what's wrong with my resume?
Dear demigods of the future,,
Have been following your posts for awhile, huge fan, lots of interesting things said here and there, I learned a lot... so thank you!!
Anyway, two things today:
-
Can I get a resume-critique real quick? I'm a sophomore at non target,,pretty nervous about not getting any offers for the summer...You guys can help a great deal, please be blunt!!! As you see I'm using the Merger&Acquisition template here,,,seems like a lot of people are doing the same thing, should I make something new? Well, any idea you throw at me, I'll appreciate it...
-
I'm having an informal phone chat with someone from GS (Research) tomorrow. Cold emailed her, she agreed to talk a bit about the sophomore spring program with me. I'm a bit nervous about what to say & ask, starting a conversation, etc... also got a final exam tomorrow.....freaking out!!!
Anyhow comrades out there give me some responses please!!
You have a lot of similar credentials as myself, but I'm 2 years older and not Chinese. You have better relevant experience than I do, but I can talk the talk, whereas you are freaking out because you have a final exam. Take a chill pill, relax, and treat the conversation (all networking convos for that matter) like they are with your friends. Be yourself, or if you aren't actually a cool guy, pretend to be somebody that is. You see so many target kids come in here and bitch that they killed technicals and didn't get the job, but us easy-going, hard working non target kids are the ones taking their jobs. Research GS and ask intelligent questions but don't come off like a tool, and you should be good.
@ Mfsl27 -
Thank you for commending!! Haven't studied at all for that exam. All-nighter I guess, in part due to excitement though. Are you a senior? and what advices do you have for a sophomore going from here and trying to break into the industry? I see that you're a philosophy double major too,, some people have told me to take that line off, what do you think? Is it a disadvantage to be a phil major when you're trying to break into banking?
Not at all, it doesn't matter what your second major is, it'll show you have other interests. Every interview i have gone on they've asked me about it and when I explained my reasoning they all were pretty interested. They're looking for people they want to work with, so as long as you come off as enjoyable and hard working you'll be fine. Getting the interview should be the hardest part for all non targets.
how's your recriuting experience been this year? would you say things are picking up?.... winter break is all about cold calls and emails...fml
The way you have your coursework listed is kind of odd...and change the favorite books line at the end to something else or take it out and reorganize the last section
You mean I should not use slashes? and yeah couple people have told me to get rid of the book thing..I guess it's not a good idea then
Yea the slash thing isn't necessarily bad but I don't think thats the way most people list their coursework honors, etc. I almost made a similar comment about the subpoint arrow bullet looking shits but figured it wasn't that big of a deal. I would change the last section to format more like
Interests: XXX Activities: XXX
Rather than the way you have it now. Just makes it a bit easier to scan
yeah the reason I added the fav. book line is because one of my friends at GS S&T told me it's good to twist the resume a bit... I guess I'll try to figure out other ways to do that then..... does interests XXX activities XXX seem too standard though? I mean back to the point, A LOT of people are using that M&A template now
There is a reason the term 'industry standard' has worked its way into the vernacular. There was a kid on here recently that had his last line as something like "Shot a hole in one on June 20th 2010". Something like that. is a good way to set yourself apart as it a) shows that you have an interest in golf and b) is a good little nugget with which you can start a conversation. Favorite books is bland. I would be surprised if any of your interviewers want to debate the structure of The Black Swan with you...
This sounds stupid but all I look at are the arrows. Maybe make them dashes or make the arrows smaller but they draw my eyes right off the bat.
On top of that, I think you definitely could condense a little bit. I would look to maybe combine some things or shorten your least relevant internship and add something like a "Leadership and Activities" section. When I look at this resume I think that you're all about "school, work, and nothing else."
Also adding another section makes it look less like you're stretching it to cover the page instead of being all spaced out.
You're in a much better spot than most with relevant experience after only your freshman year. Just add some other pieces like what you do outside of school and work. That way when you get a "walk me through your resume" question, you have more to talk about than the couple projects you worked on. Interviews become easier to do and more relaxed when you're talking about who you really are, what you enjoy doing, and why you enjoy doing it- at least for me.
Gotta admit I haven't been that involved on campus. USG and stuff are really not my thing. I did work with a community organizor,, we were running tenants' assosiation meeting at distressed buildings. Took that out earlier because I stopped doing it this semester and chose the PE internship instead. Should I still list that there now I've stopped?...What a shame...
Looks good overall. Needs some tweaking. The classes, interests, etc where you use slashes, format differently, use commas. I like the books at the bottom, but would also like to see you list some activities. You have summer 2010 covered, but what about summers before that? How did you do in high school? Any great achievements or distinctions during that time?
Also, I think the way you are describing your one month internships, you might be reaching a bit. No need to stretch. Freshman summer work is a lot of grunt work, nothing wrong with that - everyone likes a good work ethic and good attitude. As much as you may have been integrated in the team, you weren't the rainmaker in 4 weeks. Be humble. Speak up for yourself, but be wise.
How did you get those internships? paid? unpaid?
Yeah for that hedge fund internship I guess I stretched a bit. It was the actual project - short term and I got to choose what I wanted to cover so I picked a stock I've owned for 1 year or so and wrote analysis on that as my report. I got the internships through a few contacts who have been very willing to help. Unpaid of course.
I should probably restructure the whole thing a bit and shift my emphasis a bit off work
by the way, do you guys think study abroad junior year (2 semesters) is a good idea given someone wants to break into banking? Cause being in another country could make networking applications and things more complicated.
Why don't you just study abroad for one semester...
I‘d probably apply to london school of economics if I do study abraod, and the school doesn't offer 1-sem programs..had to be a year....so I guess that would be an issue then,,, hummm
London and LSE could be good experience, you need to be careful and very prepared though to secure an internship. Would you come back at all during the semesters? Sophomore summer you'll need to network and then you need to see if you can line up interviews when you are home for the holidays (if you plan on heading back).
will take a lot of planning ahead. I guess it all comes down to how well I do the coming summer.. best case scenario is where I get a good internship this time, perform well and be invited back....how challenging,,,,if I actually go though I probably would want to use the holidays to travel around,,errhh
would employers look at study abroad favorably though or think this kid is distracted?
The Black Swan
HappyPants: I disagree, the hole in one thing is way too risky, especially if the resume itself is subpar, unless you played pro,, no need to risk getting dinged.. just put Sports: Competitive Golfer..
To OP: You have your favorite books, what about your favorite news publications? Are these books really your favorites? The Intelligent Investor is one of the most boringest books ever written!
Your resume is alright, and definetely ready for Summer. You may want to concise your bullet points a bit, but that's all I can really think of.
GL.
I don't put much stock in someone disagreeing with me when they say things like 'most boringest'
Suscipit vel et laudantium. In perspiciatis quia at omnis consequatur dolorum neque. Et totam nihil veniam. Ipsa consequuntur ab voluptatem. Deserunt explicabo minima a magni id quis. Ut dolores quia ea commodi.
Hic omnis optio impedit omnis laborum laboriosam. Atque magnam laudantium eligendi minus perspiciatis quod. Ut iusto nostrum a quo eaque. Assumenda voluptatibus atque eius aut.
Qui deserunt odit quam enim. Et dolores qui nihil suscipit rerum animi reiciendis. Qui deleniti dolor non quis et. Modi voluptatem ut accusamus sint fugiat et dolorum. Iste aspernatur enim voluptatum dolorem distinctio. Architecto qui nam repellat et cupiditate facere. Corporis voluptatem vero culpa omnis sed.
Tempore minima sed labore voluptatibus fugit recusandae ad. Maiores explicabo ipsam sequi nulla assumenda. Nemo magni in vel suscipit. Qui quidem ad molestias ex recusandae accusamus et.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Nihil et rerum quo voluptates quo dolorem. Quia et sequi voluptatem itaque occaecati. Quod unde eum est consequatur velit. Nisi reiciendis aut similique molestiae.