Risk managers research and assess potential company risks and liabilities. It is their job to see potential problems before they arise. This job requires a wholesome cocktail of both hard and soft skills to be successful. A good risk manager will have strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills, and will be very knowledgeable about the industry they are working in. At the same time, they must have excellent communication skills as one of the main sources of the information that they will use to assess for risk will come from fellow employees and/or external stakeholders.
This guide will specify the expected requirements and job descriptions of 4 risk manager positions, as well as provide relevant tips to help your resume stand out.
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A risk manager identifies and assesses risk for a company, and handles all risk management issues within the company. As a risk manager, your responsibilities will include, conducting risk assessments, presenting risk assessment reports to relevant superiors, offering and implementing measures and policies aimed at managing risk, and reviewing current risk management policies, amongst others. Some skills you will be expected to have include, problem-solving skills, communication skills, and strong attention to detail. Be sure to highlight any successes you have had in the past where you used these skills.
Educationally, recruiters will expect you to at least have a bachelor’s degree in risk management, finance, or a similar field. Extensive experience and further education in the field will only bolster your resume and put you above your competition. Take a look at this strong risk manager resume.
As a risk manager, you may be working with a team of risk analysts who will be doing a lot of the data analyst work that you will be basing recommendations on. Show recruiters that you can effectively manage a sizeable team by quantifying the size of previous teams you have managed.
The core function of your job is to reduce or limit risk for a company. To stand out to recruiters, include metrics that show how much money you saved your company or your success rate in managing risk.
Hey, let's discuss the Risk Analyst role and how you can craft a compelling resume for this position. One thing about risk analysis is that it’s a dynamic field closely tied to the financial sector, so staying up-to-date with trends in finance and risk management is absolutely vital. It's not just about data anymore; it's also about understanding regulatory changes and new financial products.
Your resume should reflect that you're not just a number cruncher, but also a strategic thinker who can anticipate and mitigate financial risks. This is an industry where precision matters a lot, so your resume should be super detailed and error-free. Remember, your potential employer will see your resume as a reflection of your work – sloppy equals risky in their eyes.
Risk analysis is data-intensive. Thus, your resume should highlight your abilities in data collection, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling. If you have any proficiency in risk analysis software or experience with data visualization tools, definitely mention that - it can be a game-changer.
A risk analyst is the part of the risk management team that handles a lot of the data analysis and interrogation. Risk analysts will collect all relevant data and try to determine the risk associated. They will then take their findings to a risk manager who will use their results to help create a more holistic risk assessment presentation.
Because this position is very technical, your experience with risk information management software (RIMS) and other relevant technology is highly important, so ensure the skills section of your resume is updated. Take a look at this successful risk analyst resume.
A big part of your job is doing data analysis. Thankfully, technology has made that analysis a lot simpler. As we continue to get new data analysis technology it is important that you stay current with the newest technologies and that the skill section on your resume is equally current. So keep an eye out for these new technologies and become experienced with them as soon as possible.
An easy way to show recruiters that you are experienced as a risk analyst is to use the industry-standard language. So feel free to use industry abbreviations and other keywords used in your work.
A healthcare risk manager works for a healthcare company and is tasked with identifying, analyzing, and offering solutions to minimize risks to patients, staff, and the general public. While these professionals traditionally focussed on patient safety, the increased risks associated with advancements in healthcare technology have seen healthcare risk managers expanding their scope of risk to protect the healthcare facility, its staff, and the public as well.
When looking for applicants for this position, recruiters will be looking for a bachelor’s degree in health administration or a related field. Beyond that, you will need to have an in-depth knowledge of the healthcare sector, as well as analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, etc. Here is a strong healthcare risk manager resume.
It is essential for healthcare risk managers to have an in-depth knowledge of the health industry to do their job effectively. So if you have gone to medical school or have a degree in a health-related field, make sure it is well highlighted in your resume.
Recruiters want to know that your output will be worth your salary. To prove that to them, highlight how many projects or reports you have completed. E.g. this applicant mentions that they have ‘developed and implemented five online reporting systems on adverse incidents.’
Much like all other risk managers, financial risk managers identify, analyze and attempt to mitigate risks to a company. However, these risk managers specialize in the financial industry. You may therefore find them in banks, trading and investment companies, etc. To be globally and professionally designated as a financial risk manager (FRM), you must gain GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals) certification through a tough and thorough testing process.
Beyond the certification, recruiters will also be paying specific attention to your knowledge of the financial industry, and your success within it. In addition, you will be expected to have very strong analytical, and problem-solving skills. Take a look at this strong financial risk manager resume.
There is specific software and technology that you may use when dealing with financial institutions like banks. You will want to show recruiters that you are experienced using these industry-specific tools by making sure they are all listed in your tools section. For all tools you are not experienced in, take a crash course or gain experience using them before adding them to your resume.
Strong action verbs that highlight your managerial and analytical skills will make you attractive to recruiters. Using verbs such as “approved”, “supervised”, and “analyzed” helps show your ability to lead a team and perform your risk analysis functions.
We spoke with hiring managers at top companies like Aon, Deloitte, and KPMG to get their insights on what makes a strong risk management resume. They emphasized the importance of showcasing your ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks across various industries and business functions. The following tips will help you craft a compelling resume that catches the attention of employers looking for top risk management talent.
Employers want to see that you have hands-on experience conducting risk assessments. Be specific about the types of risks you have evaluated, such as:
Avoid being too general or vague in describing your experience, like:
A resume summary for a risk management position is optional, but it can be a valuable addition if you have extensive experience or are making a career change. It allows you to provide context and highlight key qualifications that may not be immediately apparent from the rest of your resume. However, avoid using an objective statement, as it is outdated and focuses on what you want rather than what you can offer the employer.
When crafting your summary, tailor it to the specific risk management role you are targeting. Emphasize your most relevant skills, experience, and achievements without repeating information that is already covered in other sections of your resume. Keep it concise, ideally no more than a short paragraph.
The work experience section is the most important part of your risk management resume. It's where you show hiring managers how you've applied your skills to real-world situations and made an impact in previous roles. Here are some key tips to make your work experience section stand out:
The education section of your risk management resume is an important part of your application. It shows employers that you have the necessary knowledge and training to succeed in the role. Here are some tips to help you write a strong education section that will impress hiring managers.
A risk manager position is a technical position requiring expert analytical skills. Using action verbs that emphasize the analytical and technical aspects of the job is a direct way to indicate your capabilities in this field.
This list of action verbs is focused on the technical tasks of the position as well as the communication tasks that you can expect of a risk manager. Using the right action verbs is an easy way to spotlight yourself and help showcase your most relevant skills in a few words.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
When looking at the skills section of a risk manager’s resume, recruiters are looking to see the technical skills needed in identifying and analyzing risk. Communicating and collaborating with other stakeholders is also an important part of a risk manager’s job, so including relevant skills in these areas is also important.
Here is a list of recruiter-approved skills you would expect to see in a risk manager’s resume. Add those that you are experienced with to your resume to impress recruiters and secure an interview.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Risk Management job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
