Resume

Assistant Director Of Financial Aid Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Assistant Director Of Financial Aid resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

As an assistant director of financial aid, you’ll play a critical role in helping students pay for college. You’re an expert at managing processes, developing policies and procedures, and overseeing the implementation of new initiatives.

And while it might seem like a thankless job, many people find working in financial aid to be both challenging and rewarding. You get to help students pursue their educational goals while making sure they have all the resources they need to succeed. And if you do your job well, you can help students and families pay for their education without breaking the bank.

Here are some tips and an example to help you write a compelling assistant director of financial aid resume that will get you hired.

James Smith
Chicago, IL | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Seasoned financial aid professional with over 10 years of experience helping students and families secure funding for higher education. Proven track record in providing excellent customer service, developing relationships with key stakeholders, and managing a team of financial aid counselors.

Education
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Jun '10
M.S. in Student Affairs and Higher Education
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Jun '06
B.A. in Political Science and History
Experience
Company A, Assistant Director Of Financial Aid Jan '17 – Current
  • Developed and implemented a comprehensive financial aid strategy to increase the number of students receiving need-based grants by 20% annually.
  • Oversaw all aspects of the application process, including outreach, document submission, and award decisions for undergraduate applicants.
  • Managed a team of 3 full-time staff members in support of over $20 million in institutional grant funding each year.
  • Created an online portal for prospective students to submit their FAFSA applications electronically which resulted in a 50% increase in electronic submissions within 1 year.
  • Collaborated with faculty on campus regarding student eligibility requirements and provided training sessions for new employees as well as ongoing professional development opportunities for current staff members.
Company B, Assistant Director Of Financial Aid Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Worked with the Director of Financial Aid to create a comprehensive financial aid program that met students’ needs
  • Created and implemented an outreach plan for prospective students, increasing enrollment by 15% in one year
  • Conducted campus tours and answered questions from prospective students and their parents
  • Assisted current students with completing the FAFSA form online through my university’s website
  • Collaborated with faculty members on scholarships available to incoming freshmen based on merit or need
Company C, Financial Aid Assistant Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Monitored and processed changes to student accounts in accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
  • Reviewed student files for completeness and compliance with regulations.
  • Counseled students and families on financial aid options and the financial aid process.
Certifications
  • Certified Financial Aid Administrator (CFAA)
  • National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Certified
  • Professional in College and University Admission Counseling (PICUAC)
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Financial Aid, College Admissions, FAFSA, Processing, Counseling
Technical Skills: Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Google Drive, Gmail, Outlook
Soft Skills: Communication, Leadership, Teamwork, Conflict Resolution, Empathy, Problem Solving

How to Write an Assistant Director Of Financial Aid Resume

Here’s how to write an resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

The best way to make your resume stand out is to use specific numbers and statistics to demonstrate your experience and qualifications. So rather than saying you “managed student accounts,” you could say that you “managed student accounts for $10 million endowment, overseeing more than 500 accounts and ensuring timely disbursement of funds to more than 1,000 students.”

The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about the size and scope of the project, as well as the number of people involved and the number of students impacted.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you apply for a job as a director of financial aid, your resume will likely be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs search for terms related to the job, like “endowment management” or “donor relations” to determine whether your experience is a match. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, your application might not even make it to a human eyes.

To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of common director of financial aid keywords as a starting point and focus on including them throughout all the sections of your resume:

  • Financial Aid
  • Student Financial Aid
  • Higher Education
  • Scholarship
  • Student Affairs
  • Student Leadership
  • Student Development
  • Admissions
  • Student Loans
  • Staff Development
  • Community Outreach
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Program Development
  • Event Planning
  • Public Speaking
  • Volunteer Management
  • Leadership Development
  • Recruiting
  • Grant Writing
  • Fundraising
  • Event Management
  • Student Financial Services
  • Admissions Counseling
  • Higher Education Administration
  • Enrollment Management
  • Financial Aid Counseling
  • Student Development Programming
  • Adult Education
  • Student Services
  • First-generation College Students

Showcase Your Technical Skills

The technical skills section of your resume is one of the most important sections to focus on, as it can be the deciding factor in whether or not you get an interview. Assistant directors of financial aid are typically expected to be proficient in programs like QuickBooks, Excel, and Word, so make sure you list these programs and your corresponding level of expertise. Additionally, if you have experience with other programs or systems that are relevant to the role, be sure to list them.

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