Example:

I used to meet some customers who tried to give us some fake notes; it requires us to have high extreme caution to avoid profit loss. Make a good cooperation between tellers. Furthermore, there is a big difference between buy and sell rate, if we intent to buy a foreign currencies from customer, a proper buying rates should be used, if we are going to sell foreign rate to customers, we need to use a sell rate, a failure of using the exchange rate could lead to a unwanted result. Therefore, when I make transaction with clients I always make calculation at least twice to make sure the figures are matched. When I need to pay cash to customers, I always count the money in front of them and double check the amount with the figure on receipt again. 

How well did I perform during the co-op work experience?

After I start my Co-Op in Dong Ping Finance, I always ask feedback from my boss, supervisor and my customers, they all think I have improved myself and totally devote to this job with full enthusiastic, I am able to apply the finance theory that I learnt from AUT into the job and able to absorb new information quickly everyday. For example, I have a good habit of reading newspaper and watching TV, because I think the big events generate in the world could help me to predict the trend of exchange rate and make a proper suggestion to customers. For instance, American sub-mortgage crisis influenced currency market directly; the exchange rate of USD to NZD had decreased dramatically after it (CN stockwatch, 2007)

During the Co-Op process, I have exercised arbitrage theory into the real life successfully. “Exchange rate arbitrage is the practice of taking advantage of inconsistent exchange rates in different markets by selling in one market and simultaneously buying in another.” (CN stockwatch, 2007) For example, there was one day when I check the daily exchange rate from different banks I suddenly found the sell rate of USD/NZD in ASB Bank was a little bit higher than the buy rate in ANZ Bank, it means we could make instant profit by selling USD in ANZ and at the same time buying USD in ASB by a comparable advanced exchange rate. My supervisor was satisfactory with the insight I found about this arbitrage. I realized that I had started to seek arbitrage opportunities by a material thinking.  

Currently I have my own customers, some people even make appointment with me, they told my boss, they are very happy to be serviced by me. I also have a personal notebook, I write down the name and contact details of VIP customers, if there are any good news or good exchange rate I will contact them immediately, I also email them and make phone calls in public holiday to greet them, I think this is a useful way to add value to my employer’s company, it also can practice my English and communication skill.