What are the pros and cons of being a bank teller?

The pros and cons of being a bank teller relate to minimal education requirements, salary and benefits, and erratic workflow. Here are the top pros and cons of being a bank teller:

Pros:

• Minimal education requirements

Most banks only require a bank teller to have either a high school diploma, GED, or an associate's degree. While having a bachelor's degree can increase the chances of you being hired and ultimately promoted within the bank branch, it is not usually a strict requirement. It is an entry-level position that typically takes around one month to train for.

• Salary and benefits

Bank tellers don't make very high salaries, however, banks often offer competitive salaries to attract good bank teller candidates. In addition to a decent salary, as a bank teller, you are likely to receive employee benefits. Some common employee benefits of a bank teller include:

• Health insurance

• Dental and vision insurance

• 401 (k) retirement plan

• Paid holidays

• Paid vacations

Specific benefits depend on the bank you work for.

• Learn new skills

As a bank teller you have the opportunity to learn new skills that are transferable to other roles and careers. Common transferable skills include money handling, data entry, and sales skills. These can be utilized in other banking positions or even in other industries.

• Reliable work schedule

Bank tellers benefit from a consistent and reliable work schedule. Most banks keep normal business hours, and this means as a bank teller you are likely to get nights and weekends off.

Cons:

• Erratic workflow

Bank tellers can experience days where customers are coming in non-stop and extremely slow days where very few customers come in at all. This also depends on the bank you work for and its location, but the erratic workflow is a common complaint amongst bank tellers. This makes it difficult to get into any sort of rhythm with work and means it can be unpredictable.

Bank tellers take on a lot of responsibility concerning financial transactions. This can be very stressful, as mistakes can impact the lives of customers, and at worst cause a bank teller to be terminated. Having these thoughts in your head throughout the day can put some bank tellers in an agitated and nervous state. Many find the work overly stressful.

• Enforced quotas

Some bank tellers work in banks that enforce quotas. These quotas normally have to do with getting a customer to sign up for an account or services that the bank provides. Many find it difficult to balance this sales mentality while also having to complete financial transactions expediently and politely.

• Conflicts with customers

Bank tellers get confronted by angry customers. Since a bank teller is a representative of the bank, the customer's anger can often get directed towards a bank teller. Some customers also have negative outlooks on a specific bank for one reason or another, and though a bank teller does not create their bank's policies, they might feel the conflict from them.