Key Takeaways
- Synchrony uses Workday as its ATS — optimize your resume for clean parsing by using simple formatting, standard headers, and reviewing all auto-populated fields after upload.
- With a relatively small number of active job postings (currently around 9), competition for each role can be intense — tailor every application specifically to the job description and demonstrate clear alignment with Synchrony's business.
- Synchrony's roles span a wide range of seniority levels (L09 through L12+), so understanding the level system and targeting roles appropriate to your experience is important for a successful application.
- The company places a strong emphasis on analytics, risk management, and regulatory compliance — even non-technical roles benefit from demonstrating data literacy and compliance awareness.
- Synchrony's culture values collaboration, diversity, and innovation — prepare to demonstrate these qualities throughout the interview process with specific examples.
- Background checks at Synchrony are typically thorough, as expected for a regulated financial institution — ensure your resume accurately reflects your employment history and credentials.
- Set up job alerts on Synchrony's Workday careers portal to be notified quickly when new positions are posted, giving you an early-mover advantage in a competitive applicant pool.
About Synchrony Financial
Application Process
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1
Explore Open Positions on Synchrony's Workday Careers Portal
Begin by visiting Synchrony's official careers page hosted on Workday (synchronyfinancial.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/careers). Browse available roles using keyword searches and filters for location, job category, and experience level. With a relatively focused number of active openings at any given time (currently around 9 postings), it's important to check back regularly as new positions may be posted frequently. Set up job alerts within the Workday portal to receive notifications when roles matching your criteria become available. Pay close attention to the job level designations (e.g., L09, L10, L12) as these typically correspond to Synchrony's internal career bands and indicate seniority expectations.
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2
Create or Update Your Workday Candidate Profile
Synchrony uses Workday as its applicant tracking system, so you'll need to create a candidate profile to apply. You can typically sign in using LinkedIn, Google, or create a standalone account. Upload your resume, which Workday will attempt to auto-parse into structured fields. Carefully review and correct any parsing errors — Workday's parser sometimes misinterprets formatting, dates, or job titles. Complete all required fields thoroughly, including education, work history, and any voluntary self-identification forms. Having a complete profile is important because Synchrony's recruiting team commonly uses Workday's search and filtering capabilities to identify strong candidates.
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3
Submit a Tailored Application with Supporting Documents
For each role you apply to, customize your resume and any optional cover letter to align with the specific job description. Synchrony's roles span analytics, risk management, technology, compliance, and sales — each requiring distinct skill sets and terminology. Mirror the language used in the job posting where authentic. If the application allows you to attach additional documents, consider including a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of Synchrony's business model, key partnerships, and strategic priorities. Some roles may include screening questions or short assessments as part of the application — answer these thoughtfully, as they are commonly used for initial candidate filtering.
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4
Complete Pre-Screening and Recruiter Phone Interview
After submission, qualified candidates typically hear from a Synchrony recruiter within one to three weeks, though timelines can vary based on the role and hiring urgency. The initial contact is commonly a phone screen lasting 20-30 minutes, during which the recruiter will verify your background, discuss your interest in Synchrony, confirm logistical details (location, compensation expectations, availability), and assess basic qualifications. Many applicants report that recruiters are professional and transparent about the process. Prepare by researching Synchrony's recent earnings, partnerships, and strategic initiatives, and be ready to articulate why you're specifically interested in the company and the role.
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5
Participate in Hiring Manager and Panel Interviews
Candidates who advance past the recruiter screen are typically invited to interview with the hiring manager, often via video call. Depending on the role's seniority (L09 through L12 and above), you may go through two to four rounds of interviews, potentially including panel interviews with cross-functional stakeholders. Technical roles in analytics, information security, or risk management commonly include case studies, technical assessments, or scenario-based questions. Leadership roles often involve behavioral interviews using the STAR method. Many candidates report that Synchrony interviewers focus heavily on collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and cultural alignment.
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6
Background Check, Offer, and Onboarding
Successful candidates typically receive a verbal offer followed by a formal written offer through the Workday system. As a regulated financial services company, Synchrony commonly conducts thorough background checks, including criminal history, employment verification, education verification, and credit checks (as permitted by law and relevant to the role). Once the background check clears, you'll receive onboarding instructions through Workday. Synchrony's onboarding process is generally reported as well-structured, with orientation programs, technology setup, and introductions to team members and company culture. The entire process from application to start date commonly takes four to eight weeks.
Resume Tips for Synchrony Financial
Optimize for Workday's Resume Parser
Workday's ATS parses uploaded resumes into structured data fields. To ensure accurate parsing, use a clean, single-column format with standard section headers like 'Work Experience,' 'Education,' and 'Skills.' Avoid tables, text boxes, graphics, headers/footers, and multi-column layouts. Use a .docx or .pdf format (Workday typically accepts both, but .docx tends to parse more reliably). After uploading, always review the parsed fields in your Workday profile and manually correct any errors before submitting your application.
Incorporate Industry-Specific Keywords from the Job Description
Synchrony's roles span diverse functions — from enterprise risk analytics and PCI compliance to credit sales and information security. Each job posting contains specific terminology that recruiters and Workday's filtering tools may use to identify qualified candidates. For analytics roles, include terms like 'predictive modeling,' 'SAS,' 'Python,' 'SQL,' 'machine learning,' and 'regulatory compliance.' For information security roles, reference 'Splunk,' 'Unix,' 'SIEM,' 'vulnerability management,' and 'PCI DSS.' For sales roles, mention 'portfolio growth,' 'partner management,' 'credit origination,' and 'P&L management.' Always ensure these keywords reflect your genuine experience.
Quantify Achievements with Metrics and Business Impact
Synchrony is a data-driven organization, and hiring managers commonly value candidates who can demonstrate measurable impact. Instead of listing responsibilities, frame your experience in terms of outcomes: 'Developed fraud detection model that reduced losses by 15% across a $2B portfolio,' 'Led compliance remediation initiative that resolved 200+ open findings within 6 months,' or 'Grew credit sales pipeline by 30% through strategic partner engagement.' Quantified achievements help you stand out in a competitive applicant pool and demonstrate the analytical mindset Synchrony values.
Highlight Experience with Synchrony's Key Business Areas
Synchrony's business revolves around retail card partnerships, healthcare financing (CareCredit), and digital payment solutions. If you have experience in consumer lending, private label credit, retail financial services, healthcare financing, or fintech, make this prominently visible on your resume. Even tangential experience — such as working with retail partners, managing credit risk portfolios, or implementing payment technologies — can be highly relevant. Tailor your professional summary to connect your background to Synchrony's core business lines.
Demonstrate Regulatory and Compliance Awareness
As a regulated financial institution, Synchrony operates under oversight from the OCC, CFPB, and other regulatory bodies. Roles across the organization — not just compliance-specific positions — benefit from candidates who understand regulatory frameworks. Mention experience with FFIEC guidelines, OCC consent orders, CFPB examination processes, BSA/AML, fair lending, or enterprise risk management frameworks. For technology roles, highlight familiarity with PCI DSS, SOX compliance, or data privacy regulations like CCPA and GLBA.
Showcase Cross-Functional Collaboration and Leadership
Many of Synchrony's posted roles — particularly at the AVP (L10) and VP (L12) levels — require significant cross-functional collaboration. Your resume should highlight instances where you led or contributed to initiatives spanning multiple departments, managed stakeholder relationships, or drove enterprise-wide programs. Use language that reflects Synchrony's collaborative culture: 'partnered with,' 'led cross-functional team of,' 'aligned stakeholders across,' and 'drove consensus on.' This is especially important for roles in enterprise complaints, risk analytics, and governance.
Include Relevant Certifications and Continuing Education
Synchrony values continuous learning and professional development. Include relevant certifications such as CFA, FRM, PMP, CISSP, CISM, CISA, Six Sigma, or AWS/Azure certifications depending on the role. If you've completed relevant coursework in data science, machine learning, cybersecurity, or financial regulation, include this as well. Synchrony has been known to invest in employee development, so demonstrating a growth mindset through ongoing education can be a differentiator.
ATS System: Workday
Synchrony Financial uses Workday Recruiting as its applicant tracking system, hosted at synchronyfinancial.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com. Workday is one of the most widely used enterprise ATS platforms, processing applications through structured data fields that are parsed from uploaded resumes. Recruiters use Workday's built-in search, filtering, and candidate management tools to review applications, track candidates through pipeline stages, and coordinate with hiring managers. Workday also handles offer management, background check initiation, and onboarding workflows, making it the central system for Synchrony's entire hiring lifecycle.
- Use a clean, single-column resume format without tables, graphics, or text boxes to ensure Workday's parser accurately extracts your information into the correct fields.
- After uploading your resume, carefully review every auto-populated field in your Workday candidate profile — job titles, dates, company names, and education details are commonly misparsed and should be manually corrected.
- Complete all optional fields in your Workday profile, including skills, certifications, and professional summary, as recruiters may use these fields to search for and filter candidates.
- Apply to specific roles rather than submitting generic applications — Workday tracks applications per requisition, and targeted applications with tailored resumes typically perform better in recruiter searches.
- Save your Workday login credentials and check your candidate portal regularly for status updates, interview scheduling requests, and any additional information requests from the recruiting team.
Interview Culture
Synchrony Financial's interview process is commonly described by candidates as thorough, professional, and structured, reflecting the company's data-driven and compliance-conscious culture.
What Synchrony Financial Looks For
- Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills, particularly for roles in risk, analytics, and technology
- Deep understanding of consumer financial services, credit card operations, or retail banking
- Experience with regulatory compliance frameworks (OCC, CFPB, PCI DSS, FFIEC) relevant to financial institutions
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions and manage complex stakeholder relationships
- Technical proficiency in relevant tools and platforms (e.g., SAS, Python, SQL, Splunk, Unix, cloud technologies) depending on the role
- Leadership capability with a track record of driving results, managing teams, and influencing without authority
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ability to thrive in a collaborative, values-driven culture
- Adaptability and comfort with change, particularly in the context of digital transformation and evolving regulatory landscapes
- Customer-centric mindset with an understanding of how financial products serve end consumers and retail partners
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sample Open Positions
Related Resources
Sources
- Synchrony Financial Careers Page — Synchrony Financial
- Synchrony Financial Official Website — About Us — Synchrony Financial
- Synchrony Financial Investor Relations — Synchrony Financial
- Workday Recruiting — How It Works — Workday, Inc.
- Synchrony Financial on Glassdoor — Reviews and Interview Insights — Glassdoor