FinTech is a broad term that refers to the commingling of technological innovation with the finance sector. FinTech is a lucrative career path, but it requires extensive knowledge in a variety of specialization areas. Some of the skills you may need include data analytics, coding with Python and/or SQL, data visualization, predictive modeling, algorithmic trading, data science, and machine learning. A FinTech bootcamp is a great way to gain knowledge in a range of these skills on a more accelerated timeline (and for less money) than a formal college degree. This type of training is also a fantastic way to prepare for a career in the FinTech world, as the hands-on and skills-focused pedagogical approach provides a well-rounded education in only 3 to 6 months. Read on to learn more about bootcamp training options for Dallas residents and how to put your FinTech training to use when you graduate.
What is FinTech?
Financial technology (FinTech) is an umbrella field that pertains to websites, apps, and other programs that facilitate payment processing, online banking, wealth management systems, credit scoring, and any other digitized financial needs. The field of FinTech has existed for decades but has undergone rapid change in the past ten years. This field has moved far beyond its early iterations, in which paper, gold, and coins were used. Today, FinTech pertains to customer-based services and how cutting-edge technologies are used to automate how financial services are delivered and used. Many technologies fall into FinTech, including blockchain and digital wallets, which were designed to help users access complex systems. FinTech has applications in a range of career paths across industries such as education, fundraising, retail banking, and investment management.
What Can I Do with FinTech Training?
FinTech training can open many professional doors in various industries, each of which has its own specific technical requirements. Those interested in pursuing a FinTech career may wish to begin their professional path by narrowing down the industry they wish to work in so they can develop the specialized skills necessary. The core skills all FinTech professionals will need, regardless of their area of specialization, are financial literacy, technology knowledge, financial expertise, and an understanding of regulatory compliance. Those who have more specific training in areas like data science, cybersecurity, financial modeling, or customer experience can apply for additional job opportunities.
The following are just several professional uses for FinTech training:
- The fields of data analytics and data science are integral to FinTech. FinTech professionals who work in data science use advanced analytics to obtain insights into how efficient their services are or how pleased customers are with their experience using them. Data analysts then transform these insights into plans that they can present to their organization so that improvements can be made.
- Financial modeling involves working with mathematical models that represent financial assets or situations. Financial analysts use these models to make predictions about how their company will perform financially in the future so they can compare possible financial choices. Financial models are commonly used to assess risk and make data-driven plans moving forward. They also are helpful for assisting a company or client with financial reporting.
- Those who work in customer experience are tasked with creating user-friendly services and products that are easy for customers to use and meet specified standards. To create systems and products such as these, UX and UI professionals draw from design skills, knowledge of design software, usability testing, and user research.
- Another popular way to use FinTech training is in cybersecurity. This field involves safeguarding financial operations and data from online threats. Cybersecurity professionals must have knowledge of secure coding practices, financial systems, analytical training, encryption, vulnerability management, and network security.
In addition to a range of professional applications, FinTech training can also help with personal tasks, including creating budgets and planning for financial endeavors that will occur in the future. Those interested in exploring how to make smart investments can also benefit from FinTech knowledge. Additionally, as digital banking services become more prevalent, FinTech training can help the average person more easily access and work with online banking services and perform tasks like paying bills online, checking balances, and making deposits or transfers.
How Hard is It to Learn FinTech?
Learning FinTech is like any other skill in that the difficulty level associated with learning it is subjective and varies from one learner to the next. The challenges you’ll encounter will depend on how much prior financial knowledge you bring to your training, which type of training method you select, and how you hope to use your FinTech skills once you graduate. Because FinTech is a broad field that requires both hard and soft skills, as well as financial knowledge and industry-specific training, the learning process largely depends on the industry in which you’ll be employed. Those who want to put their FinTech training to use in data science, for example, will have to be familiar with coding languages like Python. Conversely, those looking to pursue project management roles may be required to work with specific software such as Trello or Microsoft Project.
Some learners may also find it challenging to acquire both hard and soft skills in preparation for a FinTech career. Although the learning process varies from one individual to another and pertains to the specific career they hope to obtain in FinTech, the learning process may entail studying Power BI, SQL, Tableau, Excel, or other industry-specific tools. Learners will also need to acquire many soft skills as well such as strong written and verbal communication, business acumen, time-management training, and storytelling. Most individuals will need time and practice to fully develop these skills.
The field of FinTech continues to change and evolve as new technologies are introduced that continue to transform our daily lives. This means that those who want to work in FinTech will need to commit to being lifelong learners and staying abreast of the most current technological advances.
How Long Will It Take to Learn FinTech?
In addition to each learner differing in terms of the challenges they’ll face when learning FinTech, the time it will take to acquire FinTech training varies from one person to the next. It also depends on a host of factors, including the type of career path they hope to pursue. Some careers in FinTech require graduating with a degree from a four-year college or university, as well as acquiring years of professional training. Other career paths provide more flexibility; those interested in applying for entry-level roles may be able to do so by attending a bootcamp or certificate program that takes as little as four to six weeks to complete. A good rule of thumb is that the time it will take most individuals to learn FinTech is that this estimate depends on how they intend to use their training and to what extent. Individuals interested in a career in business analytics will have to have different skills than those who want to work in cybersecurity or investment. Additionally, some professional roles require that applicants earn certifications, whereas others are more flexible.
One of the best ways to streamline the process of learning FinTech is to create an action plan early on. This should include what industry you hope to work in, as well as what you hope to do with your training. If you value job flexibility, you may want to opt for career paths that focus on financial or business analytics. If, instead, you’re more interested in risk management, careers in insurance, banking, or healthcare may be a better match. Because the type of training each profession requires is different, the sooner you can specify your professional aspirations, the sooner you can acquire the FinTech training needed to help you get there.
An additional variable that dictates the speed you’ll learn FinTech is what you hope to do with your knowledge. Some FinTech career paths only require basic FinTech knowledge, while other roles expect applicants to have more extensive training and supplementary skills. Those who hope to use their FinTech training in data science will need to be familiar with more than simply finance; they also must be well-versed in machine learning, Python, SQL, and other tools. No matter what your professional aspirations are, enrolling in a hands-on certificate program or bootcamp such as Noble Desktop’s ||CPN509||, is a great way to expedite the learning process.
What Skills Are Related to FinTech?
Because there are so many avenues to working in FinTech, each learner will likely have a different approach to learning this skill set and acquiring related professional skills. Some people may opt to focus on the financial side of FinTech, whereas others may prefer to explore data science or software engineering. No matter which career path you opt for, you’ll likely need a range of skills to succeed in the workplace. The following are just a few related skills you may wish to acquire if you’re interested in pursuing a career in FinTech:
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Software development: One of the most in-demand skill sets aspiring FinTech professionals can have is software development. Those who have a background in developing software can use their training in a range of FinTech tasks, including creating e-marketplaces for businesses or platforms for digital banks.
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Blockchain: As the cryptocurrency industry continues to gain in popularity, the demand for blockchain experts is on the rise as well. During the past decade, as digital currencies like Bitcoin have increased in value, they’ve disrupted many elements of the traditional banking industry. The demand for Blockchain Developers has gone up an estimated 30% to account for this need. It’s likely that the need for those with blockchain experience will continue to grow in the near future as more financial institutions turn to blockchain solutions.
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Cybersecurity: As new online financial services continue to emerge, so too do new cyber criminals. Cyberattacks cause a range of problems, including information loss and damaged reputations. As their attacks on financial platforms grow more sophisticated, those who can safeguard online information are in high demand across industries. Those interested in using their FinTech training in cybersecurity will need knowledge of risk management and compliance, governance, encryption methods, communication technologies, and data analytics.
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Data: As technology continues to change the face of financial services, it creates a huge amount of data that will be useful once it’s cleaned and analyzed. This is why knowledge of technologies like AI, big data, deep learning, and machine learning is essential to help companies make the most of this information to provide their customers with better services.
What Jobs Require FinTech Training?
If you want to put your FinTech training to use, you may wonder which career paths are available. Behind the scenes in the finance industry, tech professionals of all backgrounds are tasked with developing cutting-edge products and services and protecting customer data from constant security risks. The following are several professional opportunities those who study FinTech can explore:
What Will I Learn in a ||CPN509||?
One of the most effective ways to receive hands-on training in FinTech is to enroll in a bootcamp program in Dallas. Bootcamps are offered by many top educators in the US and are available live online as well as in-person at designated training facilities in or near Dallas. The content of each bootcamp differs depending on the educational provider who offers it, the course’s syllabus and pedagogical approach, its duration, and the program’s difficulty level. However, most bootcamps are open to learners at all levels, including those who are new to finance or have no prior experience with computer programming or FinTech. Students who sign up for a bootcamp can expect to learn core FinTech skills, including financial analysis, data science, SQL querying, Python programming, machine learning, and data visualization. Those who graduate from these programs can put their training to use immediately in an entry-level job in fields like data science, IT security, or financial analytics.
In addition to providing learners with small-class instruction, many FinTech bootcamps also include additional educational incentives for those who enroll to ensure they’ll be able to land a job when they graduate. Some of these courses offer perks like 1-on-1 mentoring as part of tuition. Other programs provide students with access to networking events, professional portfolio critiques, help with resumes and cover letters, or mock interview sessions.
Dallas Careers for ||CPN509|| Graduates
A FinTech bootcamp is a great way to prepare for a variety of careers in the Dallas area. In your job search, check out positions like Financial Analyst, Python Developer, Data Scientist, and Software Engineer. Most of these positions earn annual salaries near or above $100,000, which is close to double the local median of $52,000.
As you look into careers for Dallas FinTech bootcamp graduates, keep in mind that one of the major industries in the area, with over 400,000 local employees, is government. As the city’s economy is hugely impacted by FinTech, there are likely to be several government jobs that would benefit from financial and technical expertise. The professional services industry is also big in Dallas and would be a good fit for FinTech bootcamp graduates. Otherwise, there is always the option to create your own freelance business or consultancy that would provide you with the opportunity to work with a variety of clients on their financial endeavors instead of being tied to one company.
Advantages of Learning FinTech with a Live Instructor
Those who have the opportunity to study FinTech with a live instructor benefit greatly from this type of training. Participants in this learning environment have the chance to connect in real-time with an expert instructor who has industry experience in FinTech and can share their knowledge. This type of training allows students to ask questions as they arise and receive immediate support and clarification. Students who enroll in coursework live online can even grant the instructor permission to share their screen to have additional help.
Live bootcamp programs differ from self-paced courses, which are pre-recorded and placed online. Instead, live training occurs at regularly scheduled intervals, often weekly or several times a week. Participants begin by learning basic FinTech concepts and skills, including basic financial literacy, before progressing into more complex material over several weeks or months (depending on whether the program is attended part-time or full-time). This training format ensures that students will have sufficient time to fully immerse in learning topics that will ensure they’re ready to get a job. This supportive, engaging training format is a great way for learners to prepare to use their training in a real-world setting upon graduating.
Choosing a ||CPN509||
In the process of selecting the right FinTech bootcamp for you, there are a few natural steps that are helpful to take before you decide on a course. Since FinTech has a few different applications, a logical first step would be to figure out what you hope to do with your new education. If you feel that a Financial Analyst role might be a good fit, then you would look for bootcamps that focus on analysis and data visualization. If you are hoping to go into data science, then an immersive Python course would be of more value.
After you’ve settled on a focus, the next determination is the amount of time and money you’re able to invest in your studies. FinTech bootcamps generally last several months, but if you are not able to be out of work for that long, you’ll want to find either a shorter course or a part-time option. It’s also crucial to choose a course you can afford or know you will be able to afford with your new salary. Many programs offer financing options to assist with the cost of study.
Another factor to weigh is whether you want your bootcamp to take place in a face-to-face environment or a virtual one. If you’re not sure which would be right for you, the best way to decide is to determine your learning style. Those who learn better in a quiet, home environment would choose live online courses, while someone who performs best in a group setting would likely do better in an in-person bootcamp.
In-Person FinTech Bootcamps in Dallas
In-person FinTech bootcamps in Dallas are an excellent learning opportunity for learners at all levels who are seeking hands-on FinTech training. Several schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area offer in-person bootcamps. Coding Temple’s Python + Data Science is a comprehensive bootcamp option that covers topics like data science, Python, and full-stack web development. By course completion, graduates will be familiar with JavaScript, HTML and CSS, APIs, and various frameworks. The course concludes with a capstone project. Those interested in enrolling in this intermediate-level class will have to complete three weeks of pre-work. This in-person program is available in Dallas.
Those interested in learning FinTech can also enroll in SMU Boot Camp’s FinTech Boot Camp. This beginner-friendly course provides learners with comprehensive training in FinTech, including instruction on blockchain, cryptocurrency, advanced trading algorithms, and Python. All learners graduate with a professional portfolio of the work they completed, which can be shared with prospective employers. Students also have access to career services to ensure they will be able to get a job when they graduate. This class is available in-person in Dallas.
Virtual FinTech Bootcamps
Live online FinTech bootcamps provide learners with the same benefits as in-person training such as real-world examples and hands-on instruction in the small class environment. Virtual bootcamps also have the additional perk of allowing students to learn a new skill set from the comfort of their home or office while still feeling like they’re in the same room as their peers and instructors.
Noble Desktop, an educational provider located in Manhattan, offers several virtual FinTech bootcamps for those who are new to FinTech, as well as those who have prior financial knowledge or training. In Noble’s ||CPN509||, participants learn how to work with Python and SQL for finance and data science, as well as automation and machine learning. This flexible program allows students to enroll full-time or part-time and even offers Saturday training sessions for those who have full work schedules. All learners receive personalized guidance from a mentor with real-world FinTech training who’s there to provide job support, professional advice, or clarification on challenging course material.
Other Noble programs include the Python for Data Science Bootcamp and Python for ||CPN502||. These courses are slightly shorter than the ||CPN509||, but they still provide a solid education in leveraging Python in data science and finance, both of which would be valuable in any FinTech career. All Noble classes include a free course retake for up to one year.
In addition to Noble’s FinTech course offering, Practical Programming, Sabio, NYC Data Science Academy, Fullstack Academy, and Holberton are a few additional providers offering virtual FinTech programs at this time. Their courses focus on financial technology as well as other related fields like machine learning, blockchain, Python/SQL, and data science. There are options for every level of availability; some programs require only days to complete, whereas others require a several month commitment.
FinTech Classes in Dallas
If you want to study FinTech but aren’t able to spend weeks or months on training, quicker skills courses are also available for Dallas residents. These programs provide an introduction to financial technology and tools. These classes can stand on their own or serve as a foundation for a FinTech bootcamp, giving you a head start if and when you decide to complete one. As an additional benefit, familiarity with the subject matter will likely help you get through any difficult concepts as they arise in the bootcamp structure.
There are more than a dozen different live online or in-person FinTech courses in Dallas to choose from, all of which offer education in a variety of related topics. For those who have already learned a little bit of Python, Practical Programming’sMachine Learning & Automation for Finance would be a great choice to dive into automated reporting and data analysis. Those looking to learn SQL can gain basic training in NYIM Training’s SQL Level 1, which takes just one day to complete. Finally, those looking to work with Python can select iD Tech’s Intro to Python Coding for Machine Learning. This hands-on program teaches students machine learning essentials, as well as how to work with neural networks and object-oriented programming.
Corporate FinTech Training
If those at your workplace would benefit from learning FinTech, Noble Desktop can help. Noble offers a range of corporate and onsite FinTech training in FinTech and related skills. Your employees can find training options in machine learning, algorithmic trading, FinTech, SQL, data science, and Python. Noble can come directly to your workplace in Dallas to provide training or can conduct sessions live online using Zoom.
Those looking to buy vouchers for group enrollment classes can do so at a discount when they’re purchased in bulk. Noble can also customize training so that your employees will get the most out of every minute of their training and do so as their schedules permit. This may mean attending weeknight or weekend sessions. Study options are available for those at all levels of FinTech proficiency, including those who have little or no data science or computer programming experience or who are just getting started in finance.
If you want to learn more about the exciting training options Noble offers, feel free to contact Noble today.