CV Writing for financial advisers

As a recruitment specialist working in the financial services industry I am often asked to write the best CV I can for a financial adviser or IFA applying for their perfect role but what is the best way to write a Cv and what should it contain.  The financial services industry and particularly financial advisory organizations or IFA's, are looking for a definitive type of applicant and it's my job, ultimately, to present that candidate in the best light, in order to secure the financial adviser or IFA a 1st stage job interview. The Cv is a concise advertisement of yourself that should create interest for a potential employer and motivate them to want to interview you above anyone else.  

So, what does the modern financial advisory organization want in their IFA or financial adviser? Probably better to start telling you what they are not looking for first.  They are not looking for anyone who has lacked commitment in previous roles - so if you've flitted about from job to job throughout the last four or five years - you had better find a ready excuse to explain it! The financial services organization today is not looking for anyone who has defined targets in previous roles to be too difficult - too difficult, too difficult? By whose standards? The modern financial adviser or IFA type role is  very sales focused, as covered in previous posts,  Salesman, IFA or Financial Adviser?  so for a financial advisory professional to deem targets as unachievable, it indicates to the potential employer that the candidate lacks application and the desire to achieve.  The potential financial services employers also don't want inexperienced, under-qualified individuals that won't hit the ground running although this is currently defined by economic circumstance and as the market picks up and the economy performs better, we will see more leeway on this standard.

Now we have an idea as to what the potential employer in the financial services industry is looking for, how do we put it down as clearly and as attractively as possible.  A good Cv should always be easy to read and it should always have the most important functions close to the top of the page.  Start with your address details obviously but the first thing written should be a short, concise profile of yourself putting yourself in a highly desirable light for the role applied.  Sometimes this is called a career statement.  The next thing should be a bullet pointed list of key achievements, awards, etc.  Again this shows that you have excelled in previous roles and demonstrates you as someone who takes pride in achievement. for the financial adviser or IFA it is vital that they show they have the previous sales performance to excel with the potential employer reading the Cv.
The next thing on the financial services CV should be your past employment history, written in chronological order and showing any achievements, what your job entailed and the key competencies and experience gained.  The last thing on any CV is always personal information followed by referees.

A good financial services Cv should also never be more than two A4 sides long.  That is it! Much longer and it runs the risk of becoming tedious and will probably be repetitive.  Any shorter and it also runs the risk of looking like you don't have enough experience for the role or not enough employment history.  Financial advisory organizations, IFA's or accountants, because they work within the financial services industry are very much more strict with their procedures, references, etc, so it is important that the correct information is also put on the CV.  Lies or embellishment could always be found out at a later stage.  Working in financial services recruitment, I have become used to the need for exact CV's with exact career history and details, financial services is an industry that always checks.

If you need any Cv polishing or assistance with writing a CV - contact XL-Recruitment - financial services recruitment specialists, on 01278 429000 and ask to speak to one of the consultants.  This is just one of the value added services provided by XL.