A strong CV can make a real difference when applying for FAIS jobs. Employers in the financial services sector are not only looking for job titles. They want to understand your experience, qualifications, RE5 or RE1 status, product exposure, compliance awareness and fit for the role.
A messy CV can make a good candidate look average. A clear CV can help a busy employer understand your value faster. Recruitment is already enough of a circus, so your CV does not need to arrive wearing clown shoes.
What Makes a FAIS CV Different?
A normal CV may list your work history, education and skills. A FAIS-focused CV should go further by showing your readiness for financial services roles.
This may include your RE5 certificate, RE1 certificate, Class of Business, DOFA information, product experience, client service exposure, sales background, compliance awareness and financial services knowledge.
What to Include on Your FAIS CV
1. Clear Contact Details
Start with your correct name, mobile number, email address, location and availability. A recruiter should not have to become a private investigator just to contact you.
- Full name and surname
- Mobile number
- Email address
- City and province
- Notice period or availability
2. Professional Profile Summary
Add a short summary that explains your financial services background, preferred role and key strengths.
Example:
Motivated financial services candidate with RE5 completed, experience in client service and insurance administration, and strong interest in Representative or sales support opportunities within an authorised FSP.
3. RE5 and RE1 Status
Your RE status should be easy to find. Do not hide it halfway down page three under “Other Information”, where good details go to be ignored.
- RE5 completed
- RE1 completed
- Currently preparing for RE5
- Currently preparing for RE1
- Exam booked or planned
4. FAIS and Compliance Information
Include relevant FAIS-related information where available. This helps employers understand your readiness for specific roles.
- DOFA information where available
- Class of Business certificates
- Product categories or product exposure
- Experience under supervision if applicable
- Compliance-related duties from previous roles
5. Work Experience
List your work experience in reverse order, starting with your most recent role.
For each role, include:
- Company name
- Job title
- Employment dates
- Main duties
- Products or services handled
- Systems used where relevant
- Achievements or measurable results
6. Qualifications and Training
Include formal qualifications and relevant training, especially if it supports your financial services career path.
- Matric
- NQF qualifications
- RE5 certificate
- RE1 certificate
- Class of Business
- Product training
- Short courses or industry training
7. Skills Employers Look For
FAIS employers often look for a combination of technical understanding and people skills.
- Client communication
- Sales ability
- Attention to detail
- Record keeping
- Compliance awareness
- Follow-up discipline
- Problem solving
- Professional conduct
Should You Mention That You Are Still Studying RE5 or RE1?
Yes. If you are preparing for RE5 or RE1, say so clearly. This shows employers that you are taking your FAIS career seriously.
You can write:
Currently preparing for the RE5 regulatory exam through RE5 Online.
Or:
RE1 exam preparation in progress, with the goal of moving toward compliance or oversight-related roles.
Need Help With RE5 or RE1 Exam Preparation?
If you still need to complete your RE5 or RE1 exam, RE5 Online offers exam preparation support, including live classes, webinars, mock exams, study material and guided learning.
RE5 Online offers a 100% Pass Guarantee on qualifying webinars and workshops, subject to the applicable terms and conditions. This can help candidates prepare with more structure instead of trying to study from random notes found in the digital wilderness.
Need a Professional FAIS CV?
RE5 Recruitment offers a professional CV writing service for FAIS job seekers. The CV is written to highlight your financial services experience, qualifications, RE status and career direction.
You can also create your candidate profile on RE5 Recruitment so employers can see your information in a more structured way.
