The financial sector is an incredibly exciting space with loads of great job opportunities for those who have the right skill set. If you’re looking to get into this competitive industry there’s a few skills that will set you apart and help you succeed.
Here are a few that businesses value within the financial workplace.
- People Skills
You’ll be working with a huge range of people as part of a role in the financial sector. Whether you’re communicating in person or via email with clients or colleagues, you’ll be sharing complex information. Which is why clarity is hugely important for any candidate both written and verbal as part of communications in the business.
Beyond communication, you need to be a real people-person to do well in this role and be able to develop strong relationships with those that are part of your working network. Having a high level of emotional intelligence is a great skill to have – and one that employers will be looking for.
- Problem Solving
Problem solving is an important skill to have across many roles but especially in the financial sector when you’re dealing with huge sums of money and complex systems. As part of your role, you’ll need to be able to stay cool under pressure and solve dilemmas with some pretty high stakes. Depending on your position in the company, the financial wellbeing of the business and those of your clients’ businesses may be your responsibility.
Highlighting the ways in which you’re a great problem solver on your CV will definitely get you noticed by those employers in the financial industries.
- Analytics
When it comes to finance, there’s a lot of numbers involved. And while math is helpful, analytical skills are even more so – because the numbers are just numbers if you can’t establish what they actually mean. Being able to turn data into insight through analytics is key as its this insight that informs decisions as part of the business.
Be sure to showcase your analytical skills as part of any interview as they’ll be necessary should you get the role.
- Technical Knowledge
Technology and software are everywhere — and used for almost everything these days. And it’s constantly evolving. Having a strong understanding of how to use the tech that’s part of your job – whether it’s computers, smart devices, checks and more – as well as the software, is really non-negotiable.
If you’re a bit behind on the times, there’s lots of online courses out there to get you up to date. Be sure to list all the software you’re competent in on your resume as it can really set you apart from others. If you already know a lot of the systems and software that are in place, employers know you’ll be able to hit the ground running should they hire you.
- Willing to Learn
But what if you don’t know everything there is to know about your role? No one does when they first start out! But having a positive attitude and willingness to learn can be more important than what you actually do know. Employers are looking for candidates that will want to continue to do better and never become complacent in their role, especially as the industry is constantly changing. Showing your eagerness to build your knowledge and skill set is just as important as the ones you already have.
It could just nail you that dream job role in the financial sector and be the starting point to a fantastic career.