There comes a moment in every job search when things get tough. At the beginning, you might wrestle with which jobs you should apply for. In the middle, it can feel like you’ve applied to hundreds of jobs and haven’t made any headway. It’s no wonder that job hunting can feel overwhelming and downright demoralizing.
If you’re feeling down about your job search, it could be time to rethink your approach. Look at different roles in a new industry, like financial services. Adopt a growth mindset. Get outside your comfort zone. Discover different ways you can transfer skills from one sector to another.
At Fidelity, we need people from all sorts of backgrounds with diverse skillsets to help us serve the changing needs of our customers. We need people like you, whether you have financial-services experience or not.
Fidelity is going to teach you everything you need to know. If you are willing to learn and have a strong desire to help others, then you will do well here.
– Kyli, Customer Relationship Advocate
What kinds of jobs does Fidelity offer?
Jasmine, scrum master for Fidelity Digital Assets, said Fidelity’s diverse offerings caught her eye: “I was attracted to Fidelity because of the huge range of business units and projects.” Here are some of the major categories of Fidelity jobs, many of which require no previous financial services experience or licensing.
Business operations
It takes thousands of marketing, communications, human resources, legal, and compliance professionals to help Fidelity’s day-to-day business operations run without a hitch. If you love coordinating teams, improving processes, simplifying complexity and ensuring everyone (and everything) is buttoned up, a role in business operations could be right for you. Explore jobs.
Technology
As the lines between financial services and technology blur, Fidelity continues to invest in the next generation of products and tools. Whether you’re a believer in human-centered design or block-chain, you’re sure to find a role that challenges you to innovate over the short and long term in these areas:
Financial planning
Helping people achieve their most important financial goals remains at the heart of what we do. We listen for the things that matter and then help our customers craft strategies to get them where they want to go financially.
Already licensed? Search for financial planning and asset management roles.
Not licensed? Don’t worry. We help you get licensed, and we cover the costs for that too.
Why? We don’t just need numbers-people to help us achieve our mission, we need people-people too. People-people are those who can bring their emotional intelligence, customer-service experience, empathetic listening and problem-solving skills to work.
“Our philosophy is that if you bring your EQ, which is the soft people skills, we will train you for the IQ, which is the knowledge needed to help customers,” said Rachelle, Team Leader, Client Services.
We have 3 entry-level opportunities for people who are not yet licensed:
- Customer Relationship Advocate: Answer inbound calls and progress toward more complex customer assistance once you are licensed.
- Financial Customer Associate: Answer inbound calls and help with retirement questions and transactions. While this role does not require licensing, you have the potential to progress to a licensed role if you choose.
- Workplace Planning Associate: Through outbound and inbound calls, you’ll help 401(k) participants get the most out of their plans. There’s also potential to progress to a licensed role.
“I will always encourage someone to still apply to Fidelity, even if they do not have any financial background,” said Kyli, Customer Relationship Advocate. “Fidelity is going to teach you everything you need to know. If you are willing to learn and have a strong desire to help others, then you will do well here.”
Our philosophy is that if you bring your EQ, which is the soft people skills, we will train you for the IQ, which is the knowledge needed to help customers.
– Rachelle, Team Leader, Client Services
Why do certain Fidelity roles require licensing?
Trust fuels the economy. Without trust, we can’t agree that goods and services cost a certain amount or that transactions occur as promised.
That’s why the financial-services industry, and those who work in it, are regulated and licensed by the nonprofit Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), an organization that helps ensure everyone can take part in the market with confidence. They make sure that anyone who sells a securities product (stocks, bonds, investment contracts, notes and derivatives) has been tested, qualified and licensed.
Getting licensed can pay off in your career and for your own financial stability. Kathryn, Customer Relationship Advocate said, “Those pieces of paper were my tickets to a new career where I could both help others and earn a better living for myself and my family. Rewarding doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
Which licenses are required for which roles at Fidelity?
Financial planning, asset management, and some customer service roles require these 3 licenses:
- Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam: An introductory-level test that gauges your knowledge of basic securities information and concepts like product types and their risks, regulatory agencies and what they do, and prohibited practices.
- Series 7: A license that allows you to sell securities products (excluding commodities and futures). This is also known as the General Securities Representative Qualification Examination (GIS).
- Series 63: Allows you to ask for orders for any type of security in a particular state after you’ve passed an exam testing your knowledge of ethical practices and fiduciary obligations.
Fidelity gives you all the tools you need to pass your exams through course materials, classes, office hours and practice exams.
– Elyse, Customer Relationship Advocate
How does Fidelity help you get licensed and pass the SIE exam for customer service roles?
Fidelity knows that getting licensed takes dedication and determination. That’s why we created a formal training program that pays you to study and for your SIE test and Series 7 and 63 licenses while giving you the resources, coaching and mentorship you need to succeed.
Our program ensures you have the information and skills to pass your SIE and Series 7 and 63 licensing exams, regardless of your baseline knowledge. “We were provided with extensive materials for studying and training, learning from leaders who were always available to help, and team chats where we could help guide each other through uncertainty,” said Kathryn, Customer Service Associate.
Your first three-and-a-half months are geared toward getting registered with FINRA, passing your SIE exam, and getting your Series 7 and 63 licenses. Your studies and exams are fully funded by Fidelity and include:
- Individualized, self-led study plans
- On-the-job study time
- Support from licensed coaches
- Review classes
- Weekly career-center connections and peer networking
- Potential opportunity for pay bump after getting licensed (may not apply to all roles)
“Fidelity gives you all the tools you need to pass your exams through course materials, classes, office hours and practice exams,” said Elyse, Customer Relationship Advocate, Rising Seniors Program. “No matter your background, you are extremely capable of putting these resources to use and getting licensed. You will have no shortage of people who are willing to help you in the licensing process, from your team leads to your cohort colleagues.”
We develop personalized resources, whether you learn best by reading, listening, watching or doing and whether you are more self-directed or learn best in a group. “The breadth and variety of training resources accommodate all types of learners,” said Bizzy, Workplace Planning Consultant. “Fidelity’s training is well structured with a healthy balance of self-led and guided learning. Practice exams, reading material, and office hours are provided to create an effective learning environment.”
Our ongoing coaching and mentorship ensure you have the support you need throughout the licensing process and beyond. You can shadow experienced associates on calls before getting licensed and continue to learn from them after licensing. “You maintain excellent relationships with these individuals as you work with them to learn how to flourish on the phones and help support customers in reaching their financial goals,” said Elyse.
No matter your background, you are extremely capable of putting these resources to use and getting licensed.
– Elyse, Customer Relationship Advocate
How does Fidelity fuel your career growth?
At Fidelity, we actively invest in our people through a mix of formal training and resources and informal coaching and mentoring. Regardless of your educational and work background, you can succeed here thanks to our licensing roadmap and our recognition of your progress and achievements. We offer an inclusive culture that provides coaching and support for you to grow on your own personalized path. As you grow with us, we help you explore opportunities and progress in your career.
Once you’ve gotten licensed, you’ll get hands-on experience through customer calls, honing your skills with more complex calls over time. As you gain confidence and develop your skills, we’ll help you find your next role, such as:
- Advanced service: high net worth, active trading, or call volume management
- Planning and advice: financial representative or a workplace planning consultant
- Products and solutions: Improve the internal associate experience as a talent champion, business intelligence analyst or data analyst
- Leadership and coaching: learning to coach and develop others as an onboarding leader, team leader or assistant branch leader (requires additional licensing)
Fidelity’s robust career coaching helps you understand what challenges and opportunities await and how to get there.
Fidelity’s training is well structured with a healthy balance of self-led and guided learning. The breadth and variety of training resources accommodate all types of learners.
– Bizzy, Workplace Planning Consultant
Are you ready to Find your Fidelity?
When you work at Fidelity, you’re on a mission to help people with a team that cares about your well-being, alongside a company that values the work/life balance. Our exceptional benefits and inclusive culture help you achieve your own financial and professional goals.
Find Your Fidelity.
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