DS Forums

 
 

how did Stella get her job in the world of banking?


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 11-12-2010, 01:00
yeahyeahwhateve
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,760

Just watched the final contestants show and it went on about how Stella left school with virtually no quals at 15 but then got a job in the world of corporate banking!

eh? come off it...

anyone know what really happened?
yeahyeahwhateve is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 11-12-2010, 09:27
Galaxy266
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,764
She probably started working there at 15 as a filing clerk, worked and studied hard, and progressed up the ladder.

Good luck to her!
Galaxy266 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2010, 09:34
trollface
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,694
She probably started working there at 15 as a filing clerk, worked and studied hard, and progressed up the ladder.

Good luck to her!
Yup, that seems credible. It's not exactly an entirely unusual thing to do.
trollface is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2010, 09:46
martyboy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 803
It surprised me that on the sausages task Stella needed a calculator to work out how much meat was required to make 500 sausages, or the cost, or whatever it was.

500 x 2 grams = 1 kilo.

I've never seen Nigella or Gordon Ramsey using a calculator.

I just concluded that Stella is not as competent at mental arithmetic as the average cook.

I'd like to see a task where the candidates are bookies for a day. That would sort them out.
martyboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2010, 09:53
Blondie X
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Kent but ex Sarf London
Posts: 26,526
She probably started working there at 15 as a filing clerk, worked and studied hard, and progressed up the ladder.

Good luck to her!
There haven't been filing clerks in Investment banks for years but she probably started at a junior level and worked through the ranks.

For all the bad publicity the city banks get, they are very good at training staff up to climb the ranks and promoting from within
Blondie X is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2010, 10:10
Jepson
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,089
It surprised me that on the sausages task Stella needed a calculator to work out how much meat was required to make 500 sausages, or the cost, or whatever it was.

500 x 2 grams = 1 kilo.

I've never seen Nigella or Gordon Ramsey using a calculator.

I just concluded that Stella is not as competent at mental arithmetic as the average cook.

I'd like to see a task where the candidates are bookies for a day. That would sort them out.
Ability at mental arithmetic is not a generally prized attribute nowadays.

This is particular true where financial matters are concerned because banks want the correct answer and mental arithmetic is not that reliable (although 500 * 2 shouldn't be a problem).

I think the reason why people who work in financial institutions use a calculator for seemingly simple sums is that they just get into the habit and preceding every calculation with the question: "could I do this in my head" would just slow things down.

I know that I've found myself working out 2 + 2 on a calculator when it was in the middle of a lot of other more complex calculation - it certainly made me laugh when I realised what I'd just done.
Jepson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2010, 14:27
billio
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,500
There haven't been filing clerks in Investment banks for years but she probably started at a junior level and worked through the ranks.

For all the bad publicity the city banks get, they are very good at training staff up to climb the ranks and promoting from within
Agreed .. I worked in banking for many years and was pissed off when less qualified, and less well spoken, candidates were promoted over me, to be honest, but again honestly, they worked harder, and it's fairer. There were lots of "Essex girls" in smart suits who worked 12 hours a day. Good luck to them.
billio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2010, 23:33
Danny_Girl
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,537
It surprised me that on the sausages task Stella needed a calculator to work out how much meat was required to make 500 sausages, or the cost, or whatever it was.

500 x 2 grams = 1 kilo.

I've never seen Nigella or Gordon Ramsey using a calculator.

I just concluded that Stella is not as competent at mental arithmetic as the average cook.

I'd like to see a task where the candidates are bookies for a day. That would sort them out.

She works in banking so she probably counts in millions rather than hundreds of pounds. Likely to be standard practice to use a calculator when dealing with those sums of money.
Danny_Girl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2010, 23:42
Danny_Girl
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,537
Just watched the final contestants show and it went on about how Stella left school with virtually no quals at 15 but then got a job in the world of corporate banking!

eh? come off it...

anyone know what really happened?
Probably through sheer hard work and a lot of determination. I know a couple of people who left school with few GCSE's and are now accountants. Both started at the bottom of the ladder in basic admin jobs but worked hard and their potential was spotted. Their companies put them through accountancy qualifications and they are both now fully qualified. Not an easy route to take as it was a lot of hard work alongside a full time job.

When I saw what a hard start in life Stella had and how far she has come through her drive, determination and ability she rose even further in my estimation.
Danny_Girl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 01:04
DavetheScot
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 16,500
Ability at mental arithmetic is not a generally prized attribute nowadays.

This is particular true where financial matters are concerned because banks want the correct answer and mental arithmetic is not that reliable (although 500 * 2 shouldn't be a problem).

I think the reason why people who work in financial institutions use a calculator for seemingly simple sums is that they just get into the habit and preceding every calculation with the question: "could I do this in my head" would just slow things down.

I know that I've found myself working out 2 + 2 on a calculator when it was in the middle of a lot of other more complex calculation - it certainly made me laugh when I realised what I'd just done.
I work in a pensions department and I'm the same. You just get into the habit of doing calculations on a calculator and end up doing it even with very easy sums.
DavetheScot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 03:15
magsy56
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,057
Can anyone explain how or why Stella left school at 15. I am 57 years old and the law changed whilst I was at high school - the law changing the leaving age from 15 to 16. Are we assuming that she left for family reasons or .... ??? Whatever happened she has done very well for herself and her family and I wish her all the best for the future (whether she wins or not).
magsy56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 04:11
parthy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,010
I work in a pensions department and I'm the same. You just get into the habit of doing calculations on a calculator and end up doing it even with very easy sums.
Yeah, I work in a scientific field and am the same. I kinda doubt myself a bit. And my figures have to be accurate so I need to be sure I have it right.
parthy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 09:16
Jepson
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,089
Can anyone explain how or why Stella left school at 15. I am 57 years old and the law changed whilst I was at high school - the law changing the leaving age from 15 to 16.
Probably because she was 15 when the school year ended but had a birthday before the next one started.
Jepson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 09:41
Shrike
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,473
Probably because she was 15 when the school year ended but had a birthday before the next one started.
Exactly - my 16th birthday is in August, but I had left school by then as exams were over.
Shrike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 10:19
Jo09
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,550
I think it's been explained how Stella works in a bank but not how she is a "Investment Banker" ....
Jo09 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 10:24
Jepson
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,089
I think it's been explained how Stella works in a bank but not how she is a "Investment Banker" ....
The BBC always give the candidates the most pompous job titles they think they can get away with.

It's rather like the all but meaningless 'businessman' or 'company director' titles so beloved of the newspapers.
Jepson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 10:28
Jo09
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,550
The BBC always give the candidates the most pompous job titles they think they can get away with.

It's rather like the all but meaningless 'businessman' or 'company director' titles so beloved of the newspapers.
Makes lots of sense.
Jo09 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 10:29
Blondie X
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Kent but ex Sarf London
Posts: 26,526
I think it's been explained how Stella works in a bank but not how she is a "Investment Banker" ....
It has been explained fully.

I work in Investment Banking and have doen for many years and it is extremely common for someone to start at the absolute bottom as a junior and then rise through the ranks to senior management or trader by sheer hard work.

I know plenty of people in my world on 6 figure salaries who left school with a handful of GCSEs, started as inputters or trainees and are now doing very, very well indeed.

As I have already said and so have others, The City is a very good place for rewarding hard work and determination rather than looking just at paper qualifications.
Blondie X is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 10:39
Jepson
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,089
It has been explained fully.

I work in Investment Banking and have doen for many years and it is extremely common for someone to start at the absolute bottom as a junior and then rise through the ranks to senior management or trader by sheer hard work.

I know plenty of people in my world on 6 figure salaries who left school with a handful of GCSEs, started as inputters or trainees and are now doing very, very well indeed.

As I have already said and so have others, The City is a very good place for rewarding hard work and determination rather than looking just at paper qualifications.
I think what Jo08 is asking is the justification for the title 'investment banker'.

I would imagine that of all the people who work for a bank - including those at very senior positions, only a very small percentage would really qualify for the title investment banker. Those who make the recommendations or take the decisions on the major financial transactions.

There would even be people at board level - IT director, personnel director, etc, who would not really qualify as 'investment bankers'.

But the BBC just pick the most important, hifalutin' sounding title they think they can get away with and go with that. Not in any way intending to belittle Stella's achievements - the same thing tends to happen to all the candidates.
Jepson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 10:45
Henry Price
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 88
She could have left school at 15 illegally. It seems she was between homes at that time, and some people fall outside the system. Local Education Authorities are about as useful as a chocolate teapot and by the time all of the facts are discovered she could have been 16 anyway.

LS seems to want to gamble this year, but "Steady Stella" would be a safe bet. She'd get the job done, whatever it was.
Henry Price is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 10:51
Blondie X
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Kent but ex Sarf London
Posts: 26,526
I think what Jo08 is asking is the justification for the title 'investment banker'.

I would imagine that of all the people who work for a bank - including those at very senior positions, only a very small percentage would really qualify for the title investment banker. Those who make the recommendations or take the decisions on the major financial transactions.

There would even be people at board level - IT director, personnel director, etc, who would not really qualify as 'investment bankers'.

But the BBC just pick the most important, hifalutin' sounding title they think they can get away with and go with that. Not in any way intending to belittle Stella's achievements - the same thing tends to happen to all the candidates.
Tbh, it's probably do the gbp know exactly what sort of bank she works in. If the just called her a banker, it could cover anything from being a cashier in a high street branch.
I always say that I work in and investment bank or The City rather than just a bank for the same reason, just to differentiate from working in a retail bank.

Though, tbh, no one but no one calls themself an 'investment banker' in real life unless they are a bit of a tw*t.
Blondie X is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 12:00
billio
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,500
Apropos of nothing much, I saw Stella at Liverpool St station two weeks ago, with two young women she appeared to be the boss of, as they were asking her which way they should go.
billio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 18:52
dumpty2
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 98
Just watched the final contestants show and it went on about how Stella left school with virtually no quals at 15 but then got a job in the world of corporate banking!

eh? come off it...

anyone know what really happened?
I bet she went to work with a pair of knee pads in her brief case to get that far up the ladder.
dumpty2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 21:16
billio
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,500
I bet she went to work with a pair of knee pads in her brief case to get that far up the ladder.
Pathetic, sexist and ignorant.

Is that how you get your jobs?
billio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2010, 21:28
Miriam_R
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,320
I bet she went to work with a pair of knee pads in her brief case to get that far up the ladder.
I presume you're saying she slept her way to the top!

These 'ideas' never seem to get old do they.
Miriam_R is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:09.