KEY POINTS:
Kalo Payne
Westpac Manurewa Branch Manager
What was your first job?
After I finished varsity, my dad said, "What are you going to do now?" I said, "Look for a job", and I opened the paper and there was a bold advertisement for the bank. You had to ring up and tell them about yourself.
I started as a teller at Westpac's Onehunga branch. That was 5 years ago and I was on about $25,000. I was 24, straight out of varsity and I thought I was a millionaire.
Did you enjoy it?
It was a huge challenge, I loved it. But, working in a team with other tellers, I would get peeved off when people didn't pull their weight.
What did you learn?
That anybody can work in the corporate environment.
How long did you stay there?
I stayed five months. I felt I had learned everything I could and wanted a new challenge so I applied for the next role up and went to work for the big branch in Queen St.
What was your boss like?
Motivating. My first manager was Aaron. He said, "With your people skills and the way you are, I think you would be a good manager." My next manager, Mike, helped me understand how to learn in the corporate world.
I treat my staff the way Mike treated me. You have to find information, not expect it to be spoon-fed.
Any advice for someone starting?
The best thing, when you go for a role, is to believe you will get it. If that person doesn't snatch you up, he's the idiot ... Plus, rules are meant to be broken. I asked Aaron how long would it take to be a manager and he said five, six years. I did it in three.
