Write a Financial Resume

When you need to put together a financial resume, it can be difficult to decide what to put into this job document and how to format it correctly. The resume is extremely important for most employers. It helps job applicants obtain an interview, where they can present their skills and qualifications in more detail. If you need to figure out how to make your financial resume, here are some of the most common steps that individuals use.

Steps

  1. Start with contact information. Make sure that all of your contact information is correct and that you have the most current contact information for where you can be reached. Without this key step, you could miss communications from an employer if the decision is made to contact you.
  2. Include a financial objective. The objective is also a key part of a financial resume. This short paragraph shows employers what you specialize in and what you hope to do for the company.
    • Refer to trading as part of your financial objective. Trading is now a huge part of the financial profession. A wide variety of companies hire individuals, not just to do accounting, but to pursue various investments and take risks. Assessment of risk and opportunity is a large qualification for most financial jobs, and experience in trading will go a long way.
    • Talk about money management in your financial objective. Again, any practical experience is helpful, but an orientation toward money management will also help you appeal to more employers.
    • Refer to desired specializations. Talk about what you would like to specialize in within the financial world, and describe how your past experience helps you to pursue this.
  3. Include qualifications and skills. Whatever you have not covered in your financial objective should be detailed in other areas of your resume, for example, in your description of past employment.
  4. Insert financial keywords. The unfortunate reality is that your financial resume is as likely to be read by a computer first rather than by a person. Adding specific financial keywords can help you get noticed so you can obtain an interview.
    • Include administrative financial keywords like "crystal reports." Crystal reports are specific types of reports that are often used to guide the management of financial companies. Showing that you are proficient with these can be an asset.
    • Use procedural financial keywords like fixed asset accounting, auditing or mergers and acquisitions. Using these words shows that you have experience with them, but providing more details about this experience in applicable sections of your resume will be even more beneficial.
    • Include financial acronyms like GAAP and AP/AR. Sometimes, acronyms are the fastest way to reach out to either computer or human readers. Use acronyms that are commonly recognized in the industry.

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