What can I do to make my resume stand out?

I am a rising sophomore at a semi-target/target school. Unfortunately, I do not have an internship this summer. So, in an attempt to use my spare time wisely, I've been reading tons of stock trading books, and I've developed a strong interest in equity research and trading. Are there any projects or things I can do this summer to make my resume stand out as an aspiring Equity Research analyst (create my own research report, analyze a stock, certification programs, online courses, etc.)? Thank you in advance!

6 Comments
 
Best Response

I would do this: - find out which school clubs/organizations you want to target when school starts back up, for an eventual leadership position - start networking, by finding friends, family friends, classmates etc... who might know anyone in the industry and talk to them about how you're interested in the field (informational interviews) - Start trading in your own account, doesn't have to be a ton of money, but make some stock picks and be able to talk about them broadly (if you really can't afford to use real money, make a virtual account) - make sure you follow the markets/news and are able to talk about current events and things driving the market - continue reading books on stocks, for ER, I'd recommend value-oriented books that focus on bottom up analysis (many of the classics are recommended throughout this forum) - while creating a report would be helpful for personal growth, it can really only hurt you to bring it into an interview or something like that, but definitely wouldn't hurt to build brief models/reports on your own time - for sophomore summer internships focus on relevant experience, not necessarily the best brand name. That means start looking around at boutique shops that could give you hands-on experience you could spin for a better junior year internship. Obviously if you can manage a good brand name and relevant experience then go for that

You generally want to show genuine interest in the markets on your resume. Without an internship, the above can help, but you will need to network so you are able to get relevant experience next summer

 

Animi necessitatibus quod qui incidunt eum ullam consequatur. Animi quasi eum dicta eum sed porro pariatur. Exercitationem neque tempora voluptates necessitatibus debitis. Ea quia suscipit quam corporis labore atque. Ut vel ut voluptatem minima blanditiis. Nemo libero voluptatem est voluptatem quo sit.

Ipsa neque dolores soluta perferendis iusto. Commodi placeat omnis delectus. Ipsa est eos nesciunt provident quis voluptas id. Hic est modi neque deserunt omnis. Ut ut facilis iure. Perferendis sed at dolor modi vitae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”