Case Competition on Resume
So I got 2nd place in an IBD case comp for one of the BB's. Wanted some advice as to how to present it on my resume (under work experience or leadership, what parts to emphasize, how long should I make it compared to my other top entries on my resume, etc...)
By way of background, I'm a junior at a target applying for IBD SA programs at all of the BB's (and many of the boutiques as well). The case comp isn't well-known, it was actually our school-specific and was the first yr it was being held. But the bank is one of the best known BB's and there were over 40 teams competing.
Would really appreciate any feedback, and thanks in advance!
case comp resume bullets example
When putting your case competition experience on your resume - there are several ways to do this which depend on how your resume is structured.
If your resume has a "Relevant Experience" section, you could include the experience there. If your resume does not have a "Relevant Experience" section, you could include this experience in "Awards & Honors" or an "Other Activities Section."
Let's say the case was for JPM. You do something like this:JPMorgan Investment Banking Case Competition
Finalist (or Runner-Up)Then come the bullet points:
- The first one should be descriptive (i.e. took 2nd place in a team of 4 participants in a school wide case competition). Emphasize that it was a team effort.
- The other two bullets should:
- Talk about what was your recommendation to the company studied (i.e. "recommended to sell to strategic advisor")
- The actual analyses you performed ("performed comparable company, precedent transaction, DCF, Accretion / Dilution and LBO analyses to derive the company's valuation").
If asked, you shouldn't be boasting about how you did everything and others didn't do shit, but you should still imply that you partook in all the valuation analyses and that you can TALK about them, otherwise what's the point of putting the case comp on.
User @maximus307" shared another strategy:
If you have a finance related internship or two, you could make a separate section called "finance experience" and include the case competition with your other internship(s). Go into detail demonstrating what you actually did with active language. Emphasize leadership if you worked in a team and throw in as many numbers as possible in your bullet(s).
Didn't Win Case Study on Resume?
If you didn't win your case study but it was a sponsored by a very relevant firm or is a well-known case study, it doesn't hurt to put your participation on your resume, especially if you do not have a lot of finance experience to put on your resume. Similar to above, you can describe the work you did and the recommendation that you made. Instead of putting your role as “runner up,” you would put something like “participant.”
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If you structure your resume as Work Experience and Extracurricular / Leadership Experience (as opposed to "Relevant Experience" and "Other Experience"), it has to go into Extracurricular / Leadership. And it's a legit thing to put on, esp since you got placed, but be prepared to talk about it as though you worked on a deal for it.
Let's say the case was for JPM. You do something like this: JPMorgan Investment Banking Case Competition (maybe specify the school you're at, tho that's implied) Finalist (or Runner-Up) Then come the bullet points. The first one should be descriptive (i.e. took 2nd place in a team of 4 participants in a school wide case competition). Emphasize that it was a team effort. The other two bullets should a) talk about what was your recommendation to the company studied (i.e. "recommended to sell to strategic advisor"), and b) the actual analyses you performed ("performed comparable company, precedent transaction, DCF, Accretion / Dilution and LBO analyses to derive the company's valuation"). If asked, you shouldn't be boasting about how you did everything and others didn't do shit, but you should still imply that you partook in all the valuation analyses and that you can TALK about them, otherwise what's the point of putting the case comp on.
I would just include it under your University section. If you lack any other serious finance experience you might be able to put it under EC's. Some of my friends used to put their results during case competitions abroad on their CV but usually under University. In the first case it would be only one line were you can highlight the BBs name etc. In the second case you can add maybe one or two bullets, dont sweat it.
i've got two summers of hedge fund experience, not really looking to use it as a space filler but more because its a well-known BB and its really relevant (it was an M&A case study)
Then make an entry for EC. something along the Lines: "BB M&A Case Competition" and then a bullet with what you did and that you came in second out of 40 teams. At least thats what I would do, maybe others have more suggestions.
+1 for username
or you could get creative. if you a finance related internship or two, you could make a separate section called "finance experience" and include the case competition with your other internship(s). go into detail demonstrating what you actually did with active language. emphasize leadership if you worked in a team and throw in as many numbers as possible in your bullet(s).
great, thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate all of the advice
Silver banana for awesome name.
hm. talked to the other guys who were in my group for the case comp, they said they created an "Awards & Honors" section on their resume and included it there. I currently don't have one - all of the scholars programs I'm in and awards I have gotten are currently a bullet under my Education.
Thoughts on creating an "Awards and Honors" section (in between the work experience and leadership experience sections) just for the case competition?
You should include the awards and honors section.
case competition (Originally Posted: 08/01/2007)
if i competed in a case competition and didn't win but got good feedbacks from the judges, should i bother putting on resume?
applying to banking, consulting, s&t
if yes, how should i make it so it sounds impressive?
i need help..
help
don't you mean "banana"
I just put that I was a participant for one case competition, and then for my other one I just put that I was a finalist. I dunno if it is good, but it sure sounds good.
I want to work now! No, really. I want those 100+ hours/week.
thanks for the response,
i only competed in one case competition and i didn't win since it was very competitive.
should i bother?
What kind of case competition? Banana eating?
banking, conulting, and S&T?
So basically you want to get paid and leave yourself quality mba options.
My advice - screw the case competitions and try to get a job doing something that really interests you.
How useful is having an IB case competition on resume? (Originally Posted: 09/12/2012)
I know that investment banking case competitions are a good way to demonstrate interest in investment banking if you lack experience (M&I article).
If I already have a boutique IBD internship on my resume with deals I worked on there is it worth having a line about a nonsense M&A case?
When talking about my investment banking experience in interviews I would much rather speak about real world experiences instead of an imaginary M&A scenario.
I suppose if my team wins it's worth putting it on my resume but let's assume that my team doesn't place (aka not Winner/Runner-up).
Tl;dr should I put case competition on resume that already has real world IBD experience?
Although I don't have much experience in the subject, that one case competition will still set you apart just because you do only have one internship.
Was it prestigious or sponsored by someone who is?
I don't even dedicate a full line to it, but I mention it in my "Activities and Interests" section. For example:
Activities: XYZ Investment Banking Case Study Competition; Some School Activity I Did Twice Interests: .....
@Futurectdoc-It's a BB sponsored case competition.
@darue- I have other finance related internships. Only one was in investment banking though.
I'd mention it briefly
Putting a case competition on resume if I didnt advance (ie didnt make it to the finals)? (Originally Posted: 10/26/2012)
I have previous finance experience (IB boutique and merchant bank).
Should I put it on my resume, opposed to a summer job in the accounts payable department of a construction company?
Didnt place, BB case comp.
Not a big deal either way. Just make sure if you do put it on your resume that you'll be able to knock it out of the park in describing/explaining/analyzing it if they grill you on it which will happen.
Does competing in 'Case Competitions' during your MBA program help getting a job? (Originally Posted: 12/01/2014)
Just curious.
There is a case competition involving M&A, and we have to present our findings and recommendations to Duke Energy upper management in a few months. We compete against a lot of the colleges in the area.
Does placing high in these look good on a resume? Do banks care if you've beaten a lot of local schools (not like Harvard or anything) in terms of M&A recommendations?
It is naturally a very interesting and I signed up to compete.
Thanks everyone.
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