I would greatly appreciate it if some of you would take a few mintues to review my resume. As some may know, I am a law student who is attempting to make the transition over to IB or other areas of finance. As I am new to the "IB Resume" format, I would appreciate your constructive criticism on its format and content (i.e., not just comments like "this is crap" and the like) as well as some thoughts as to how strong of a resume you believe it to be.
THANK YOU in advance for your help!
Taking a quick look - formatting looks pretty decent off the cuff. A few things: 1) I would spread out your contact info to the left and right borders (i.e. address left, email and cell right still across 2 lines), 2) I would slightly increase the font size of the section titles (.5 point or so) just to make them pop so if I am looking at the resume I can quickly say, work experience, right there, and skim it (I know it's only one page and easy anyway, but remember how lazy we are), 3) full dates (month and year) start to finish for each experience, and align them to the right border to avoid everything being squished on the left, 4) take out the "/4.0," 5) change "activities" to "clubs" or "organizations," 7) if you are going to include class rank, please round it to a whole ROUND number - you are not top 22.6223172363728399%, you are top 25%, and 8) I think you are an intern - Group name, I wouldn't go with intern of the XX group - keep it simple.
As far as content, try to focus more on results to the firm, results to the team and always keep in mind what bankers are looking for, analytical skills, attention to detail, great written and verbal communication skills and such and try to craft your functions and projects towards that. Punch up your action verbs a bit as well, and regarding economics major student rep... unless you can point to specific meaningful tasks, then just cut it. For your interests, try to keep it interesting, I would probably cut financial and eco literature, just label soccer, soccer, and not Euro and int. for languages, just list the language and your proficiency/fluency level, no need for a whole sentence.
Hope this helps.
IBanker www.BankonBanking.com [email protected] Articles, News, Advice and More Break Into Investment Banking
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Just wanted to say thanks for the suggestions so far.
BoB, like always, your input is thought-out and helpful. I have implemented all of your suggestions for formatting though I am still not sure if I should put the dates (of attendance, membership or employment) all the way to the right. When I do that, the dates and the locations create almost like of information across the right side of the page and seems to detract my attention from the meaty stuff. I'm open to it, just not sure yet. Would love to hear others opinions about this though...
For the content, it is much more difficult for me to put how I added "results" to my employment. While I clerked, I mostly took a back-seat to the judge to learn the law through his eyes while helping with the legal research and writing. Not sure how I swing this to be more result-oriented? Also, during my current employment, I am working in the legal department of a publy-held corp, assisting the general counsel and associate general counsels. Again, same question - how do I swing this experience to be more result oriented? I tried my best to be as descriptive as possible (what I actually have written and drafted, etc) but not sure if this is enough to convey strength. Thoughts?
MMonkey, thank you for your little tidbits. I have tried my best to transform my "legal resume" to an "IB or finance resume" as much as possible. I will definitely implement your suggestions. I was actually thinking about dropping my first institution as well. For legal employers, we must keep on our first school until we graduate because it is considered to be misleading/unethical to do otherwise (i.e., they will think I have been at my current school for 4 semesters, no 2, and have earned a Top 25% Class Ranking). I would assume, if it is for a financial employer, that distinction is not as meaningful. Is that correct?
I was contemplating moving my experience first, but, as you mentioned, all of my experience is summer work so I was thinking that potential IB employers would not be impressed with a clerkship or summer legal positions and would be more impressed with a recent grad who has worked at a BB for a year or two. I'd love more input on this matter.
Also, MMonkey, would you mind if I PMed you about some other related information. I am happy to have found someone who seems to be particularly wanting to help a JD transition to finance.
Thanks for your help so far. Please keep the comments/suggestions coming!!!
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