#findyourfidelity

By @fidelityjobs

At Fidelity, we actively invest in our people to help develop a career that works for them. Two of our associates, Bizzy, Workplace Planning Consultant & Kyli, Customer Relationship Advocate, talked to us about the training and support they received in their roles. Hear what they had to say:

Q: Before you started at Fidelity, what experience did you have in financial services?

Bizzy: Before Fidelity, I had been working full-time as a research coordinator in a healthcare setting and a district manager for a local restaurant. While neither occupation was directly tied to the financial services industry, I was responsible for managing operational finances in my role as a district manager. In my free time, I developed a keen interest in managing debt, establishing emergency savings, and investing to achieve personal goals.

Kyli: I had experience working as a business systems analyst on a mobile and online banking application. Working on a banking app exposed me to the language used and products offered by financial institutions. I will always encourage someone to still apply to Fidelity even if they do not have any financial background. 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!

Q: Tell us about the training programs at Fidelity:

Bizzy: From your start date, you will find 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. Incoming associates are given a generous allotment of paid study time with opportunities for peer-to-peer training and the ability to call shadow with experienced associates.

Kyli: The training has included general information such as how to be on the phones, how to empathize with customers, how to handle difficult calls and situations, and also information specific to Fidelity. Just this week I began licensing training, where I am learning all about equities, debt and more so that I can pass the SIE, Series 7 and Series 63 exams.

Q: Was there anything that surprised you about Fidelity’s training and resources?

Bizzy: One thing I found pleasantly surprising was the breadth and variety of training resources to accommodate all types of learners. They have implemented systems and resources to reach every associate.

Kyli: YES. I had heard that Fidelity was a great company so I had high expectations, but Fidelity still managed to exceed my expectations. I was surprised by how caring the coaches are and the effort they go through to make sure we are all successful. The other thing that surprised me was how smooth the training and onboarding was. The team I am on has grown really close and we talk all day to each other, so even though we haven’t met in person we still have been able to get to know each other.

Q: How has the training program helped you?

Bizzy: Fidelity's training has provided me with a thorough understanding of the financial services industry through ample opportunities for scheduled and paid study time. Their onboarding structure pushed me to network and interact with colleagues in a wide variety of company roles.

Kyli: I would say what I value the most about the training is the connections I made. We really formed a great group. I know I can reach out to the team chat for help, assistance, encouragement, etc. I know that I have formed lasting connections and am thankful to be working with such awesome people.

If you’re interested in learning more about our training at Fidelity and our Customer Relationship Advocate role, visit customeradvocate.FidelityCareers.com. If you’re interested in learning about our Workplace Planning and advice roles, check out these links: Workplace Planning Associate & Workplace Planning Consultant.

By @fidelityjobs

Mentorship. Leadership. The ability to empower associates to grow and develop.

Do you possess these characteristics?

Fidelity is hiring now for Team Leaders across the country in our Regional Centers to coach and develop a team of associates to deliver an outstanding experience to our clients. To provide more insight into this role, we sat down with Craig Nelson, Team Leader, Investment Solutions in our Durham, NC Regional Center.

Q: Tell us about your role. What does it entail?

Craig: I lead a team of licensed consultants who provide investment guidance and financial planning to our clients to help them achieve their short and long-term financial goals.

My team gets the privilege of working directly with Fidelity’s Personal Investing customers! The benefit of working with Fidelity is that we believe every client we interact with should have the ability to get financial help. This process includes defining each customer’s goals, understanding their current situation and then identifying the key steps to take in order to help them achieve their lifetime goals.

Q: Why did you choose to come to Fidelity?

Craig: I chose Fidelity 17 years ago because of our client and employee-centric approach. The approach of putting our clients, customers and employees first has contributed to Fidelity becoming the largest provider in the industry.

We're seeking candidates who are inspirational and inclusive leaders with a passion for their employees’ success!

Q: What is something about working at Fidelity that surprised you?

Craig: We all work together as a team and we are all looking out for each other in order to make Fidelity the best place to work and the best provider in the financial industry. I have never had a moment in my career at Fidelity where a co-worker wasn’t willing to offer time to assist with a project or personal career growth.

The Durham campus is an open environment with established connection points to drive collaboration. When Fidelity created the space, they really put the employee experience at the forefront of the design. A number of amenities and ways to interact with your colleagues include our walking trails, basketball court, fitness center, break areas and our cafeteria--these help make us want to come into the office every day even more!

By Leslie, Social Media Intern

My story is simple, and it started when my parents immigrated from Mexico to the US in 1996. They came to the land of opportunities with zero expectations but a whole lot of hunger. I am the oldest of 4 kids and the importance of an education was always emphasized by my mom. She was pursing an accounting degree in Mexico but had to drop it all to migrate to the US. Although she does not hold an official degree, my mom has always been a scholar and pushed me to be one too. Despite her unusual 4am-1pm work schedule, my mom somehow always found the time to read with me, help me with my math homework, and to take me to a variety professional development and volunteering events.

My parents have supported me in all aspects of my life; yet I was not prepared enough when I stepped on my PWI (Predominantly White Institution) campus. Besides experiencing culture shock, I also struggled academically and being halfway across the country. I missed my sweet Texas home so much. I wanted to call it quits so many times, but what kept me going was my dad’s words before he dropped me off at orientation to go back home: “Mientras todos duermen, tu trabajo duro”, which means “while everyone rests, you work harder” in English.

At times, I resisted calling my family for help because I was embarrassed that they would think I was not strong enough. No problems were fixed-- I still had to figure out difficult assignments. It was then when I truly understood the meaning of being a first-generation college student. Many times, we don’t have the knowledge, resources, or adequate support systems to properly navigate college, but we do have the hustle that keeps us going.

Fast forward a couple years, I am now working for Fidelity Investments as a Social Media intern and I am an Aspire Fellow as well. At the beginning, I had worries that my summer here would be a reminder of my freshman year. It made me question if Fidelity would be the appropriate workplace for me personally. But, with only a few weeks left in my internship, I can vouch for the welcoming and encouraging community here. This opportunity has exposed me to an amazing network. I have a manager that also acts as a mentor and doesn’t only give me social media advice, but future career and life advice as well. I have an entire team that is always excited to hear from me during our check-ins and team meetings. A mentor from my Aspire fellowship is helping me achieve and learn more about financial literacy. In addition, associates who I have networked with are always super eager to put down time on their busy schedule to meet with me.

I feel an immense amount of support here, and this is exactly the type of environment I needed as a freshman. Fidelity inspires its associates to bring their authentic selves to work every day and it’s that culture that makes me look forward towards a future here.

By @fidelityjobs

A Team Leader at Fidelity is a key member of the Regional Center Client Services group providing leadership to a team of licensed associates. If you have proven leadership experience, Fidelity may be the perfect fit for you. We sat down with Michael Dumont, an Onboarding Leader, to talk about our leadership roles and how we're actively hiring in both Smithfield, RI and Durham, NC NOW!

Q: Tell us about your role, what does it entail?

Michael: I have the privilege of focusing on our Client Service Associates onboarding to the Smithfield, RI regional center. My primary responsibility is to ensure that leaders, at all levels, are creating a memorable and supportive experience to ensure that our associates understand and take full advantage of the world class values and culture of our organization. I’m also relentlessly focused on creating consistency and alignment of the experience as the onboarding process is so critical to associate engagement and longevity with the firm.

Fidelity is a large organization that can be complex at times. By creating a seamless experience that incorporates licensing, training, onboarding and introducing associates to our values and culture, we help these individuals navigate the process enabling them for success as they start their journey at Fidelity.

Q: Why did you choose to work at Fidelity?

Michael: Because of the values and culture that are so ingrained in what we do and how we show up for one another and our clients. The quality of our talent, coupled with the empowerment we’re provided as associates truly sets us apart. Through this, we have the tools and resources to deliver an experience for our clients that enables them on their path to financial wellness.

Q: What skills or traits would make someone a good fit for working in a Leader role in one of our Regional Centers?

Michael: For me, it comes down to a passion for our clients and our associates. I think strong leaders embrace their role as a coach. They have a desire to develop the skill of their team for the benefit of the client experience, but also for the development of their associates' careers. Through all of this, a leader is the representative of the organization. They are the model of the behavior we hope to see in others. It’s an awesome responsibility, but a truly life changing one as you see the careers of those you have the privilege to lead grow.

Q: We're hiring in both Smithfield and Raleigh-Durham. What makes the Smithfield campus special to you?

Michael: Smithfield is special to me for many reasons. First and foremost, having grown up in New Hampshire, I’ve always considered the New England region home and this is an exciting opportunity to get back to be close to family and loved ones. Secondly, Smithfield is a large and diverse campus with many different business units providing ample opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas and the ability for associates to grow their careers outside of traditional Personal Investing roles.

By @fidelityjobs

Fidelity’s Women in Technology Special Interest Group is committed to creating a thriving community of women in Fidelity Technology. As part of this vision, WITSIG kicked off a new awards program, the Women In Technology (WIT) Excellence Awards. These awards are presented quarterly with the goal of lifting up and recognizing the thriving women in our organization at a global and enterprise level.

The ideal candidate for this award is anyone who encourages, empowers and delivers outstanding value and accomplishments in technology. Here are the winners from last quarter, and wonderful words about them from their peers:

Nominated by a peer, Grace is an associate software engineer and has shown incredible initiative since joining her team from Leap, Fidelity’s technology immersion program. She learns quickly and takes on additional responsibility. Grace sets an excellent example for other technologists across Fidelity.

Nominated by a peer, Shu goes above and beyond to help the squads she works with from an architectural standpoint. She takes the time to train developers and even provides code reviews. She puts in time outside of work to prepare and drive designs forward. With an end-to-end understanding of the work she does and the technologies involved, Shu is a valuable contributor to our technology team.

Nominated by a peer, Renuka has made incredible contributions to the technology community as a leader in architecture. By bringing difficult challenges to her team and providing the support they need, she helps everyone grow and arrive at better decisions.

Nominated by a peer, Aoife has made positive contributions as an inclusive leader. She actively mentors and advocates for individuals across peer groups and hosts diversity and inclusion conversations across her team. By recognizing the unique attributes of her team members and showing each individual how to best support the team, she helps make everyone better.

Nominated by a peer, Sushma was recognized for both her technical and business expertise. She uses her immense knowledge to contribute to many projects from design to implementation. Sushma is always willing to fill any role needed on her team and actively mentors and provides guidance to others.

Nominated by a peer, Diana was recognized for her focus and attention to detail when it comes to her Quality Assurance testing. She drives stories to completion as well as takes on additional initiatives. She has been an integral part of moving complex applications to AWS and her commitment to testing has brought comfort to all involved. Diana willingly helps others and seeks to enhance the skills of those around her.

By @fidelityjobs

After working in the public/nonprofit sector in Washington, D.C. for several years, Thanh became a single mother. Moving back to Massachusetts to be closer to her family gave her the support she needed to make a career change. She remembers as refugees from Vietnam, her parents worked hard to put food on the table. Her parents had no opportunity to think about their financial future. “When I moved back to Massachusetts, I knew I needed to think beyond surviving each day and plan longer term for my own family. That’s why I decided to turn to a career in financial services.”

“When I became a financial representative at Fidelity, I met people from all different backgrounds – not just in finance. Also, I was surprised at the range of opportunities Fidelity offers. I graduated with my MBA last year and have been able to apply what I have learned to my current role in Marketing. As an active member of the AIM (Asian Inclusivity & Multiculturalism) employee resource group, I’ve reactivated a greater sense of purpose – to be part of the active dialogue around diversity and inclusion. We recently came together to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month and at our annual All Hands meeting, I was asked to share my lived experience as an associate of Asian descent. From that meeting, I received so much support from colleagues near and far. Being involved in AIM has helped reinforce my voice and given me the comfort to bring my authentic self to work.”

By @fidelityjobs

Put your leadership traits to work at Fidelity Investments! We have featured a series of roundtable discussions with our Team Leaders at our remote Regional Centers here at Fidelity, and are looking to hire for these roles across the country.

The Team Leader is a key member of the Regional Center Client Services group providing leadership to a team of licensed associates. To give more insight into these roles, we sat down with Team Leaders Mark Schweitzer and Stacey Walker, as well as Regional Talent Champion Melissa Garza. Hear what they had to say about working as Team Leader in our remote Regional Centers.

Q: Tell us about your leadership style.

Mark: I would call my Leadership Style one that is a Coaching Style. I seek to understand someone’s passions, interests, and current skills and then use a blend of coaching and accountability to help them discover their true potential. Career vitality is very important to me and to achieve this, you need to be successful in your current role and build a positive brand that others want to work with as well.

Stacey: I agree with your style, Mark. I would also say that for me, it’s to tell it like it is. Honesty is important. A strong leader should have open and honest communication.

Q: Melissa, for the Team Leader role, what type of support, resources, and training does Fidelity offer, and why is that important?

Melissa: There is no lack of resources and support when it comes to Fidelity. We have mastered virtual onboarding and training even before the pandemic. We provide all the equipment and programs needed to be successful with all the access to our coaches and Learning & Development team over many weeks of training accommodating to many learning styles.

Q: How does the Team Leader role impact Fidelity?

Stacey: Remote Regional Centers are paving the way of how Fidelity will do business in the future. We are hiring hundreds of associates across the country to help with our growing client base. We are tapping into talent in cities where we don’t have campuses and bringing diverse experience and talent to Fidelity that we wouldn’t have been able to do in the past.

Q: Talk to us about the importance of a diverse background and team.

Mark: We all come from different backgrounds and have experienced different life events. By having a diverse team, you bring diversity of thought, interests, and skills which can help a teamwork through any type of environment.

Q: What makes an ideal candidate for our Team Leader roles?

Mark: The ideal candidate is someone who has a customer first mindset, has a plan to execute on business priorities, has a repeatable call model process, is proactive about their self-development, and seeks feedback from others.

Stacey: Be client obsessed. Be confident about what you have done and eager to take on new adventures. And don’t worry about titles.

Melissa: Any candidate can be an ideal candidate! Come prepared and ready to quantify your successes.

By @fidelityjobs

As we wrapped up Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, we caught up with Ishan, one of our associates who recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary at Fidelity and is an active member of our Asian Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) employee resource group. He shares what this month means to him and how Fidelity has supported him as an Asian associate.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your career path at Fidelity.

Ishan: I was born in India and raised in North Carolina. After graduating NC State University, I began my career at Fidelity as a technology associate. After several opportunities, like the General Management Apprenticeship talent development program, I arrived at my current role as a Squad Lead for one of our products. When I started, I never thought Fidelity would be more than a two-year stepping stone into the professional world, but I just celebrated my 10th anniversary with Fidelity in January 2021. Working at Fidelity has given me chances to meet amazing people; people that nurtured my career, provided me advice, guidance, opportunities, and lifelong friendships around the world. Over the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to work in our Raleigh, NC; Covington, KY; and Boston, MA locations, and even visit colleagues in India and China.

Q: How did you get involved with Fidelity’s Asian employee resource group, AIM (Asian Inclusivity & Multiculturalism)?

Ishan: I started a role in Covington, Kentucky and didn’t know the geography or people in the region. My manager at the time took me to my first AIM (then known as AERG) meeting to help me network and meet people outside of my project. Volunteering with AIM, I was able to make new friends, discover new experiences, enjoy the local culture (like cheesy spaghetti and Goettafest), and grow to make the KY-OH region home for the next three and a half years.

Having grown up in India, my favorite Hindu festival has always been Diwali. I vividly remember celebrating with my family by shooting off fireworks, eating delicious sweets, spending time with my cousins, and wearing brand new colorful clothes. Moving around the U.S., Diwali wasn’t as big a celebration as I remembered, and when I lived on my own, it became even harder to find others who celebrated. AIM gave me an outlet to find people that wanted to celebrate and learn about my culture, including Diwali. I met colleagues that invited me into their homes to celebrate with their families; people that taught me about their cultures and shared fond memories of their traditions. When I moved back to NC, I partnered with other passionate colleagues to restart the Fidelity Raleigh AIM chapter. It was my chance to give back, so we worked together to share Asian culture with our colleagues by hosting learning events, festival celebrations, and sponsoring AAPI-targeted events in the local community.

Q: What does Asian American & Pacific American Heritage Month mean to you?