I'm fascinated by the payments industry, having just learned some particulars from an old friend I became reacquainted with at a high school reunion a couple months ago. She's making a great living on the sales end, though she did say she went through a few very lean years before she really built up her business. But here's the thing: I have no talent for sales. I mean zero. I wonder what other opportunities might be available in payments/merchant services.
Sally Cleary, Currently in transition
Sally,
There are numerous positions that don't involve sales per se in the payments industry. Underwriting, customer service, technical help desk and dispute resolution are some possibilities. Some ISOs and processors might hire you with very little knowledge under your belt and provide on-the-job training. Others would want you to have a requisite amount of expertise before hiring you.
There is much you can do to educate yourself right now. The regional acquirer associations are great resources. The ETA has educational offerings designed to give people a strong footing in payments. And Visa is launching a new certification program for dispute resolution professionals. It will fund up to 500 scholarships for qualified applicants. Dispute resolution professionals are in high demand across the payments ecosystem, including at issuers and acquirers, Visa noted.
"Training and certification programs of this type can typically cost thousands of dollars, and participants in a program of this nature are often sponsored by an employer," Visa stated. [This program] is meant to help support those who may not have the means through their employer. Details for how to apply for the scholarship are anticipated to be made available in early 2020." You can also look through our magazine, online or in print, and contact companies that interest you and ask what entry-level opportunities they have available.
Editor
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