HOW TO

JOIN OUR
WORLD
Interview Guide

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JOINYOU

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL Are you driven, courageous, entrepreneurial, self-motivated, confident
PEOPLE
and goal-orientated? Do you want to work for a company where people
are valued above all else? RMB could be the right place for you.
PROFILE OF A
TYPICAL RMBER
INSPIRED THINKERS JOIN OUR WORLD

JOIN OUR WORLD At RMB we believe that exceptional performance is only possible
with exceptional people. To be the best, not necessarily the big-
gest, we need smart, innovative, talented and passionate people
YOUR CV from diverse backgrounds and cultures who can deliver on our
strategy and vision.
At RMB we are doing more than just building a company – we
are building a community. We invest in both the personal and
professional development of our family members by creating an
environment for them to think differently and innovate to make
a difference in the world.

YOUR INTERVIEW As a respected talent brand, RMB creates an environment where
exceptional people who can challenge the boundaries and create
their own opportunities. These individuals ultimately thrive in
LEARNING MORE our entrepreneurial environment, supported by sound banking
ABOUT YOU principles and innovative thinking.
What we are looking for
Do you know what a typical investment banker looks like? Definitely
a person with a head for numbers and a few financial degrees, you
may think.

True, but at RMB you are also likely to run into talented lawyers,
SHARED VALUES scientists, chemists – even aeronautical engineers to complement
our diverse talent pool. Why? Because we believe that a combina-
tion of skills is often the best way to reach innovative solutions and
OVER TO YOU create new ideas to give us the competitive edge.
We believe that happy employees
We believe that happy employees are people who love their jobs
are people who love their jobs because they are in the right roles to do what they do best. We
THINK BRILLIANT
PLACE TO WORK also believe that happy employees are more productive and are
because they are in the right roles
less likely to leave their jobs. That’s why it is critical that we place

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 PROFILE OF
A TYPICAL RMBER

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL
Although we employ people with diverse skills from diverse back-
PEOPLE grounds and cultures – RMB employees share the same culture
that defines how we work, what we value and what we expect
PROFILE OF A
TYPICAL RMBER
from our people.

JOIN OUR WORLD RMB’ERS ARE KNOWN TO BE: WE ARE NOT ONLY FOCUSED ON
HIGH-PERFORMANCE, BUT ALSO ON PEOPLE WHO:
• Highly driven
YOUR CV • Self-motivated • Make a promise
• Goal orientated • Are deeply invested
YOUR INTERVIEW
• Team players with strong interpersonal • Value our differences
and communication skills • Build trust, not territory
• Entrepreneurial thinkers • Have courage
LEARNING MORE
ABOUT YOU
• Multi-taskers • Always do the right thing
• Self-starters • Stay curious
• Confident but not arrogant
SHARED VALUES • Hard-working people who make things
happen
OVER TO YOU

THINK BRILLIANT
PLACE TO WORK

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 JOIN OUR
WORLD

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL You can apply to join RMB through one of five possible avenues.
PEOPLE

ADVERTISED JOBS ON OUR WEBSITE

PROFILE OF A
TYPICAL RMBER • Register your profile on the RMB careers site and attach your CV
• All permanent and contract roles are advertised internally first, then externally if we cannot
identify a suitable, internal candidate. CVs are screened once applications for the role are closed
JOIN OUR WORLD • We will notify you whether your application was successful or not

Read more about RMB’s job opportunities

YOUR CV

RMB GRADUATE PROGRAMME

YOUR INTERVIEW
Are you ready to work hard and play hard? RMB gives Honours and Masters Graduates with top
academics in Commerce, Business Science, Finance, Maths, Quant, Accounting and IT/IS the prospect
LEARNING MORE of joining RMB through the RMB Graduate Programme. You will spend between 12 and 18 months on
ABOUT YOU the RMB Graduate Programme to find your feet before finally settling into your career at RMB. The
programme further entails a two-week onboarding process; a year-long structured self-development
programme; and various technical skills training sessions.
SHARED VALUES
Read more about RMB’s Graduate Programme

OVER TO YOU
RMB BURSARIES

THINK BRILLIANT RMB offers bursaries to Honours students in the Commerce, Business Science, Finance, Maths, Quant,
PLACE TO WORK Accounting and IT/IS disciplines who have consistently excelled academically.

Page 4 of 11 Read more about how to apply for RMB Bursaries

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 JOIN OUR
WORLD

CAREERS FOR RMB CLASS OF PROGRAMME

EXCEPTIONAL
PEOPLE Are you a one-in-a-million individual who has travelled the world, who sold lemonade to fund your
studies, while winning the boat race in the pub? Paul Harris (one of the founders of RMB) started the
RMB Class Of Programme in 1993 to bring street-smart, lateral thinkers with a passion for finance, with
PROFILE OF A far more than just good grades, into the bank.
TYPICAL RMBER
These mavericks have at least four years’ working experience and have excelled in all aspects of their
lives. And they don’t have a background in banking. In fact, the more unusual their work experience and
JOIN OUR WORLD degrees are, the better.

Many of the RMB Class Of alumni have carved great careers within RMB, the FirstRand Group and other
YOUR CV areas of financial services: Michael Jordaan (CEO FNB), Herman Bosman (Former Head of RMB Corporate
Finance, now CE of Deutsche Bank), Zelda Roscherr (Former Head of RMB FICC) and Toko Mncube (RMB
Transformation head).
YOUR INTERVIEW
Read more about RMB’s Class Of Programme

LEARNING MORE
ABOUT YOU RMB WINTER SCHOOL

RMB’s Winter School gives Honours and Masters students with top academic achievements in the
SHARED VALUES Commerce, Business Science, Finance, Maths, Quant, Accounting and IT/IS disciplines, the opportunity
to do vacation work at RMB in July every year. The RMB Winter School also forms a feeder for RMB’s
Graduate Programme.
OVER TO YOU
Read more about RMB’s Winter School

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PLACE TO WORK

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 YOUR
CV

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL
Your CV is the first impression we have of you, which is why you need
PEOPLE to ensure that your CV is current, relevant, factually correct, without
any gaps, keyword-friendly and above all, personal and different, so
PROFILE OF A
TYPICAL RMBER
you stand out from the crowd.

JOIN OUR WORLD THINGS TO CONSIDER

THINGS TO CONSIDER
• Start strong with a summary of your skills and key milestones
and accomplishments. This will grab our attention from the
YOUR CV During the interview we could ask you questions
outset
relating to your current position, career highlights and
• Instead of just listing your past responsibilities, make your CV
formal education. We may also ask questions to learn
stand out by emphasising your results, using quantifiable data
YOUR INTERVIEW more about you:
to show your accomplishments
• Customise your CV for the specific job you are applying for.
• We want to know about your authentic self, rather
Research the role and point out how your specific skills are
LEARNING MORE than what you think we want to hear
suitable for the job
ABOUT YOU • Are your current and future aspirations in line with
• Highlight your personal development. Show how you have
our strategy? If your intentions match our goals,
grown and changed in your roles, and the accomplishments
chances are better that you will be a good fit and are
you have achieved
SHARED VALUES likely to stay with RMB
• Demonstrate that you are connected and that you network
• Your experience and knowledge
with industry leaders and peers
• Tell us more about how your life and work experience
• Show industry insight. An awareness of the industry you are
OVER TO YOU as well as technical knowledge make you the right
applying for will show the recruiter that you have the ability
candidate for this role
to stay on top of trends
• Remember to include your contact details in your CV, so
THINK BRILLIANT that we can notify you as to whether your application was
PLACE TO WORK successful or not

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 YOUR
INTERVIEW

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL
If you are invited for an interview at RMB, you are potentially one step
PEOPLE closer to joining our world. This is your opportunity to show us why we
must employ you.
PROFILE OF A
TYPICAL RMBER

STEP 1 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

JOIN OUR WORLD

Research RMB and the FirstRand Group • Re-read the job advertisement closely before the
Visit our website to find out more about RMB and the interview
YOUR CV
FirstRand Group to show us that you are really interested • Whether the interview is online or in person, be
in working for us. prepared and ask relevant questions
• Think about how you want to make a contribution
YOUR INTERVIEW to RMB in the future as you gain experience
• If it’s an online interview, ask about team dynamics
STEP 2
and the virtual and physical workplaces
LEARNING MORE • Ensure that all technology in your control works.
ABOUT YOU Be on time
This includes computer and download speeds,
First impressions count. Build in time to cater for any
checking links and downloading Microsoft Teams
possible physical or technical obstacles to meeting your
(see Guideline Instructions)
SHARED VALUES scheduled appointment.
• If there are online technical problems and the
interview is interrupted, don’t panic. Have plans in
place via a phone call or an email
OVER TO YOU STEP 3 • For online interviews, ensure your appearance
and environment is professional and approachable,
Getting to know you including your attire and the background appearing
THINK BRILLIANT Think about your career aspirations, accomplishments, onscreen
PLACE TO WORK personal value proposition and why you really want to join
RMB.
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 LEARNING MORE
ABOUT YOU

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL
This is your opportunity to show us why we must employ you. We like
PEOPLE people to surprise us with solutions, creations and innovations.

PROFILE OF A
LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOU YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
TYPICAL RMBER

During the interview we could ask you questions relating to: Your strengths — How could your specific strengths (qualifica-
tions and attributes) be applied to the advertised position.
JOIN OUR WORLD
Yourself — Your current position, career highlights, passions,
education and something about you as a person. Why you want this job — This is your chance to tell us why you
want the job and why you want to work for RMB.
YOUR CV
Describing yourself — This is your opportunity to let us see your
true personality, rather than telling us what you think we What you disliked about your previous job — Avoid negativity,
want to hear. but do point out frustrations you may have had and how this new
YOUR INTERVIEW job could potentially meet unfulfilled needs.
Where you see yourself in five years’ time — We are inter-
ested to hear if your current and future aspirations are in line with How do you respond to criticism? — Are you open to construc-
LEARNING MORE our strategy. If your intentions match our goals, chances are good tive feedback and other people’s ideas and opinions?
ABOUT YOU that you will be a good fit and are likely to stay with RMB.
What are your most proud of? — Be prepared with a few
examples of your successes and use examples to back it up.
SHARED VALUES
How do you respond to stress and pressure? — We want to
know what you will actually be like in the work environment
OVER TO YOU and how reliable and calm you will be when things go wrong.
Re-read the job advertisement
Why you? — This is often a closing question and gives you the
before you go to the interview
THINK BRILLIANT chance to stand out. Talk about your experience and skills,
PLACE TO WORK as the type of person we are looking but also about you as a person — your attitude and interests and
why you’re uniquely suited to the job.
Page 8 of 11 for is often mentioned in the ad.
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 SHARED
VALUES

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL
Apart from matching people’s specific skills and talents, we also look
PEOPLE to employ people whose passions and talents match our principles
and values.
PROFILE OF A
TYPICAL RMBER
HOLISTIC VIEW MAKE SURE IT ALL ADDS UP

JOIN OUR WORLD We look at both the explicit, technical skills as well as the tacit, RMB evaluates job applications according to three sets of criteria:
intuitive, emotionally-based competencies of candidates.
• CVs that are screened against specific criteria for a role, in
YOUR CV We conduct comprehensive assessments to give us more in-depth terms of: skills, experience and competencies
information about your: • The interview process
• Assessments
YOUR INTERVIEW • Personality preferences
If you are successful in meeting all the criteria set out in the evalu-
• Emotional intelligence ation process, you will be asked to sign a form that gives us permis-
LEARNING MORE
• Problem solving abilities sion to do the necessary background checks. Make sure you know
ABOUT YOU • Learning potential and cognitive your CV and that your CV accurately reflects your experience. RMB
values integrity and honesty.
processing abilities
• Knowledge and skills Following the outcome of the background checks, RMB will extend
SHARED VALUES
• Values an offer to you.

OVER TO YOU

THINK BRILLIANT
PLACE TO WORK

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 OVER
TO YOU

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL
An interview is a two-way communications process. Don’t be afraid to
PEOPLE also ask us questions during your interview.

PROFILE OF A
TYPICAL RMBER YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW

How can I become a strong contributor to RMB? the boundaries, create their own opportunities, make a difference
The answer is simple: Be results orientated, adaptable to an and contribute to RMB’s success.
JOIN OUR WORLD
ambiguous environment, resilient, accountable and responsible
and involved. Throughout the years we have remained true to our African
heritage and our values. Our ability to think differently, our
YOUR CV collaborative spirit and our entrepreneurial mindset continue to
Why join RMB?
Apart from the opportunity to work for one of South Africa’s lead- set us apart.
ing Corporate and Investment banks, RMB employees also benefit
YOUR INTERVIEW from: What is RMB’s policy on providing seminars, workshops, and
training so employees can keep up their skills acquire new
• Training and development opportunities ones?
LEARNING MORE • Growth within RMB and the FirstRand Group
ABOUT YOU • Preferential staff rates from RMB Private Bank, FNB and We invest significantly in our people, as it is the calibre of our
WesBank people that keeps us ahead of our industry peers. A range of
• Access to the FirstRand Gyms development opportunities are available, related to enhancing our
SHARED VALUES • Subsidised catering, including a free coffee and juice bar employees’ performance in their current roles, preparing
• An invitation to the annual RMB Conference them for future roles and helping them become the best they can
be, at a personal level.
OVER TO YOU What makes RMB different from other competitors in the
market? Does RMB care about the environment and society?

THINK BRILLIANT Our competitors all employ smart, hard-working, self-motivated At RMB we believe that through good business we can create a
PLACE TO WORK people. It is the opportunities we afford our talent and the own- better world. Business plays an integral part in society and is key
er-manager culture and environment we offer that makes the to finding solutions to society’s economic, social and environmental
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 THINK BRILLIANT PLACE TO WORK.
THINK RMB

CAREERS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL
PEOPLE

PROFILE OF A
TYPICAL RMBER
“What we really want as an “The magic is in the “The candidates that
mix. It’s the mix of we look for are those
organistion is people who people who come from who can enhance our
JOIN OUR WORLD
value stature over status - different places with culture. We’re looking
different perspectives for passionate individ-
professionals who want to who collaborate to find uals who are innovative
YOUR CV work together, who earn each really creative solutions thinkers with a can-do
other’s respect.” for our clients.” attitude.”

YOUR INTERVIEW - ILKA DUNNE, GLOBAL - DHARSHNI PADAYACHEE,

- EMRIE BROWN, CEO LEADERSHIP LEAD INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND
TRANSFORMATION LEAD

LEARNING MORE
ABOUT YOU “You are going to have to be the custodian and the captain
of your own journey. Be ready for that and approach it as an
opportunity.”
SHARED VALUES
- JO MAHARAJ, COACHING AND MENTORING SPECIALIST s

OVER TO YOU
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Riaan vanAarde