Kaiser Tan ‘17, who graduated from TCNJ in Finance with a minor in Marketing, is currently a credit analyst at TD Bank. His first experience within the commercial banking world was during his internship before senior year with Manasquan Bank. Based in Parsippany, NJ, one of his main job functions is to underwrite new debt transactions (e.g. term loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate mortgages) for companies across a wide array of industries within TD’s Regional Commercial Bank. Besides underwriting new loans, which can range from $1 million to $10 million, and even $30 million in credit exposure, Kaiser also completes annual reviews of existing relationships and works closely with the team’s Relationship Managers (lenders) to ensure the Bank is profitable and protected from a credit standpoint by conducting in-depth financial and risk analysis.
During his time at TCNJ, Kaiser especially remembers learning a ton from taking two challenging classes with Dr. Mayo (FIN 320/FIN 410), as well as his stress management class on Monday mornings. He was also an active member of Alpha Phi Omega, CEO Peer Mentors, and Outdoors Club.
As a student, Kaiser was concerned about how prepared he would need to be for a job. But he realized in the workforce, that it was a continuous learning process: “I went through a great 10-week training program that utilized both in-class and on-the-job learning experiences. I still work closely with my manager and team members to ensure that the work is being done efficiently and effectively,” said Kaiser. “It’s a constant learning experience but now I am also able to help others.”
While Kaiser enjoys sleeping in a bit more and wearing comfortable clothes working remotely right now during the Coronavirus, he definitely “misses the daily office interactions, getting lunch with coworkers, and even the commute sometimes, believe it or not.” Some advice Kaiser has about working from home includes the importance of doing things, like taking a walk for fresh air to stay grounded. “People often say we’re not working from home, but rather we’re living at work — while it has definitely felt this way at times, it helps to carve out time to do the little things you enjoy,” said Kaiser.
When it comes to time management, Kaiser suggests creating a firm, flexible schedule and prioritizing what should come first. “I personally loved using OneNote at TCNJ (and still use it today),” said Kaiser. “If the assignments, group projects, and exams start piling up, just take a step back and realize that you can only do one thing at a time.”
“Having worked in my field for three years now, I’m always surprised at how small of a world banking is,” said Kaiser. He considers first impressions to be very important as well as to come prepared and be presentable.
Advice to students: “These are certainly challenging times and everyone is going through something different. Check up on your friends and family, reach out to professors if you’re having a hard time with a class, and try to find little ways to decompress. Whether it’s school, an internship, or a full-time job, mental health is extremely important — it’s easy during times like this to fall into the same daily routine and the weeks seem to just fly by, so make sure you are taking care of yourself!”
Fun fact: During his time at TCNJ, Kaiser went to Heidelberg in Spring 2016 and it was an incredible experience that gave him insight into an entirely new culture, which he highly recommends to every TCNJ Business student. He also enjoys food and basketball.