Banking Resume : Step-by-Step Writing Guide (with Examples)

Choosing a career in banking in 2024 is an excellent choice! Recent research from Forbes reveals that finance and banking jobs globally take the lead in terms of salary, surpassing information technology and healthcare, which come in second and third, respectively.

Creating a well-written banking resume is one way to break into this industry. As one of the country's economic pillars, major banks have clear, transparent, and fair hiring standards. In fact, entry-level employees with non-financial backgrounds can apply for certain positions.

In return, those who are accepted receive several benefits, ranging from job security to competitive salaries to career advancement opportunities.

This time, CakeResume provides banking resume examples and templates, as well as tips and important information about the types of jobs in banking that you need to know. So be sure to read this article to the end!

Who Are Bankers and What Do They Do?

A banker is a general term for professionals who work in the banking industry. Their scope of work vary widely depending on their specific role and the type of banking they are involved in. This could include managing large accounts, facilitating loans for businesses, conducting financial analysis, trading securities, or providing general banking services.

Bankers can deal with a diverse range of clients, from individuals to large corporations, depending on their specific role within the bank.

Bankers often have specialized roles within their institutions, focusing on areas like loans, investments, wealth management, or commercial banking. If you are studying banking or want to be a banker working in specific function, here are some options for you to consider:

• Loan processor
• Mortgage Consultant
• Investment representative
• Bank teller
• Credit analyst
• Investment banker
• Relationship manager
• Financial Advisor
• Financial analyst
• Asset manager
• Underwriter
• Internal auditor
• Investment banking analyst 
• Loan Officer

The Difference Between A Banker Vs. A Personal Banker

A personal banker specifically focuses on providing banking services to individual clients. They typically work in retail banking and are dedicated to assisting clients with their personal financial needs.

Personal bankers help clients with opening and managing bank accounts, savings plans, loans, mortgages, and investment products. They provide personalized financial advice and solutions based on the client's financial goals and needs.

Their primary clientele consists of individuals and sometimes small businesses. They build and maintain relationships with these clients to ensure their banking needs are met.

Learn how to write a personal banker resume with Cake!

The Difference Between A Banker Vs. A Banker Teller

Bank tellers are the frontline employees in a bank branch who handle routine transactions and interact directly with customers.

Their primary responsibilities include processing deposits and withdrawals, cashing checks, accepting loan payments, and handling other basic banking transactions. They may also assist with account inquiries, provide information on bank products and services, and help customers with basic account issues.

Bank tellers primarily interact with individual customers and sometimes small business clients who visit the bank branch for everyday banking needs.

Bank tellers are key to providing excellent customer service, as they are often the first point of contact for customers. They need to be friendly, efficient, and accurate in handling transactions and addressing customer questions or concerns.

The interaction is typically more transactional and less focused on providing in-depth financial advice compared to personal bankers.

Learn how to write a bank teller resume with Cake!

Guidelines for Writing a Banking Resume

To write an effective banking resume, it is essential to understand the specific function of each section. In total, there are seven sections that you need to be familiar with, and CakeResume provides examples to facilitate comprehension.

1. Personal Information

Hiring managers need to get to know you initially, which is why the personal information section is placed at the top. However, it is important to remember that not all information is worth including on a resume.

2. Banking Resume Summary

A resume summary serves as a concise statement that encapsulates your identity, work experience, accomplishments, and the specific position you are applying for. Its purpose is to capture the attention of hiring managers.

However, for recent graduates, the resume summary takes on a different structure. Instead of focusing on work experience, it emphasizes the technical and non-technical skills that you possess, highlighting their relevance to the desired position.

Outlined below are examples of resume summaries for entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level candidates:

3. Career Objective

A career objective is a concise one-to-two-sentence statement that outlines the goals a candidate aims to achieve. This statement serves to demonstrate ambition to hiring managers.

Examples of career objectives:

4. Work Experience

Now we come to the most crucial part of a banking resume: the work experience section. This section not only describes your responsibilities at previous companies but also highlights your accomplishments and contributions.

To ensure accuracy and effectiveness, consider the following tips when writing your work experience section:

• Use bullet points to maintain concise and focused sentences. Remember that hiring managers typically spend only a few seconds reviewing each resume.
• Utilize action verbs to emphasize your hard work and credibility in your previous roles. Here are some examples of action verbs: Boosted, Increased, Analyzed, Executed, Developed, Facilitated, Examined, Established, Approved, Clarified.
• To expedite the hiring manager’s assessment of your suitability as a candidate, describe your accomplishments in measurable terms, such as percentages.
• Include essential information such as the company name, location, duration of employment, and your official position.

Here are some examples of how to write work experience with measurable results:

5. Banking Skills

Good performance is underpinned by a combination of technical (hard skills) and non-technical (soft skills) competencies. These skills form an integral part of your value proposition to the organization.

Banks generally have specific criteria for the skills they require. What are these criteria?

6. Education History

Under what circumstances should you include your education on your banking resume? Here are comprehensive explanations:

• If you are a recent graduate or an entry-level employee without any work experience, your educational background becomes crucial for hiring managers to assess your suitability for the company.
• Banking is a diverse industry that consistently seeks highly capable candidates. Therefore, if you hold a Master’s or Ph.D. degree, it is advisable to include it on your resume to showcase your advanced level of education.
• If your GPA is below 3, it is generally recommended to omit it from your banking resume.

7. Other Information

• Languages: Fluency in English is the most common requirement for working in the banking industry. However, having proficiency in other foreign languages, such as French, Chinese, or Japanese, can also be advantageous, considering that bank customers can come from various backgrounds. 
• Certifications: Obtaining a certificate demonstrates that your skills have been professionally recognized. If the certificate is from a reputable and credible institution, it is beneficial to include it on your banking resume in chronological order.
• Hobbies and interests: Hobbies and interests are generally not relevant in the banking industry, although recruiters may inquire about them during the interview process. You may choose to include a hobbies and interests section only if it is relevant to the position and if you are at an entry-level stage.

Tips for Writing a Good Banking Resume

1. Conduct Thorough Research on the Company

Researching the company you are applying to is essential. It helps you understand the company's characteristics, the type of candidates they seek, and whether your skills align with the job requirements. Remember that different companies may have unique job descriptions and requirements for the same position.

Thorough research demonstrates your seriousness and determination during the screening process. Additionally, being able to answer the question, “What do you know about our company?” is common during interviews.

Providing well-informed answers shows the hiring manager that you are genuinely interested in joining their team. Research equips you with the knowledge to be better prepared and mature in your job search.

2. Understand the Distinction Between a Resume and a CV

It is important to grasp the difference between a resume and a CV. Sometimes, companies may request a CV when they actually mean a resume. This confusion arises because the terms CV and resume are often used interchangeably in certain countries.

A CV, also known as a curriculum vitae, is a comprehensive document that encompasses all your work experience, regardless of its relevance. It includes details about work experience, volunteer work, organizational involvement, internships, educational history, courses, hobbies, and other detailed information.

Resumes, on the other hand, are primarily used for job applications and should be no longer than three pages. They focus on relevant experience. For instance, if you are applying for a banking job, your resume should primarily highlight your experience in banking or other financial departments.

Including unrelated information in your resume will be considered irrelevant by hiring managers and may decrease your chances of making the cut.

3. Select the Appropriate Format Based on Your Work Experience

Different backgrounds and varying levels of experience are the reasons why candidates commonly use three types of resume formats. The significant distinction among these formats lies in the arrangement of each section and the narrative style. Let’s explore each format in detail:

• Chronological Resume: The chronological resume is the most widely used format. It suits individuals who have followed consistent career paths across different companies. In this format, you list your work experiences, educational history, and courses chronologically, starting with the most recent and relevant ones, followed by older experiences.
• Functional Resume: If you lack work experience and are a recent graduate or an entry-level worker, the functional resume is suitable. It allows you to emphasize your skills. In the summary section, you focus on highlighting your abilities and proficiency in hard and soft skills, rather than previous experience. Since you may not have extensive experience, the work section can include relevant experience from internships, organizations, volunteering, and other activities.
• Combination Resume: The combination resume, also known as the latest commonly used format, combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats.

Candidates first list the hard and soft skills they possess and then support them with work accomplishments or experiences. The combination resume is ideal for individuals with diverse work experience, such as freelancers or job hoppers.

Now that you have chosen the appropriate banking resume format, let’s ensure your resume writing meets the required standards:

• Keep the resume length within three pages to avoid wasting the hiring manager’s time.
• Maintain a clean appearance by using only two font sizes, such as 14 for headings and 12 for the rest of the text.
• Enhance readability by using line spacing between 1.25 and 1.5 to keep the resume organized and easy to follow.
• Select a standard font that facilitates recruiters’s scanning of your resume, such as Times New Roman, Open Sans, and so on.
• Lastly, submit your banking resume in PDF format, which ensures compatibility with various applications.

4. Utilize Relevant Keywords and Tailor Your Resume to the Company’s Needs

To streamline the selection process, companies often utilize AI systems or ATS machines to evaluate incoming applications in the initial stages. Resumes that successfully pass this assessment are automatically deemed “eligible”.

The key to passing the machine selection is incorporating the appropriate keywords, especially in the Summary and Work Experience sections. This machine primarily scans for these keywords to determine if the submitted applications align with the company’s requirements.

So, how can you identify the right keywords for your banking resume? One method is to carefully analyze the job description and requirements outlined in the job posting.

Therefore, applying keywords is closely linked to tailoring the resume you submit. It's important to note that a single resume cannot be used for all job applications due to the differing requirements. 

To avoid confusion, let’s examine an example of keyword placement and resume customization:

Company A looking for a Bank Teller

Company B looking for a Bank Teller

As you can observe, the teller positions in these two companies involve distinct responsibilities. Some of the identified keywords include ‘ensure accuracy’, ‘customer service’, ‘verify and ensure’, and others.

By recognizing these keywords and tailoring your resume accordingly, you can increase the likelihood of passing the initial screening process and progressing to the next stage of the hiring process.

Banking Resume Templates and Examples

1. Banker resume examples (Entry level)

2. Banker resume examples (Mid-level)

3. Banker resume examples (Senior-level)

4. Personal banker resume examples

Banking Cover Letter Example

In today’s job market, cover letters have become a topic of debate among job seekers. Many believe that cover letters are outdated and a waste of time since not all recruiters read them.

But is this really true?

According to a survey conducted, by 2022, 72% of recruiters expect candidates to submit a cover letter, even if it is not explicitly requested in the requirements. Furthermore, 77% of recruiters prefer candidates who include a cover letter.

A one-page cover letter serves as a personal introduction. It allows you to express your passion for your career or explain why you have chosen the company you are applying to.

If you’re an entry-level with no prior work experience, a cover letter can help you highlight the skills you bring to the table and demonstrate your potential value to the company.

For those switching to a new career, a cover letter provides the perfect medium to explain your motivation for entering a different field, helping recruiters understand your potential fit.

Have you experienced a significant gap in employment? A well-crafted cover letter can help clarify the reasons behind those gap years, providing important context to recruiters reviewing your resume.

To assist you in writing an effective banking cover letter, here are some helpful tips:

1. Include essential details such as your full name, city, email, phone number, and LinkedIn account to facilitate easy contact with recruiters.
2. Mention the date of writing the cover letter in the format mm/dd/yyyy.
3. Begin the letter with a proper greeting, such as ‘Dear Hiring Manager, or ‘Dear Ms./Mr [insert name’.
4. The opening paragraph should introduce yourself, including your current status (for recent graduates, mention your campus name and GPA), your relevant work experience, and the specific position you are applying for.
5. In the subsequent paragraphs, expand on your accomplishments, skills, and measurable contributions that highlight your strengths.
6. After discussing your achievements, address any additional information that may be relevant, such as your motivation for joining the company, explaining any gaps in your resume, or referencing a letter of recommendation you have received.
7. Conclude the letter by expressing your hopes for a successful outcome of your applications.

By following these guidelines, you can create a compelling and impactful banking cover letter.

FAQs

1. Can I work in banking without a degree?

Are you concerned about not having a finance degree but still interested in pursuing a career in banking? Don’t worry! According to MyBankTracker, there are several entry-level positions in the banking industry that offer specialized training.

• Bank Teller: Responsible for providing excellent customer service during transactions, ensuring accurate electronic recording, and verifying cash received from customers. Median Salary: $24,940 per year.
• Bookkeepers: Responsible for recording and maintaining financial transactions, including purchases, expenses, income, invoices, and payments. Median Salary: $35,270 per year.
• Financial Clerks: Responsible for basic calculations and analysis, implementing company procedures, and preparing financial documents. Median Salary: $34,960 per year.
• Cashier: Responsible for depositing and withdrawing funds, processing loan payments, and providing exceptional customer service. Median Salary: $18,970 per year.
• Bill and Account Collectors: Responsible for tracking overdue bills and negotiating with customers who have missed payment deadlines. Median Salary: $32,480 per year.

2. What are the main challenges of working in banking?

• Work pressure: When dealing with large sums of money, every task requires thoroughness, carefulness, and focus. Any errors in recording or reporting can significantly impact work performance. Therefore, working in a bank can be highly stressful.
• Overtime: White a typical working day for banks often follows a nine-to-five schedule, employees are sometimes required to work beyond these hours to meet customer demands or address the bank’s needs.
• Competitive work environment: The standards for bank employees are exceptionally high, leading to intense recruitment processes and fierce competition. It is common for employees to compete with one another in terms of skills and qualifications to secure high-level positions.

3. Are there banking jobs that can be done remotely?

Are you interested in working in the banking industry without having to go to the office? Or perhaps you’re considering applying to banks in other countries? Well, it turns out that several banking jobs can be performed remotely.

Companies such as Bank of America, Citizens Bank, JP Morgan Chase, PNC, TD Banks, and First Horizon are known to be open to remote workers.

Remote workers often find positions as virtual bankers, underwriting specialists, mortgage loan officers, customer service representatives, virtual payment consultants, and more.

Key Takeaways

1. A career in banking is the right choice because the industry offers job security, a competitive salary, and ample opportunities for career advancement.
2. One common mistake candidates make when applying for jobs is not realizing that their banking resume may be weak and fail to highlight their skills effectively.
3. Proper keyword placement is crucial when compiling a banking resume, and it’s important to avoid common pitfalls.
4. While some may perceive cover letters as old-fashioned, hiring managers in the banking industry value them as decision-making tools that can help candidates stand out.

Hopefully, all these tips will be of valuable help to you! Cake also offers hundreds of career advice and tips related to the world of work. Follow us today!