Employer: Citizens Mortgage Corp., a division of Citizens Bank in Quincy.

Tell me about your job: I have three different types of customers. I work with real estate brokers to help their customers get mortgages. I also work with Citizens Bank customers and with local nonprofit agencies, which provide affordable housing to low- and moderate-income families. I work with a lot of Vietnamese customers. Most of them are first-time home buyers and can't speak English. Since I speak Vietnamese, I can help the Vietnamese customers get the mortgage they need.

Is a second language required to be a mortgage loan officer? It's not a requirement. However, to speak another language is helpful. Citizens has many mortgage lending officers who speak different languages. Many are bilingual. Thirty percent know more than one language.

How do you help customers who want a mortgage? I sit down with the customer, and guide them through the steps of receiving a mortgage. I check their financial history, such as their credit. I also go over their income, and discuss the downpayment. After discussing these criteria, I direct them to the right program. There are many mortgage programs, and every customer will need a different one.

Does the job require traveling? I travel around Quincy, Boston, Lowell, Worcester, and the state.

What's your goal? My goal is to be in a senior position, such as a regional manager. I would like to become a senior community manager. I would like to work with loans for the low-income communities because I have been there myself.

Do you keep in contact with your customers frequently? Yes. Keeping in contact with my customers is the most important job for me. I keep in touch with them even after the loan has been closed.

What kind of education is required for this job? We use sophisticated software, so having computer skills is helpful. It's also helpful to have knowledge of real estate, financial, and investment skills. I received a four-year degree in international banking from Western New England College in Springfield.

What do you love about your job? I meet new people every day. Everyone who walks through the door has a different background. It's diverse, and it gives me a challenge.

What's the salary range like for someone in this field? Loan officers are generally compensated through 100 percent commission. The average loan officer makes about $90,000 a year.

Any final thoughts about your job? When I go home, I reflect on my life and how lucky I am. I think about helping other people, and it makes me happy to think about how I can help others who were in my shoes.

-LYDIA KIM