Working for Goodbody Stockbrokers

The son of a friend of mine is thinking of working for Goodbody, at a junior level, but has heard some things he doesn't like about the company re training etc. I always thought these were an excellent company to work for. Anyone heard anything different?

What specifically does he not like about the training. too tough, too easy, not enough on the job experience?

Not enough time allocated to training in any aspect of the work is what he has heard from two people who started last year.. One guy remained while the other (girl) left. My son's friend is not afraid of hard work by any means, he's a diligent type but, he says he has listened to these two becoming more and more stressed out as the year progressed, to the point that he feels they've had a radical personality change since they began working there.

If it was only one person complaining it wouldn't be so bad but it's not.

It's the nature of the beast I'm afraid.
Stockbroking is a sink or swim business. Juniors are always worked the hardest and to survive your personality does change and adapt.
Diligence is essential but a thick skin even more so, if you are patient and don't take things to heart to much you will survive and the financial rewards are not insignificant.
As for a structured training schedule, I can't comment on Goodbodys but in other brokers, juniors usually spend a rotational period on a number of desks and when they find one they like and the feeling is mutual, this is usually where they end up.

Thanks for that NorfBank, I'll pass it on. I should say though, that these two were not junior stockbrokers although they both hoped to be one day. In a strange way, if they were, I'd almost understand why everything was lumped on top of them because, by its very nature, the job is a stressful one! There's nothing like practicing for a future role!

I actually spoke to the girl who left and although she wouldn't say much, she said that there was constant talk of training which never materialised. There was an assumption at the higher levels that new, or relatively new people, received adequate training and so the newbies felt like idiots when asked to answer questions which all assumed they should know but, in fact, they'd never heard of before. She also said that everybody was very busy covering their own a**. Again the nature of the beast I fear.

Having listened to her, I felt this girl was right to leave and she is now in another stockbrokers and happy as a sandboy. I have to stress that I don't actually know anyone who works for Goodbody and have always been led to believe that they are an excellent company. One or two bad experiences doesn't really change that perception. However, I did work at a senior level in Human Resources for many years and it strikes me that the Personnel Department may be taking the word of Team Leaders etc. that new staff are adequately trained and happy. I always found it better to have an informal chat with new recruits which remained private and instigate change based on feedback. In this way the new recruit doesn't feel like they've landed anybody in it which, of course, it shouldn't. My motto is if something's not working ..fix it..no blame attached.

Anyway, any other thoughts gratefully received. Do you think he should go for it?? Are there other, perhaps better opportunuties out there?