Bridget Mann, 26, works for Bank One in Chicago.
She has a Cool Job as a Consumer Lending Relationship Manager.

Her Gig:
"My job requires that I wear many hats," said Mann. She is a loan sales coach, loan educator, loan approver and loan processor. Mann is the liaison between people and their dream home, business or investment. One aspect of her job is working with clients to determine their eligibility for a Bank One loan.

A Day In The Life Of:
A typical day includes meeting with banking centers to discuss product parameters, sales approaches, profiling techniques to uncover loan needs, error reports and compliance issues. She also meets with retail customers to discuss mortgage needs, completes applications, send files to the closing department and reviews credit reports. She works about 10-12 hours a day during busy season (when there is a low interest rate environment) and 6-8 during slow season.

Career Path:
Mann began working in the administrative department of a real estate office during her senior year in college. "This peaked my interest into the real estate industry," said Mann. "I enjoyed the pace and variety of the work. Yet, I was interested in seeing more of the financial side of the business rather than the sales side," she said. After college she began a nine and a half month training program through First Chicago NBD mortgage company. She heard about the program through college recruiting and through a friend.>She applied and got the job.

After her training, she began working as a mortgage loan officer where she focused solely on supporting two Chicago area retail branches. Her job entailed developing relationship and referral sources outside the bank with Realtors, attorneys, etc.

She recently became the Consumer Lending Relationship Manager for the entire Chicago market, where she works with nine banking centers on all consumer lending products including, but not limited to mortgages. Her new job includes educating, coaching, managing the banking centers' loans and originating their mortgages for retail customers.

How Cool is This Gig?
Mann's first big break was a $3.2 million dollar loan! Big Commission!!

High Five:
"The variety and fast-pace. It's never boring."

Down Low:
"My job is always changing (banking, mergers, etc.) and it's demanding," said Mann. She often has to jump through hoops for customers and has to be eager to please in a sales environment, she said.

Wish List:
"This industry can be very lucrative. I hope to make a ton of money and retire early!"

Words from the Wise :
"You have to be willing to adapt to change. The banking industry is always changing, as is the interest rate environment," said Mann. You also need to be self-driven and motivated because the job is not always 9 to 5, she said.

Education:
BA in psychology from The University of Michigan.