughout our Johannesburg offices. The graduate team put decorated boxes in the staff kitchens in two office buildings to collect items, and organised a marketing campaign to encourage people on all floors to fill them with donations as many times as they could.As well as clothing and blankets, the campaign also received donations of money which were used to buy more blankets. In the end, ten large boxes of clothes and blankets were donated to the Salvation Army, including R1540 ($224) of new blankets that were bought with cash donations.

Our programmes"The Graduate Development Programme is vital to talent management at CIB, helping us identify and develop a pool of high-potential graduates to take on the responsibility of leading CIB into the future." David Munro, CEO, CIB South AfricaThe criteria needed to enter our programmes and the content of the programmes themselves differ, depending on where you're based. This means it's important to read the details carefully and identify which programme's right for your future career ambitions before you apply.We run a number of challenging and stimulating Graduate programmes in specific Business areas, based in both Johannesburg and London. The programmes based in Johannesburg are only open to South African nationals.Whichever programme you apply for, you'll enjoy an induction at our headquarters in Johannesburg. Here, you'll gain an insight into CIB and the way we work, as well as gaining hands-on, practical experience of our business.Continuous supportYou'll also have plenty of support as you progress through the programme. Every graduate trainee is assigned a mentor, who's a director of the business. This not only gives you direct access to a senior director from day one, but it's also your first chance to start developing a valuable network of contacts that will help you in your future career.As well as a mentor, you'll have a buddy – a recent graduate trainee who's there to answer any of the questions you might have about the programme. Don't be shy about asking them about anything – even if you think it might be a stupid question. Because to us, there's no such thing as a stupid question.Find out moreSo, take a look at the details of our programmes on our graduate website. You'll find out what you can expect when you join each programme and the qualifications we're looking for.