Employee Stories

Deoclécio Junior

New skills and experiences key to building a career

Deoclécio Junior has worked at Standard Chartered for the last three years as an Immigration Specialist. His journey has not been conventional, but his determination to build varied and transferable skills has taken him from working for the family business in Brazil to London, via a diverse range of countries, experiences, and job roles.

Deoclécio understood very early on the value of diversifying his skill sets and experiences – he began in his teens helping out at his father’s construction company where he did everything from unloading trucks, getting to know the clients, preparing quotes, and taking orders. Wanting to challenge himself with new experiences and perspectives he ventured into accountancy then a stint in the police force, while juggling studies for his law degree, and thereafter continued to study a range of subjects from International Relations to Political Science.

His work experiences reflects what we describe in Standard Chartered as a ‘zig-zag career path’ – a unique career path which is up to the individual to cultivate through new skills and experiences. “Career growth is the skills you develop, not just the roles you do. Each time I learnt something new or had a different experience, I was growing my career, even if I wasn’t always being financially promoted. I’m not afraid to learn new things.”

At the Bank, Deoclécio manages a high-volume immigration case load for new hires and people moving internally, advising on our policies and processes. Alongside technical skills, he has the opportunity to practise his people management and listening skills, helping colleagues through relocation, which is considered a big life event to many. His own cross-market moves have helped him understand the challenges of relocation and he stands in a unique position to offer both technical and empathetic support to the colleagues whose moves he has managed. “I never forget that every day I am dealing with people with genuine worries and concerns. There is a very emotional aspect to this role – even when you know you have to stick to the rules and regulations, it’s really important to listen and be sensitive at all times. My own experiences mean I know how daunting it can be to move to a new market.”

Thriving as he is in his current role, Deoclécio has not stopped learning. He recently passed two important stages of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, a major milestone on his journey to becoming a qualified solicitor in England and Wales, a status he has already achieved in Brazil and Portugal. Juggling preparation for the exams, with his job, was helped by the Bank allowing him paid study leave, a benefit which is available when a professional qualification supports a colleagues’ development and enhances knowledge and skills that help them perform at their best within our organisation.

I am grateful and glad to have successfully passed these exams and appreciate the help from Standard Chartered which played a pivotal role. I look forward to the responsibilities and the opportunities that will arise from this new qualification!

Deoclécio Junior