A loan officer is a professional who helps get loans from banks or other institutions. This person can also assist people who are not entitled to conventional loans.

Before becoming a loan officer:
- take additional math, statistics and economics classes at high school if you can;
- develop your intercommunication skills, since you are to interact with clients most of your working time;
- learn to work on computer as a confident user;
- remember that fluency in any foreign language gives you an advantage when looking for a job.

Step 1
If you have a chance, get a college or university degree in economics, finance and the like. Applicants with degrees are more likely to be hired first by banks or other institutions. If you don’t have such an opportunity, learn on your own and try to find a job in the business where you would get a first-hand experience.

Step 2
Take some computer courses or master a computer yourself. The growing importance of high technology makes it necessary for professionals to be computer literate. Such knowledge will make your resume more competitive.

Step 3
Gather information about all the institutions in the area, which can provide a person with a loan. Find out the terms on which the loan contracts are rightful, the responsibilities and rights of each of the sides who sign the contract, any limiting conditions there exist, etc.

Step 4
Present yourself to people in the area. Socialize as much as possible. Give your business cards to neighbors, friends, and acquaintances. Don’t get frustrated if someone does not pay enough attention to your calling card, they may already have a loan officer. This should not upset you, be confident and proceed forward. Don’t forget to be amicable all the time, since any of your interlocutors may be your potential client.

Step 5
It is helpful to find a place at a bank or a real estate firm to work with professionals who can assist you in learning the basic and important parts of the working process. Such work means you have to learn to be a part of team, sometimes work under pressure or share the part of your income but it has its positive sides – your name will appear in certain circles and you will receive valuable recommendations from the professionals when you need.