Critique me! BO exp, need FT IBD resume
----
Thanks.
Trending Content - Resume Advice Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
July 31, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
add more specific data in job descriptions and get rid of coursework. frankly this is going to be tough. i'd expand search to a lot more avenues than just ft ibd. s&t, er (boutique as well), am, fof, consulting, risk/mo and yes even bo. then decide. I got bb sa ibd but I still interviewed for mo stuff before my superdays. you just never know man. gl.
I actually have a general question: Is IB something you are certain you want to pursue? I ask because I see the Math Major you have and I think you would be able to put that better use in an S&T role. Resume needs a little adjustment (more detail for job descriptions). The format is fine, just need to clean up a few line items here and there.
There's a lot of clutter, consider adding more to bullet points and taking out certain positions (retail).
Agree with all the above. Just a point about the coursework, even if you left it in ask yourself, "Is this relevant to IBD?" You label it relevant coursework and have Calculus 4, Stochastic Models, Linear Optimization. Also expand that to the rest of the resume - try to shape each point to be relevant to the job you want.
Thanks for all the advice. I edited the resume with the recommendations.
And to answer few of the questions above, I ideally want to pursue a career in IB over any other roles because I feel like it'll provide a richer experience compared to other front office counterparts. I'm not picky and I highly value all the roles, but if I'm fortunate enough to choose, S&T doesn't appeal to me because I'm not that attracted to market making and making daily trades. I'm more into looking at the fundamentals and performing longer term investment strategies.
Also I kept the math courses under "relevant coursework" because I wanted to show the interviewer that I'm serious about pursuing the math major, as I know a lot of other students list it even though they have no intention of completing it.
But..this is exactly what S&T/ER is.
I think you need to reevaluate that. ER seems to be more what you want. Read Flake's topic about how he went from BO -> ER.
I am definitely also interested in ER if given the choice... IB and ER both my ideal choices..
But for S&T, I've always figured traders are only providing liquidity for their clients. That meaning, their objective isn't even making money off spreads anymore (due to changes in regulation), but about gaining maximum sales volume to increase their commission fees. I heard my previous bank works like this...
Eligendi recusandae esse qui enim vitae. Corporis in consequuntur velit ipsam ea. Impedit sed dolore sint beatae id. Exercitationem tenetur omnis nihil sunt dolore eos. Soluta minima necessitatibus voluptas commodi dolores animi sed est. Omnis culpa culpa ipsa nesciunt. Laboriosam tenetur molestias est.
Enim rerum quidem soluta molestias. Reiciendis cumque qui saepe in est minus ducimus.
Sequi tempora nobis porro ut corporis ducimus est dolorem. Aperiam ratione voluptas est quas et qui aut.
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...