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How To Write Perfect CV for financial services

How to Write The Perfect CV For Financial Services

Today is the perfect opportunity for young talented professionals to search for good and promising positions in the financial sector.

The economy is good, and more companies are opening new vacancies to be filled with talented young men.

However, not only new vacancies come on stage, but also more gifted candidates are willing to fill those positions.

So, the competition for each and every position is so high that we highly recommend those looking for a good job to think twice before sending out their resume.

It must be nothing short from perfect if you want it to get you a position at a company of your dream.

7 tips to write a killer CV for a position in the financial sector

Creating an amazing CV can be a daunting task, but as long as you want to nail it, you have to take all the time it requires and make it happen. But do not worry about it too much, as with our simple tips you will deal with the task with no problems at all. So, if you are ready to check out our basic tips that will turn your CV into an outstanding one, read on!

Adapt your CV to each position individually

You must have heard this tip dozens of times, but it does not make it less valuable, and we want to remind you about it. When applying for different positions, it is important to make sure that your curriculum vitae is tailored for each post individually.

Of course, there some requirements and qualifications in common since all of the positions are in the same financial sector. But each company wants their ideal candidate to have some particular qualities which make him stand out.

That is why, once you find a position of a company of your dream, do not send your resume out immediately. But rather make sure to finish reading the whole description and see whether you have all the qualifications and experience the company is looking for.

It might seem like a tedious task, but the time you invest in it will pay you at the end of the day. So, tailor each CV for every company individually.

Underline your personal qualities.

When you write a curriculum vitae, it is important not only to state all your job experience and qualification but also mention what you are like as a person. Look at it this way: it is the first time this HR manager meets you. So, you have to make a good first impression not only as a perfect candidate but also as a bright personality that will fit in the team fast and smooth.

If you are a good learner, mention it to impress the board. If you are a team player, state it, as this quality is essential to the company. Do not shy away when talking about yourself. You are selling what you have, and it is absolutely normal.

So, instead of keeping your amazing personal qualities to yourself, share them. The potential employers have no other way to learn about them unless you share.

Mention only relevant experience.

People in their twenties or thirties normally have an extensive list of places they have worked at before. This generation does not feel like spending thirty years working in the same venture, so they change jobs whenever something better comes their way.

However, they should not brag about in in their CVs. Instead, to save the time of those reading it and tailor it for a particular position, they should only leave the experience that has something valuable for the post in question.

If you worked at a fast-food restaurant as a student, there is no need to talk about it in your CV. Especially if you have better and more relevant experience. Thus, only mention the positions that helped you gain new experience and prepared you for a job you are currently applying for here.

Describe particular skills you learned while working and concrete achievements you made while holding an individual post. This will help the HR managers make a right decision and see how well you fit in their company.

And a bonus tip for you: make sure to begin your CV with one achievement that makes you better than the rest of the applicants. For instance, if you helped organize the filing system of the bank you used to work for, mention it in the beginning.

State that you helped your colleagues and subordinates to do the same tasks twice as faster than they used to before. Think about your case in particular and make sure to mention your achievements so that they are the first thing a potential employer will see in your CV.

Keep it short.

Even though you need to be specific when it comes to talking about your qualifications, you should not go on and one for ages about each and every little detail. Keep it short. Good companies that offer excellent conditions and valuable experience to their employees are more likely to get hundreds if not thousands of CVs daily.

They do not have much time to read each of them, so they dedicate up to a minute to every resume, and if they find what they are looking for in them, they put them in an individual file to come back to later.

Therefore, they do not have time to read an extensive list of your qualification which means you need to keep it short if you want the hiring managers to consider your candidacy after all. So, look at your CV before sending it, and cut out everything that seems like unnecessary information. Leave only the real “meat” in it.

State the technical skills you have.

Technical skills the company expects might vary depending on the position. The financial sector is rather big, so it offers a variety of choices there. That is why, we recommend our readers to study this issue and make sure that they mention the specific technical skills expected (of course, if they have them).

For instance, people applying for a position in Risk and Compliance should have experience in anti-bribery and corruption. Meanwhile, for candidates in Banking operations the knowledge of European Market Infrastructure Regulation and Anti-Money Laundering. Study this issue and make sure that you are applying for a position you have enough qualities for.

Mention the extracurricular activities.

An interesting fact: employers prefer those candidates that not only got the highest grades possible but also managed to have social life and volunteer for different organizations. They do not need robots only interested in their job; they want real people who have other interests.

Also, the fact that you had high grades and still enjoyed the benefits of other activities means that you can deal with several things at the same time. It is an essential quality suitable applicants should have, so if you have such experience, then make sure to demonstrate it in your curriculum vitae.

Think of the following things to mention in this part of your CV:

  • volunteering
  • exchange programs
  • sport
  • other activities.

If, for instance you write on a blog or you write for different magazines like Daily Money Saving you should mention it in your CV.

However, do not forget to add the evidence to support your statements. So, certificates of completion, prizes, or recommendations should be attached if possible.

Make it personal.

Finally, remember that the only point of the CV is to present you to the HR managers. They want to meet the real you and understand you better. So, avoid being too standard. It is time you demonstrated your personality.

Talk about your communication and organizational skills in a way that is only typical of you and no one else. Do not copy anyone else’s work or insert pieces found online, but let them see who you are and what you are like.

Besides, make sure to talk about leadership skills and if possible provide examples. Sound persuasive but not pushy. And be creative whenever possible. Think of unusual ways to craft your CV.

Ability to think out-of-the-box is one of the most valued qualities in employees most companies are looking for. In our fast changing world, there is no room for conventional thinking. And if you can go outside the boundaries and create new brilliant ways to do something, then demonstrate it in your CV.

Keep in mind

Al in all, once you compose a CV based on our practical tips, you will end up getting more interviews than ever, if you have the experience. But even if you do not have all the required experience, you can still make a huge difference with a professional CV tailored for a particular company.

And before we wish you good luck in this process, let us know how you create effective CVs. What works best for you and what are your secrets of nailing this task? We will be more than happy to hear your secrets! Other than that, good luck!

About Lori Wade

Lori Wade is a freelance content writer who is interested in a wide range of spheres from education and online marketing to entrepreneurship. She is also an aspiring tutor striving to bring education to another level like we all do. If you are interested in writing, you can find her on Twitter or Google+ or find her on other social media. Read and take over Lori’s useful insights!