From School-Based Trainee to Top of the Bank

Kayla Schimke has an impressive resume for a 25 year old, having worked her way up through the banking circuit and completed a round of additional qualifications since finishing her school-based traineeship through MIGAS.

Today she is the Customer Service Manager and Assistant Manager to boot for BOQ’s Springwood branch. Her role sees her manage a team of four tellers and take responsibility for customer relations, personal and home lending and compliance.

“It is an intense role and always crazily busy, but I enjoy the challenges each day brings. Most of all I’ve found it immensely rewarding to have built so many enduring client relationships over the years,” Kayla said.

“I still have customers who come in to see me that I worked with almost eight years ago when I opened up their first home loan,” said Kayla.

Kayla said she found it surreal to reflect on her achievements since completing her MIGAS traineeship (a Certificate III in Business Administration specialising in finance).

“It sometimes blows me away that I’m 25 years old and just about running my branch. If people ever approach me and say they want to talk to the manager, I can now say 'you’re looking at her’. It is a privilege to have both clients and my team relying on me every day.”

Kayla’s career journey began when a manager from a local financial services firm encouraged her to embark on a traineeship after meeting her at her high school.

“I initially worked with the host company once a week on Wednesdays and they took me on full time as soon as I finished school. I learned all the fundamental basics I still draw on daily – customer retention, working with teams and people with different personalities,” said Kayla.

When Kayla completed her traineeship she was offered a role as a Customer Service Officer with One Call Financial Services, where she gained further accounting and legal experience, drafted banking procedures and policies and took on responsibility for managing a small team.

Kayla was fortunate her employer owned multiple businesses and she was transferred to her current role at BOQ Springwood.

Since then Kayla furthered her education by commencing an online Diploma of Financial Services. With the wheel turning full circle, Kayla now mentors trainees and helps them develop the confidence and skills to follow in her footsteps.

Learn more about Business Traineeships or find current opportunities on our Jobs Board.