<span class="bold">The job:</span> Senior vice president</p><p> <span class="bold">About the employer</span>: UMB Financial Corp. is a Kansas City-based financial services holding company. It offers banking, asset management, health spending solutions and related services to commercial, institutional and personal customers nationwide.</p><p> <span class="bold">My role: </span>As senior vice president and financial adviser for investment & wealth management, I build and manage relationships with clients who need personal financial services. This includes everything from generational wealth to college savings accounts. A few of the areas in which I specialize are retirement planning, wealth accumulation strategies, asset preservation and estate planning.</p><p> <span class="bold">How long have you been in this position?</span></p><p>About a year. </p><p> <span class="bold">How did you find your job?</span></p><p>I was recruited by a search firm. Financial advisers are frequently recruited. I had been working as a senior vice president/financial adviser at Country Club Bank at 110th Street and Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kan., for about seven years and was happy there. But when this particular recruiter called, I was immediately interested. UMB is one of the strongest banks in Kansas City. It&#x2019;s managed well from the top down. In the six months before accepting this position, I had 10 or 11 interviews, between conference calls and one-on-one interviews with the management team. I wanted to make sure I was right for the company and it was right for me. UMB even evaluated my interpersonal skills. They talked to me about my experiences with my previous employer; the successes I&#x2019;d had; what I might have handled differently. We got to know each other really well. One of the last meetings we had was a dinner where my wife was able to meet those for whom I&#x2019;d be working. After that dinner, we both felt it was the right move. When I had reconfirmation from my wife, it was a lock. </p><p> <span class="bold">What helped the most in the job search? </span></p><p>Moving slowly and being thorough helped me feel confident about my decision before accepting the opportunity. The several interviews with UMB allowed me to see the company&#x2019;s culture, which is a good fit for me, both personally and professionally. </p><p> <span class="bold">Did you reach a low point in this process? If so, how did you overcome it?</span></p><p>The low point in my job search was telling my family I was no longer employed &#x2014; in the days between my resignation from Country Club Bank and starting work at UMB. I have three little girls who loved that my work at Country Club Bank was in a building with a bakery and a doughnut shop. They were heartbroken. And, for me, the time in between jobs was ominous. It&#x2019;s always stressful making a big move like that. I focused on the light at the end of the tunnel. Once the paperwork was signed at UMB, I felt an enormous sense of relief. With that said, I transitioned on very good terms from my previous employer.</p><p> <span class="bold">What is your best advice for others in the job search?</span></p><p>Keep your head up and remain flexible. Constantly tweak your resume, focusing on key words and phrases that attract job search firms to you. It&#x2019;s important to stay relaxed during interviews. Be yourself and smile. My father told me to make sure you use a firm handshake. It is a sign of respect, and hiring managers notice these things. </p><p> <span class="bold">What is your educational and work experience?</span></p><p>After earning a bachelor&#x2019;s degree in software engineering in 2001 at Kansas City&#x2019;s DeVry University, I went to work in the telecommunications industry. When that market collapsed, I did a 180. I transitioned to wealth management, working first at Kansas City&#x2019;s Merrill Lynch before joining Country Club Bank.</p><p> <span class="bold">Is there anything else you would like to share related to the job search?</span></p><p>Stay positive and open. Opportunities often come around in the form of something new or different and should be considered even if it&#x2019;s different from past experiences. Consider outlining a career path that lays out the steps needed to reach your ultimate goal. </p><p> <span class="bold">How does this job fit into your long-term career plans?</span></p><p>This is an opportunity I had never foreseen. I thought, &#x2018;What the heck? I&#x2019;ll give it a whirl.&#x2019; It&#x2019;s the best decision I&#x2019;ve ever made. I&#x2019;m blessed and happy to be here. This job allows me to continue with my ultimate plan of one day retiring, focusing on my family and spoiling my wife, kids and, hopefully, grandchildren someday.</p><p> <span class="tagline_credit">Sue Dye Babson, special to The Star</span>