I chose to work in Danske Bank because the bank has a good reputation. Naturally, that is important when you are considering a future workplace. I already knew someone that worked there so I was aware that it was a good place, and that many talented people were employed.
 |
Nicolai Platen Rasch Larsen, 29 years |
Qualifications: MA economics, Masters economics and finance (UK)
Job title: Senior Dealer
Location: Danske Markets
Experience: Four years |
From theory to hands-on business of financial markets
When I first joined Danske Bank I started working in the research department. About which I learnt a great deal. You can bring a huge amount of theory from university to the job, but there is an unbelievable amount of practical details to learn about products, and how the financial markets work. My present role in Trading is very different. Working in Trading is about servicing clients by providing them with the best possible prices on our products, while also ensuring that we try to earn money for the Bank.
Profit and loss calculated daily
One of the interesting things about Trading is also that your work is always very visible and concrete. Your profit and loss is calculated every day so there is a rather no-nonsense calculation of how things have gone before you go home. It’s easy to see if targets have been achieved or whether you need to think again. The work can also be extremely concentrated with periods during which a raft of important things occur simultaneously; and longer periods when you have to be prepared to wait and busy yourself with other work apart from the markets.
Complex risk, interest rate options and inflation
On a day-to-day basis I work with so-called complex risk, dealing in interest rate options and inflation. One of the products my group works with is a type of fixed interest home loan which you would recognise as one of the new types of mortgages. Another example is my work with inflation, dealing with government bonds linked to the consumer price index. As a rule our customers are larger companies and institutional clients such as pension funds and insurance companies.
Excellent Nordic cooperation
We also have a fair amount of contact with our department in the other Nordic countries. Recently this includes Finland in connection with the Group’s takeover of the Finnish bank, Sampo Bank. So today we are a real Scandinavian bank. This means that we spend a lot of time keeping up with developments in neighbouring countries, which is extremely challenging and educational.
Learning from talented colleagues
The best aspect of my job is that I can continually develop and improve myself – both professionally and personally. There is so much to learn, and so many talented people who have been in the department for a long time. They have a wealth of experience and are a great inspiration on a daily basis.
Good development opportunities
In a large group like Danske Bank there are good opportunities to switch between different work areas. That’s great to know if one day I’d like to try something new. But another advantage of a large group is that you are in contact with many different colleagues that are extremely specialised within their areas. It goes without saying that this is also very educational.
Atypical workplace
Trading, where I work now, is a very atypical workplace. It is an extremely active environment which can often be incredibly noisy. We are 200 people on the floor, and when something happens in the market it can get extremely hectic within a few seconds. Some of my more experienced colleagues who have been in the department for many years have developed a special skill to block out all the disruptions so they can concentrate on their own function. It’s very important to find out if you can actually get used to that intensity.