Hi everyone,
After working in PE / VC deal teams in Europe and reviewing quite a few resumes from candidates targeting IB, PE and strategy roles, one thing keeps surprising me.
Many strong candidates don’t get interviews not because their background is weak — but because their CV signals the wrong things to investors.
In deal teams, people tend to look for very specific signals when scanning resumes quickly.
Things like:
• evidence of real analytical work (not just "research")
• exposure to transactions or investment thinking
• clear ownership of workstreams
• understanding of how businesses actually make money
A lot of resumes look polished but still read more like academic profiles than profiles of someone who can sit in a deal room and contribute.
Curious about something:
For those targeting IB / PE / VC roles in Europe — what part of the resume is hardest to communicate?
• transaction experience
• analytical / modeling work
• internship impact
• positioning your background for finance
Happy to share some practical thoughts if helpful.
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