Trending Content - Resume Advice Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
November 30, 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...
Networking. Find and contact ex-military contacts in IB or ask the current military seniors if they can get you in touch with someone.
Nevermind. I understand the question now.
You mean to say that you don't know older/more xp people than you in the military/ex-military?
I understand now.
Actually not really. One person put me in touch with someone who got out recently but he's very junior at his bank and not in a position to do much more than provide advice.
I've followed the really great networking advice on this site for cold emailing former military via LinkedIn but it hasn't yet paid dividends.
I posted my resume for critique because regardless of my networking shortfalls, there's still something that's not catching the eye of recruiters and hiring managers about my resume. I know networking is key but I still need to have a better resume to give contacts something to be intrigued by and something they can pass on to hiring decision makers.
I am former Military working at a BB, here is my 2 cents;
Take out all restaurant/bar experience all together, nobody cares what you did in college or per-military unless it was in banking.
Consolidate and shorten your military experience, It should be wrapped up in one bundle (ROTC, Active, and Reserve all in one) with just a few bullets. (short and sweet, get to the point).
Remember on your bullet points that you are speaking to non-military hiring managers, don't use jargon, highlight achievements, keep it short impressive and non self important. In my opinion, if you have a bunch of bullet points under your military experience you are overly impressed with yourself. Mention your deployments, highlight teamwork, major achievements, and list some of your awards.
Thanks, Audible. Which bullet points from the military experience do you think are not doing me any good for banking and need to be removed?
With pre-military experience, my concern is removing it would raise concerns with the multi-year employment gap between college and the military. What are your thoughts on that?
Don't worry about the gap, is better than putting non-finance related stuff on a resume. As long as you are currently employed, it doesn't matter.
For the military experience, I would just lighten it up. It is already impressive that you were an officer in the Corps, so I would pick out your favorite 4-6 bullet points that summarize why you are a good candidate. Focus on leadership, teamwork, responsibility (security clearances, assets you were signed for, being pre- vetted etc), and any outstanding things you accomplished. You also want to indirectly highlight your work ethic and keep the section for awards.
Everybody has their resume preferences, and I can't tell you what exactly will or will not work, but a key thing in banking is brevity. In finance the less words you use the better, a good idea is to add a summary at the top of your resume, so that they see right away that you were a military officer with leadership experience.
I typically dislike summaries/objectives at the top of resumes, but I agree it might be helpful in this case. However, I don't think your resume is much of an issue - it falls back on networking, imo. I had a significantly less impressive resume exiting college and I still managed to get ib interviews. Network your butt off.
Earum temporibus et vel qui. Quia sit repellat ipsum cupiditate molestias. Quas inventore delectus quos eos in ducimus ut.
Dicta sequi delectus sed sint. Fugiat reiciendis numquam suscipit quia et. Sed nostrum totam hic. Quia id aspernatur est velit dolores. Et nulla consectetur hic tempora cum. Quia doloremque ratione et et aspernatur.
Error possimus eos quasi asperiores praesentium. Ut magni tenetur veritatis est. Ipsum ut autem iure aut quas qui et. Exercitationem vero reprehenderit eum nulla sint ea.
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...