Resume Critique Desired--Non-Target Undergrad, Aspiring Commodities Trader

http://www.razume.com/documents/24741

I am a senior at a non-target trying to break into commodities trading (most preferably some form of energy trading), or possibly FX or Fixed-Income. I'm looking at anywhere from small energy trading & distribution firms to larger prop shops or commodities-driven businesses who have trading divisions.

I am very analytical and tend to perform better under intense conditions, so I would like to think I I have at least part of what it takes to be a trader, but please do be as critical as possible because I really would like advice on where I should be looking.

I know places such as Jane Street Capital and First New York are pretty ivy-league based in terms of hiring, and BP, ExxonMobil, etc.'s programs all seem to be full (from a non-referral perspective at least), so if you might be able to toss a few names of smaller firms out there that would be excellent. Any direction into trading I can take from where I am now is the step forward I want to make.

12 Comments
 

Be prepared to be quizzed very intensely on the language section.. Take off proficient in Microsoft Office

I eat success for breakfast...with skim milk
 

Make the dashes between the months longer.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
FlakeMake the dashes between the months longer.

i lol'd

Disclaimer for the Kids: Any forward-looking statements are solely for informational purposes and cannot be taken as investment advice. Consult your moms before deciding where to invest.
 
FlakeMake the dashes between the months longer.

hahahahaha.....

I don't accept sacrifices and I don't make them. ... If ever the pleasure of one has to be bought by the pain of the other, there better be no trade at all. A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud.
 

i dont like the way you've listed your skills/activities.

Disclaimer for the Kids: Any forward-looking statements are solely for informational purposes and cannot be taken as investment advice. Consult your moms before deciding where to invest.
 

asiamoney, I appreciate the advice. I had used the bold for readability when people are scanning hundreds of resumes, but obviously it seems it is distracting. I am getting rid of that, and am working on shrinking my other sections to list more work experience.

I know a lot of bankers have 780-800 math SATs, but should I definitely get rid of the SAT scores on my resume? Those comments sounded more like condescension than advice, and I have received a lot of feedback saying to put that on there for trading.

To captainkoolaid: you say you don't like the way I've listed my skills/activities...do you have any advice as to how to better list them?

Also, I had created this post to get some resume advice, but my main purpose was to hopefully find out more places I could apply to set up for a future career in trading. Obviously the best of the best shops seek candidates from top schools, so I am looking for places that I might actually have a chance of getting a job at. I interviewed with a very small energy trading firm a couple of weeks ago, but am having trouble finding more places that are similar that are looking more for a specific type of person than a 3.9 GPA from an Ivy-League school. If anybody has any ideas at all of any potential smaller trading shops like this one, your help would be greatly appreciated.

"Read 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu. Every battle is won before it is ever fought. Think about it." - Gordon Gekko
 

Cupiditate nesciunt qui sequi. Itaque nihil temporibus quo iure officiis. Dolore illum quo voluptas quo ipsum. Inventore dolorem nam perspiciatis quo expedita ab sit aliquid.

Quod et nulla est recusandae. Commodi quos inventore quia dolorem sunt.

Nam consequatur nam voluptatibus quia adipisci ea necessitatibus itaque. Et culpa magni et doloremque. Totam id nihil et minus id at et.

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 (77) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
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...”