In this article, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to create an effective CV or resume for a career as a mortgage advisor. Whether you’re new to the field or looking to refine your existing CV, we’ll provide straightforward tips and real examples to help you showcase your skills and experience clearly and effectively. Our aim is to give you the tools you need to build a resume that stands out to employers and sets you on the path to your next career opportunity in mortgage advising.
Contents
Read The Job Description / Advert
The first step is, of course, to read the job description. We need to know what the firm is looking for so that we can properly highlight these characteristics in our CV. So read back over the job description and try to pinpoint the important points. A lot of times a firm will call things “required”; if you see this, you need to make sure you include that in your CV. Similarly, if certain things are repeated throughout the advert, this indicates they are of high importance, so we will want to make sure our CV shows that as well.
When performing this analysis, take care to copy the ‘exact’ words and phrases that are being used by the hiring manager. We will want to pepper these into our CV later.
Mortgage Advisor Job Description Example
Mortgage Advisor Position
We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Mortgage Advisor to join our dynamic team. Our ideal candidate will have a strong background in financial services with a focus on mortgage advising, delivering exceptional customer service, and driving business growth through effective mortgage solutions.
Responsibilities:
- Provide expert mortgage advice to clients based on their financial situations and property aspirations.
- Analyze clients’ financial documents, including credit reports, income statements, and other relevant financial information to offer the best mortgage options.
- Keep up-to-date with the latest mortgage products, regulations, and market trends to provide accurate information to clients.
- Build and maintain relationships with clients, offering personalized service and follow-up consultations.
- Liaise with real estate agents, lenders, and solicitors to ensure smooth transactions.
- Ensure compliance with legal regulations and company policies throughout the mortgage process.
- Meet and exceed performance targets in terms of volume, quality, and customer satisfaction.
- Conduct financial reviews and risk assessments to determine loan viability and prevent defaults.
- Educate clients on the mortgage process, requirements, and financial implications.
- Continuously work on professional development to improve knowledge and skills in mortgage advising.
Requirements:
- Proven experience as a Mortgage Advisor or a similar role in financial services.
- Qualification in financial planning or a related field; additional certification in mortgage advising is a plus.
- Strong understanding of mortgage products, services, and financial regulations.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and customer service skills.
- Ability to analyze financial situations and provide suitable recommendations.
- Proficient in using mortgage advising software and tools.
- A commitment to ethical practices and maintaining confidentiality.
We offer a competitive package, including performance-based incentives and opportunities for professional growth within a supportive and collaborative environment.
If you have the expertise and drive to excel in this role, we would love to hear from you. Join us in providing top-notch mortgage solutions and making a real difference in our clients’ lives.
Research The Company
Time to put on your detective hat and do some research on your target company. Look at their website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. You are looking for any piece of intel that will give you the leg up.
- Find out about recent work/projects they have undertaken or will be embarking on (highlight your experience in these areas on your CV)
- Find out what software/processes they use and make sure you include your proficiency in them in your CV
- Learn what interview questions you might expect should you make it that far
See if you know anyone who works there and/or connect (LinkedIn) with people ahead of the interview. A little nepotism could never hurt, and you might be able to glean more information about the role/hiring process in the meantime.
Find A Good CV Template
When selecting a CV template, it’s essential to opt for a simple design and structure. Not only are straightforward layouts more compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), but they also make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly identify and understand key details. A clutter-free and organized CV ensures that your most important information stands out, facilitating a smoother review process for potential employers.
This is the CV template that we recommend (click here)
Write 2 Or 3 Bullet Points As A ‘Professional Summary’
A handy approach is to craft three sentences: the first highlighting your qualifications and experience, the second showcasing your biggest professional achievement, and the third detailing your most recent experience.
Mortgage Advisor Professional Summary Example
- With over a decade of experience in the mortgage advisory field, coupled with a solid foundation in finance and a comprehensive understanding of lending regulations and products, I bring a wealth of knowledge to assist clients in making informed decisions. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, I have successfully guided numerous clients through the mortgage process, specializing in both conventional and FHA loans.
- My most notable achievement to date has been spearheading a mortgage restructuring initiative that resulted in an average reduction of 15% in monthly mortgage payments for over 100 clients within a six-month period. Leveraging my expertise in financial analysis and utilizing advanced mortgage software such as Encompass and DocuSign, I conducted comprehensive assessments of clients’ financial situations, identified opportunities for refinancing, and successfully negotiated with lenders to secure favorable terms.
- In my recent role as a Mortgage Advisor at XYZ Financial Services, I streamlined and automated the mortgage application process using industry-leading software, such as Encompass and DocuSign. This initiative significantly reduced processing times by 30%, improving the overall client experience and increasing our department’s efficiency, resulting in a 20% increase in loan origination volume over the past year.
Detail Your Employment History
Begin by listing your employment history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This allows potential employers to see your recent experience upfront, which holds greater value. Keep in mind that brevity is key.
As you go further back in time, reduce the level of detail to ensure your CV doesn’t exceed two pages. Employers are less likely to read lengthy CVs.
When you’re listing your responsibilities as a Mortgage Advisor on your CV, avoid simply making a plain list. Instead, use those responsibilities to highlight your achievements. For example, instead of just saying “Handled mortgage applications,” you could say something like “Efficiently processed and approved 100+ mortgage applications, ensuring a smooth and timely home financing process for clients.” This approach not only mentions your responsibility but also showcases your ability to handle a high volume of applications effectively, which is a valuable skill in the role.
Detail Your Education History
Keep your CV concise, aiming for a two-page limit. The education section can often be streamlined.
Highlight the most relevant qualifications. For instance, if you have a degree, your A-levels become less significant. Similarly, if you’re in the U.S., having an MBA overshadows your high school GPA.
Unless an older educational milestone is crucial for the job or highly pertinent, focus on showcasing your Bachelor’s degree, post-graduate studies, or professional certifications. If you lack these, mention your latest qualifications. Remember, having a Master’s suggests you’ve finished school, so no need to state the obvious. Only include your educational background if it’s pertinent to the job.
CV Structure
Tactically structure your CV to the ‘most wanted’ attributes of the job description. For example, if the job description values “qualified”, then place your qualifications first; if they want someone with RECENT experience, put your last job up top. If they want multiple years of experience, highlight your tenure.
We always recommend that you have a Professional Summary up top (after your name/contact info), as it will be the first thing that anyone reads. As discussed earlier, this should be tailored towards the job advert and showcase your experience and skills in what the employer is looking for.
A fairly typical structure would go:
- Name and contact info
- Professional Summary
- Current (or most recent employment)
- Education & Professional Qualifications
- Employment History
WHAT NOT TO DO
Now that we’ve discussed what you should be including in your CV, let’s look at some things that you should avoid doing.
- Do not include personal history or likes. Employers are not going to care about your hobbies, so unless you have some inside information that the hiring manager only hires people who play a particular sport, for example, then leave your extracurricular activities off your CV. This does not extend to things like volunteer or charity work. Definitely include that if you have the space.
- Do not list your skillset and the tools/applications you have experience with. It takes up valuable space and is often obvious (Skilled in Excel…?). Instead, include these in your achievements section (Example: “Used Asana to manage and coordinate tasks for a remote team of 25 members”).
- Do not include references or “references available on request”. If employers want a reference, they will ask you for them; otherwise, this is just wasted space on your CV.
- Do not include a photo of yourself unless specifically asked. In many countries, including the UK and US, you should not include a photo of yourself on your CV/resume. Companies don’t want you to do it, as it opens them up to liability, and there is absolutely nothing for you to gain by doing so – plus, you are making it easier for firms to discriminate against you, either implicitly or explicitly.
- Do not use any fancy graphic or artistic CV format. Most CVs come in a standard format, allowing Application Tracking Software, recruiters and hiring managers to easily pick out the key pieces of information they need quickly based on their experience. If you throw them a CV in an artistic format, they are more likely to get annoyed and throw your application away. This is not a situation where standing out is good. You want your skills/experience to be noted, not your CV format.
- Do not include your previous salaries. This will severely impact your negotiation abilities down the line.
Mortgage Advisor CV Tips – Recap
Let’s recap what we’ve discussed so far:
Clear Contact Information: Ensure your contact details are up-to-date and prominently displayed at the top of your CV.
Professional Summary: Write a concise professional summary highlighting your experience and key skills.
Mortgage Experience: Detail your years of experience in mortgage advising and relevant qualifications.
Achievements: Showcase notable achievements, like successful loan closings or client satisfaction rates.
Specific Skills: Mention specific skills such as mortgage software proficiency, financial analysis, and client communication.
Education: List your educational background, including degrees, institutions, and graduation dates.
Certifications: Highlight any relevant certifications, such as mortgage broker licenses.
Work History: Provide a chronological list of your work history, starting with your most recent position.
Responsibilities: Describe your responsibilities in each role using action verbs.
Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, quantify achievements with numbers or percentages.
Client Relationships: Emphasize your ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.
Adaptability: Highlight your flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic mortgage market.
Problem-Solving: Showcase your problem-solving skills, especially in complex mortgage scenarios.
Compliance Knowledge: Mention your understanding of mortgage regulations and compliance standards.
Proofread: Double-check your CV for any typos or errors.
Tailor for Job: Customize your CV for each job application to emphasize relevant skills and experience.
Conciseness: Keep your CV concise and focused on key points, ideally one or two pages.
Professional Presentation: Use a clean, professional format and avoid excessive graphics or colors.
Review and Update: Regularly review and update your CV to reflect your latest accomplishments and experiences.
Mortgage Advisor CV Sample
Below is an example CV from someone with a number of years experience in the field. For an editable .DOCX version, click here.
