The Importance of a Well-Written Resume

The Importance of a Well-Written Resume

The fintech sector raked in $73.5 billion in cumulative global investment in the first three quarters of last year. As hybridization within the sector continues, we’ll likely continue to see unique mergers across various financial services realms. We may see payments companies expand into digital lending and traditional financial institutions begin to expand further into digital channels. All of this transformation will be accompanied by the need for distinct skill sets and fintech expertise. For those of you who have experience in the fintech sector and are looking to step into a new role, you have your work cut out for you. The industry is consolidating and competition is becoming fierce. Not only are fintech organizations battling to capture more customers, but fintech employees must face stark competition for coveted roles within fintech organizations. We’ll walk you through some of the reasons it’s critical to have a well-written resume when throwing your hat into the ring, and we’ll also toss you a few tips on polishing your resume so it catches the right eyes.

Your Resume is Valuable Marketing Collateral

Having a well-written resume is critical to stand apart in a herd of fintech candidates. A resume (which is different than a CV, by the way) should give prospective employers a high-level overview of your track record. It can be helpful to think of yourself as a salesperson when it comes to getting hired by your ideal company (unless, of course, you are a salesperson. In that case, carry on). Your resume serves as a proposal that highlights your skills, experience, successes, and perhaps a meaningful failure that served as a valuable learning opportunity. Your resume should communicate to potential employers why they should “buy” into the idea of hiring you.

In short, a resume is a tool for marketing yourself. Yes, it’s a document that outlines your experience, skills, and degrees; however, it should also include snippets that demonstrate to potential employers how those experiences, skills, and degrees could potentially bolster their company’s success.

Your Resume is Your Golden Ticket

Some people underestimate the power of a well-written resume. They figure they will have all the time and leeway in the world to explain their professional history once they get in front of the hiring manager. Spoiler alert: getting in front of that person requires catching the right eyes with your resume. The hiring manager has a stack of resumes that all look and feel the same, so what makes you think that yours will grab their attention?

Leaving that opportunity to chance by not having a well-written resume is a mistake. Charlie couldn’t get into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory without a golden ticket and you won’t get a chance to shine in person if your resume — and the information on it — don’t leap off the page and grab the gatekeeper that’s reading it. It’s your first impression and will act as a conversation piece once you do get in the door. That alone is reason enough to make your resume sing.

Tips for Creating a Well-Written Resume

  1. KISS. This fun acronym represents sound advice: “Keep it simple, stupid” or “Keep it short and sweet.” We vote for both (and we don’t think you’re stupid). An ideal fintech resume should be one page or — at most — two pages. Fintech is a rapidly growing sector and recruiters and hiring managers are pressed for time. They appreciate people who are able to demonstrate an impressive skill set in a succinct way. Be that person.
  2. Demonstrate delivering under budget. If you’re applying for a role at a fintech startup, you’re applying for a role in an organization that is likely facing above-average financial pressure. Your resume should highlight ways that you delivered projects or results under budget. We think it’s great that you managed a team of 30 people and organized the company outing to the zoo, but hiring managers are going to keep a keen eye out for candidates who are cognizant of the financial limitations facing companies in the fintech sector — and who can perform despite them.
  3. Highlight your skills as a multi-tasking team player. The word “fintech” itself is representative of how the industry operates: it is a merger of financial elements with technological elements. Fintechs that are hiring will be on the lookout for candidates who can collaborate across departments as well. You should focus on your specific skill set and domain expertise, but don’t shy away from features scenarios where you were able to cross the departmental aisle and partner with other teams to deliver results. In most cases, this requires a person who has the ability to effectively multi-task, balance multiple spinning plates, and serve as a jack of several different trades.
  4. Make it look good. How you structure your resume is also important. You’ll want to decide if a functional or chronological resume will work best for you. You should also pay attention to length, grammar, and spelling. It should present as clear and crisp and be devoid of any errors.

Your resume is your first impression. Spending some time crafting and polishing your experience, skills, and wins is essential. The fintech sector is booming, and having a well-written resume can rocket you into the position of your dreams. Have your resume written by a professional to ensure that you are communicating your skills and interests in a manner that is clear and relevant to the positions you are applying for. You are the expert in your field, and the Resume Writer is an expert at communicating that in a way that matters most to employers. IMACT Payments Recruiting has professional resume writers on staff to help you with this. Contact us today!