14 years in traditional banking. A clear desire to move into FinTech. The challenge wasn't experience — it was getting ATS systems and hiring managers to read banking experience as relevant to a faster, product-led world.
Director, Risk & Operations at a top-5 retail bank. Strong technical chops, but the resume read like an internal-bank promotion document — heavy on regulatory frameworks, light on outcomes that translate. ATS systems were screening out applications for missing FinTech-native keywords. Recruiters who did read the resume kept reaching out about more banking roles.
Banking experience reframed in FinTech vocabulary — without inventing skills. "Regulatory compliance program" became "risk infrastructure scaled across $X portfolio." "Branch operations" became "multi-region operations execution." Same work, language hiring managers actually search.
Maintained a banking-native version (in case the right banking role appeared) and a FinTech-translated version (the primary). Per-role tailoring decided which base to start from.
Built a list of 80 FinTech employers segmented by stage (Series B-D, public). Sourced fresh roles directly from each company's careers page weekly. No aggregator listings.
Short, specific cover letters for FinTech roles — leading with a clear "why FinTech, why now, why this company" paragraph. This handled the pivot question before it became a screening risk.
Two offers in week 9. Client accepted Director of Risk Strategy at a Series D FinTech in North America. 23% comp increase over previous role and a clear path to VP within 18 months. Six months in, still in the role, performing well, and now sourcing his own team using the same framework.
Industry transitions need narrative work, not just resume edits. Let's talk.
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