FinTech Futures Jobs: How to demonstrate transferable skills in a tech job interview
Got skills that are in demand? Then you’re in a great place when it comes to 2023’s labour market.
Click on the image to see all the vacancies on the FinTech Futures Jobs portal
Despite hundreds of thousands of job losses across the global tech sector, there is also a deepening skills shortage that has seen 75% of companies reporting difficulty recruiting qualified talent.
This global talent shortage is at a 16-year high, and research from Korn Ferry indicates that there could be an 85-million-person shortage by 2030, leading to a collective $8.5 trillion loss in potential annual revenue by the same year.
A number of talent gaps have emerged in recent years. If you’re proficient in web development, DevOps or database software, according to data from Statista, then you are in high demand.
Those with AI/ML, mobile development, cloud computing and UI/UX skills, plus workers with expertise in augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), are also highly sought after.
Soft skills on the rise
But there is another area of expertise on the rise. According to 2023’s Future of Jobs Report from the World Economic Forum (WEF), soft skills are also sought after, with analytical thinking in particular being considered a core skill by more companies.
Creative thinking ranks second, with resilience, flexibility and agility; motivation and self-awareness; and curiosity and lifelong learning coming in third. This is in recognition, the WEF says, of the importance of workers’ ability to adapt to disrupted workplaces.
Dependability and attention to detail; empathy and active listening; leadership and social influence; and quality control are also key skills.
Also known as transferable skills or portable skills, these are core areas to develop––especially in the face of rising AI adoption––because they are human abilities with qualities that machines can’t (yet) emulate.
As soft skills are not specific to a particular job or industry, they widen workers’ career options as they can be transferred and adapted to different roles and contexts.
Typically, you’ll acquire your soft skills competence through your career experience or via education and training. However, because they are less quantifiable than hard technical capabilities, they can be hard to communicate in an interview scenario.
Demonstrating your versatility, adaptability and potential for success in different positions can give you a real edge, so it’s really important to find ways to demonstrate your transferable skills.
Strategies for success
Preparation is key: pre-interview, review your CV and identify your experiences and achievements, identifying specific instances where you have utilised soft skills such as communication, organisational abilities or creativity.
Align your transferable skills with specific soft skills mentioned in the job description. For example, if negotiation and communication are mentioned as requirements, then put together specific examples you can call on during an interview.
When asked about your skills or experiences, use these specific examples from your job history to showcase how you have applied your transferable skills in different situations. Describe the context, the actions you took and the results you achieved.
Other elements that are often overlooked but which are incredibly important are listening and comprehension skills.
In your interview, pay attention to the interviewer’s questions and actively listen to their needs and expectations; don’t feel tempted to jump in and anticipate what is being asked. Give yourself time to really understand what is being asked. This way, you’ll deliver considered replies demonstrating how suitable you are for the role.
Whether you’re actively interviewing for a new job now or are just starting your search, the FinTech Futures Job Board is a great place to look. It contains thousands of jobs across the tech sector, in companies like the three below.
Ripple
Fintech firm Ripple uses blockchain technology to enable global financial institutions, businesses, governments and developers to move, manage and tokenise value, helping to unlock greater economic opportunity for everyone, everywhere.
The company is currently recruiting for a Senior Payroll Manager, EMEA in London, for which skills such as problem-solving and decision-making in a high-growth environment are required.
Additionally, high emotional intelligence and the ability to build and sustain relationships at multiple levels within and outside finance are also required.
Monzo
Adaptability, flexibility and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment are key requirements for this Head of Equity and Share Plans role at Monzo, located in London.
An app-based bank, Monzo’s mission is to make banking work for everyone. One of the earliest of the challenger banks in the UK, it now has over 7.4 million customers
PayPal
Online payments giant PayPal is one of the most recognised names in fintech and makes paying for goods and services online easy and ensures that sending and receiving money is safe and secure.
The company is currently seeking a Quality Program Management hire who will need to possess a number of soft skills. You’ll need to be analytical, innovative and able to think strategically. Plus, you’ll need to be flexible and adaptable with your work, as well as having excellent verbal and writing skills.
For hundreds more opportunities across fintech, visit the FinTech Futures Job Board today.
