Guide

Starting a career in Mortgages and Protection

Guide to starting a career in Mortgages and Protection

We get a lot of requests for trainee roles or advice for getting into the Mortgage and Protection sector. Often companies hire or train them themselves purely based on supply and demand of role and extra costs when using agencies. 

It can be competitive out there so you must stand out and keep trying. 

Here are some bullet points of advice that I usually give to candidates who are looking to step into Mortgages. 

Your CV

Update your CV to state that you're looking to step across/pivot into Mortgages and Protection - make sure it's clear and obvious on your CV

Tailor your CV to showcase any existing skills which may be relevant to a role - think about soft skills such as admin/IT/well organised/communication skills etc

Include an additional section which details anything you've been doing in your spare time to increase/enhance your knowledge of Mortgages and lending. This could be podcasts you've listened to, subscriptions, internships, voluntary experience etc

If you've completed any of the CeMAP exams include these at the top of your CV.  If you haven't started, you could consider completing these one by one and self-funding.

Where to look

Get on the job boards and make your CV visible to companies by registering if you can. Sites to consider:

  • Reed

  • Google

  • Indeed

  • Total Jobs

  • Direct to companies

  • LinkedIn

  • Specialist sites

Creating a strong profile on the job boards and their databases, making yourself properly visible to all potential employers is a very good way to be found. 

Creating a strong LinkedIn profile; this is so important in this current market to make yourself stand out. Candidates need to have a clear and strong professional linkedin profile to again make themselves stand out.

For both job boards and LinkedIn consider use of relevant keywords (but not overly so), strong details and a well framed history.

Apply to as many Financial Services roles as you can.

Approach the local companies yourself, send them a copy of your CV and an introduction to yourself and your intentions to step into the sector.

  • Write a list of all the companies you want to approach in the chosen areas, including large nationals.

  • List them on a spreadsheet with Company and Contacts. You can find these through LinkedIn (make sure you have a good profile) and company sites. Sign up to Hunter or Rocket Reach for free email finding or call the company and ask for an email of the correct person.

  • Send a nice relevant intro, offer value and stating your aims.

  • Follow up with a call or email and ask for feedback if they decline.

  • List all your applications too.

Your Emails/Cover Letter

Consider the cover letters in three parts:

1. A personal/relevant intro based on something interesting eg. what you know about the company, experiences of the company, why the role interests you.

2. Talk about the skills and value you can bring (potential talk about your situation if you think it will help)

3. Ask to discuss further

Qualifications

CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) — LIBF

Structure (3 Modules / 7 Units):

  • CeMAP 1 (The UK Financial Regulation): 2 units covering the financial services environment, products, and regulations.

  • CeMAP 2 (Mortgages): 4 units covering mortgage law, practice, applications, protection products, and payment methods.

  • CeMAP 3 (Assessment of Mortgage Advice): 1 synoptic module testing application of knowledge through case studies. 


Certificate in Mortgage Advice — CII

Overview: Awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), offering a flexible route that can also step-stone into broader financial planning qualifications. 

Structure: Requires completion of two core units (providing at least 35 CII credits):

  • Regulatory Foundation (Choose one): Unit CF1 (UK financial services, regulation & ethics - Level 3) OR Unit R01 (Financial services, regulation & ethics - Level 4).

  • Specialist Mortgage Unit: Unit CF6 (Mortgage advice - Level 3).

Training programs

If your end goal is to become an adviser, have a look at the academy opportunities within the larger Mortgage companies:


  • Connells Group including Countrywide and Sequence

  • Spicerhaart – Just Mortgages

  • Alexander Hall

  • London & Country

  • Haysto

  • Mortgage Advice Bureau

  • Any many more

Best firms to investigate

  • Large estate agency businesses – Great training programs, giving a great step into the industry

  • National mortgage networks – Opens the doors to a number of businesses under that network that you can be introduced to

  • Large financial planning firms


Good luck!