Want To Work in Fintech?
Part 2: Hear how our colleagues got started and how you can too!
By Tammy Gobel and Frankie Elmquist
Are you interested in working in fintech, but wondering how to get started? In part two of our “Work in Fintech” series, you’ll hear first-hand from some of our colleagues on how they got their start (spoiler: they haven’t all been the most conventional paths!) and we’ll explore some of the ways you can get into fintech. We’ll also cover some of the relevant skills you need to help you assess if fintech is the right career move for you.
In case you missed part 1, we provided an introduction to fintech, what’s driving this fast-growing industry, as well as four reasons why you should work in fintech. So, let’s get to it:
How we got into fintech
Here at Eternic, our team is very diverse. We each found our way into fintech from a range of different educational and occupational backgrounds from banking and finance, architecture and astronomy, even sound engineering and security. What we all have in common is a passion for technology, and a desire to make good products that improve people’s lives.
Given that diversity is something that is strong in our roots, we decided to ask our teammates how they got into a fintech. Here’s what they had to say:
“My path to fintech was fairly unconventional. It started with a side project developing some custom project management software to streamline procurement and tracking during my first career in architecture and interior design. When I relocated to Oslo, I went to work for a 3D visualization and floor plan software company, where I had the opportunity to build experience in marketing technology. I’ve always been drawn to building things and improving systems. If there’s a way to do something better, then let’s build it! Which is what really attracted me to fintech and the Eternic project in particular.”
- Frankie Elmquist, Marketing and Communications Lead, Eternic
“Did I fall into fintech or is it something I actively pursued? For me, it was something I actively pursued. In 2015, I was looking to head in a slightly different direction with my career, and around the same time the ‘fintech’ bug was really starting to take a hold in the UK, and particularly in London. A lot of people had come to the conclusion that the way we banked in the UK was fundamentally broken, me being one of them!! This coincided with changes in regulation, which led to a raft of new banks starting up in the UK, one of which I took the opportunity to join towards the end of 2015. I stayed there for just over four years, building the bank from scratch to the point where we were serving thousands of customers. An awesome and crazy experience!”
- David Goodwin, Strategy & Marketing Advisor, Eternic
“I started my career as a full-stack developer in New York City, but my background is in aviation as a pilot and aviation administration. I made a personal pivot towards software development, as I saw that it could offer a more practical future. When you work in New York City, finance and more specifically fintechs are around every corner — it’s hard to escape it! That’s not to say that I am not fascinated by fintech, but I found it was a natural transition for me.”
- Taka Isaksen, Team Lead, Neonomics
So, as you can see, there’s no single path to find your way into fintech. That’s because innovation requires different ways of thinking and experience. To learn more about the Eternic team and our backgrounds - Meet Our Team.
Five Ways to Get Started in Fintech
To help you make your first steps into fintech, we’ve rounded up five top ways to get your fintech career started:
- Join a fintech startup
Many fintechs are startups (like us). Startups tend to be more flat-structured, adaptable, and flexible. They are fast-paced environments, where you can learn a lot about the industry quickly. Another benefit of looking into fintech startups is that they frequently have open applications. For example, our startup is always looking for strong developers, so we keep an open application available for backend and blockchain developers. You can see an example of our open application here — developer open application.
2. Find a fintech community
If you are a student, many universities have established fintech societies that offer excellent opportunities to network and learn more about the industry. There are also online and offline fintech communities that you can join; as well as local meetups that you can seek out. Some of our favorite fintech communities include:
- Sifted.EU
- Fintech for Good
- FINTECH Circle
- UK Fintech Alliance
- Women In Payments
- Crypto Valley Association
- Norwegian Center for Expertise (NCE) Finance Innovation
- Oslo Fintech Forum for regular local meetups
3. Attend fintech events
As a fast-developing industry, the fintech space is booming with events. Events are a great way to build your network and knowledge within the industry. There are large-scale events that cover finance and fintech and events and symposiums that focus on specific financial technologies, like digital currency and blockchain. Some of the more popular events include:
- Money20/20
- Paris Fintech Forum
- NY Fintech Week
- European Blockchain Convention
- Women in Technology World Series
- Disrupt — Tech startup focused event
- Slush — Student-driven, not-for-profit tech startup event
The one drawback with larger finance-focused events is that the ticket prices can be quite expensive. However, depending on your area, you may be able to find smaller, local events that are more affordable, or even free! Don’t be afraid to reach out to event organizers to ask if there are discounts available for students, startup employees, and new-comers.
4. Build your network in fintech
Take advantage of both virtual and live events and communities to start building a network of people and contacts within the fintech industry. Creating a rapport with your new contacts can help you to understand the industry better and they can give you heads-up if any opportunities are available.
5. Build your fintech industry knowledge
It goes without saying, that if you're interested in fintech you should get to know the industry. One of the best ways to do this is by following current fintech trends and learning about the challenges the banking and finance industry is trying to solve. Some of the most active areas within fintech include digital currency and wallets, digital payments, mobile and online banking, open banking, and personal finance management (PFM) apps. Artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technology, cybersecurity, and digital identity are also fast-growing technologies to support faster and safer digital finance. Another interesting avenue to explore in fintech is regulations (also referred to as regtech) and law. New technologies and ways of doing business require new regulations and compliance rules.
There are many resources to learn about fintech. These include news feeds, podcasts, blogs, and vlogs. We recommend checking these ones out:
Fintech News
Fintech Blogs
- The Finanser by Chris Skinner
- Richard Gendal Brown’s Thoughts on the Future of Finance
- Fintech Entrepreneur Jessica Ellerm’s Blog
- #LedaWrites for Fintech Futures
- The Financial Revolutionist
Fintech Podcasts
- Fintech Insider from 11:FS
- Banking Transformed with Jim Marous
- Life in the Fast Chain by R3
- Breaking Banks
- For FinTech’s Sake
Another great way to get savvy, in addition to the media above, is to follow relevant hashtags on social media. LinkedIn and Twitter tend to be preferred channels for sharing fintech news and insights. You might want to check out YouTube, Medium, and Reddit as well. Here are some of the better hashtags to follow:
- #fintech
- #payments
- #blockchain
- #fintechnews
- #nordicfintech (we’re Norwegian after all)
Relevant Skills for Fintech
Now that your interest is peaked, you might be wondering what types of skills you need to make it in fintech? Here are six skills and attributes that we think contribute to establishing a successful career in fintech:
- Passion — passion and an appreciation for tech, as well as a desire to make products that work and matter is a must.
- Curiosity — the best way to stay engaged in your work is to have an interest in the field and curiosity about how it works — be it in finance, tech, or both.
- Adaptability — it’s a fast-paced environment, so being adaptable, flexible, and willing to take on new tasks and challenges is key.
- Self-Starter — as many fintechs are startups and relatively new, it’s crucial that you are a self-starter and fast-learner.
- Team Player — great things are done in teams! Collaboration is key when it comes to building comprehensive solutions.
- Finance and Banking Experience — people with insider experience are highly sought after in fintech.
- Research and Analytical Skills — if you have research skills in business and markets, quantitative or systems analysis, or just really good “google-fu” — they are very valuable in this field.
- Developers — Without developers, there would not be a fintech industry! Creative and innovative developers are the beating heart of any fintech. We are always looking for strong software engineers and architects, back-end developers, and DevOps to bring our solutions to fruition.
- Business Skills — Of course, it takes more than just developers to build a successful fintech company. Fintechs need business development teams, finance departments, HR and legal teams, project and product managers, as well as sales and marketing teams.
Ready, Set, Go Fintech!
So, as you can see, fintech is a fast-growing and fast-moving industry that offers lots of career opportunities. The best way to get started is to learn about the industry by following the latest trends and key players. Familiarize yourself with the challenges we’re trying to solve in banking and finance. And begin to build a network for yourself within the industry by joining communities and attending events. Even though fintech is becoming more established, many fintechs are and work like startups, so it’s a bonus if that kind of work environment appeals to you.
As you heard from our colleagues, people working in fintech come from a variety of backgrounds and bring diverse skills to the table. So, if you got your start in a different field, but have an interest in finance and technology, don’t let that hold you back — get ready, get set and GO FINTECH!
Learn more about careers at our fintech startup.
This article is Part 2 of our Work in Fintech series. In case you missed Part 1, read: Four Reasons Why You Should Work in Fintech.
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