The Resume for a Trader

Feel free to pm it to me and I'll take a look. I'm sure it's fine though and the resume is not the problem.

Applying to S&T jobs online is a lost cause. Due to all the government regulations, electronic trading, etc. S&T is not what it once was...Banks and trading firms are really cutting back on availability and where 10 yrs ago there may have been 20 analyst seats available at a firm, today there are only 5.

So...my advice to you is to quit applying online.

Go on your linkedin page and search every single person from your college that works in banking/financial services....Friend all of them...Message each one, introducing yourself and how you'd very much like to speak over the phone to discuss any advice they may have to offer. Once you get them on the phone ask advice yada yada yada...here's where your convo becomes important...as your call is winding down, ask them if they would be able to send a few of their contacts your way (get in their rolodex)....also, if the person you're speaking with works at a firm where they do S&T, politely ask them to submit your resume to HR (most places have policies to at least give internal referrals a first round (I've gone straight to ibanking superdays from internal referrals and was non-target))....finally, ask the person if they would ever be interested in grabbing lunch or coffee...set up the coffee date as soon as you can to get in front of people to 1) build a stronger relationship with them and 2) practice speaking in front of people for interviews. Be sure to follow-up with everyone you spoke with at least once a month.

This long paragraph that you just read is called networking. If you do this all day and friend/send out over 200 messages on linkedin, I guarantee that you will be very busy with all the phone calls/coffee meetings that you set up...and if you do it the right way, it will 100% generate interviews, even if it may not exactly be in S&T.

The point is...getting a job, especially at the entry-level is all about who you know. Most people on this forum think that it's all about the Ivy's and that non-targets are doomed...The truth is that Ivy kids have an easier time getting into interviews, usually because of OCR or alumni.

I've been in interviews where the interviewer tossed my resume over their shoulder and said, "Okay, your resume got you here, now tell me why I should hire you."

To recap: Stop applying online, go on linkedin and start networking your ass off, get people to submit your resume INTERNALLY (key to the whole thing), prep like crazy and CRUSH your interview. Even when you get a job, continue to follow-up every 2 months to everyone you've spoken with..the relationship may be more useful when you have a few years experience under your belt.

If you do that, then you should be in good shape.

Good luck