Loan Officers
Career Snapshot
Money is'rented' by financial organisations in the form of loans. They don't make any money if they don't make any loans. Loan officers are critical employees because they work with consumers to gather and analyse the information needed to determine how much someone can borrow.
To be sure, there are established financial formulas. However, loan officers who specialise in 'commercial' lending, or loans to businesses, must also be well-versed in the industries in which their customers operate. Loan officers that specialise in residential mortgage loans, on the other hand, must be intimately versed with the local real estate market.
All loan officers, regardless of their specialty, must have an excellent 'people sense.' That also applies to loan counsellors, the people who step in when a loan is in jeopardy. Because no bank wants to repossess a car or foreclose on a house, loan counsellors assist customers who are having problems making payments in developing a repayment plan that they can comfortably live with.
Money is dealt with by loan officers and loan counsellors. But they also help people make things happen, which can be quite fulfilling.