Fintech, short for financial technology, is a thriving industry with an ever-growing need for tech talent and relentless innovation, which is why it is luring some of the best tech minds to join its ranks. Fintech aims to shake up traditional finance with initiatives such as mobile banking, robo-investing services and blockchain products, and is likely to continue churning out more tools that are beneficial to the public at large. Fintech is an exciting new space to watch, even if you are not a tech whiz, as it provides employment to people with varying skill sets. If this is a sector of interest to you, here are the five skills you need to get hired by a company:
1. In-depth knowledge of blockchain
Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, and the entire blockchain industry in general have recently been enjoying great prominence. It’s safe to say that blockchain technology has disrupted several traditional industries, and banking has definitely been one of them. The blockchain industry is fairly young and volatile, but even so there is a massive demand for blockchain experts and analysts. The talent pool of people with blockchain expertise and application-building abilities is rather limited, and companies compete fiercely to attract the best crypto-talent – which means you could potentially have your pick of jobs if you are an expert in cryptocurrency and blockchain.
2. Top-notch coding skills
As illustrated by the “tech” of fintech, excellent coding skills are desired in this industry. Common coding languages that every coder, developer and software engineer should be fluent in include JavaScript, Python, SQL, C++ and C#. People who can innovate while building applications, websites and platforms get hired frequently by top tech and fintech companies. As fintech companies roll out more and more digital innovations, we will continue to see the demand for talented individuals capable of spearheading these new technological advancements grow in leaps and bounds. If you have a degree in IT or computer engineering, the world of fintech is your oyster.
3. A love of numbers
Or, at least, a tolerance of numbers. At the end of the day, fintech is number-heavy, and a general understanding of finance-based math, as well as the ability to interpret charts, graphs and identify trends will definitely come in handy. If you have a degree in mathematics, it would be easier for you to make a foray into the world of fintech. Regularly consuming financial news and paying attention to movements in global finance will help with context-building, and will promote a firmer grasp of key figures.
4. Cybersecurity expertise
Fintech companies and financial service providers – especially those which facilitate millions of online transactions – are under constant threat from cybercriminals and hackers. Naturally, amplifying cybersecurity is a top priority for fintech companies that wish to protect its customers from becoming victims of financial crime. Thus, cybersecurity specialists who can help defend customers from these damaging breaches are highly sought after by fintech firms. If you can help build sophisticated security systems that can keep criminals at bay and swiftly deter online attacks from taking place, fintech is the place you belong.
5. Communication skills
Technical qualifications aside, it is crucial that you be able to get across your point in a clear and concise manner. Just because you spend hours staring at a screen trying to decode numbers or writing complex code does not mean you are automatically exempt from talking to other human beings. You will need to be able to communicate with your team, brainstorm ideas and collaboratively solve critical issues. If you are hoping to enter into a managerial or senior position, you will definitely need to guide your junior staff and engage directly with clients. If you work for a company that does not shy away from the public eye, you would need to rely on solid communications to interact with the press. Communication may be deemed as a “soft skill”, but that does not automatically make it unimportant.
If these are qualities you possess, or fields that you are deeply passionate about, then the world of fintech is for you.