Navigating client services: Advice from our crew

Stepping into a client services role can feel both exciting and intimidating, especially when you’re unsure of what lies ahead. For new crew, building connections and learning about others’ experiences can be a valuable way to ease the transition.

Keep reading to explore our crew members’ own advice, experiences, and their best tactics to help you prepare for a role in client services.

George K.’s experience

For George K., a foundation in client services helped him understand the importance of personal and professional growth at Vanguard. Thanks to his experience, George is thriving in his role today as an onboarding & licensing administrator.

Growing at Vanguard

Completing the licensing process at Vanguard was an exceptionally rewarding experience. What truly sets it apart was the opportunity to forge lasting friendships and build meaningful relationships with both peers and mentors.

Vanguard’s unwavering support, comprehensive study resources, and close mentorship created an environment where I was fully equipped to succeed.

Vanguard provided not only the tools and resources to thrive but also a culture of support that empowered me to grow. It’s a place where personal and professional growth are not only encouraged, but also actively cultivated.

-George K.
Onboarding & Licensing Administrator, Personal Investor

Getting to the start line

Even with a strong foundation, getting ready for licensing can still be a daunting task. To help prepare for the licensing exam, we’ve asked licensing support specialist Justus M. to share her go-to study tips!

Top three licensing exam study tips from Justus M.

Beginning my career at Vanguard, I did not have a background in finance and was worried I wouldn’t be successful in this type of career. The biggest hurdle for me during this career transition was learning the language of finance.

During my time at Vanguard, I had mentors who guided and supported me as I gained more confidence in my role. Just as I’ve learned from fellow crew throughout my career, I wanted to share a few valuable study tips to successfully pass your licensing exams and thrive in this industry:

1. Remind yourself, this is temporary: This reminder helped me stay disciplined in studying since I knew the tests were going to be difficult, but the challenge is only temporary.

2. Find out your learning style and lean into it with effective study habits: I am a kinesthetic and visual learner, so I like to be hands on when learning new things. Understanding this really helped me to be active in my learning approach.

For really difficult topics, I would break them down into charts, graphics, or come up with a ton of silly little phrases that were memorable to me to help with content retention.

3. Be proactive with any help you need: You are not alone on your licensing journey. You will have a Licensing Support Specialist that you can lean on for tutoring sessions, general questions, and more support, but you will also have a group of people going through the same exams you are.

A great way to learn and retain information is to be able to explain it to someone else, so don’t shy away from working in groups to make studying a bit easier—and maybe even fun!

-Justus M.
Licensing Support Specialist, Talent Success

How John D. built his foundation

John D.’s Vanguard journey began on the phones before rotating through several departments. Thanks to his experiences, he built a strong foundation for his current role and is now dedicated to helping other crew members grow.

Learning the ropes

When I started at Vanguard, I came in with little knowledge of the financial world. It was a bit intimidating at first, but Vanguard made sure I never felt alone in the process.

I was given access to incredible resources from tutors, lectures, and a structured learning path that helped me build a strong foundation. I took full advantage of everything offered and was amazed at how much I was able to absorb.

The hands-on experience was invaluable, and over time I grew even more confident in my abilities. Now I’ve come full circle, leading others through the licensing process and helping them navigate a journey I’ve experienced myself.

There are so many opportunities at Vanguard if you stay consistent, take advantage of the resources, and believe in yourself. The support system here is unmatched, from leadership to coworkers who genuinely want to see you succeed.

I’m grateful for the growth I’ve experienced and excited to help others do the same!

-John D.
New Hire Team Lead, Personal Investor

Discover your next career opportunity in a client services role.