Too much specifics such that no one cares?

I think I may be too specific in my latest internship, such that no one would care or read it. hopefully its actually good info that can help. i want to try for a sophomore IBD program.

I'm a freshman, non-target (like university of maryland non-target), PWM internship this past summer at Morgan Stanley (but not in NY). This is also my first thread, especially asking for resume help at that, so do NOT hesitate to rip me a new one fellas.

I either want to do equity research or Investment banking. im a nerd at heart, but its not too obvious from my personality

8 Comments
 

Some thoughts.

Morgan Stanley I would get rid of the calculating of alphas and betas for ETFs: the only reason you are seeing alpha is because you are using the wrong benchmark. The whole Morgan Stanley section is in the present tense. I know you're still working there, but you aren't doing those things "right now". You start a bullet with "Made recommendations..". You told people to sell taxable bonds to buy munis. The way you have it worded sounds bizarre.

AFLAC Did you close any business or just make a bunch of calls? If you closed, put that down.

Other Finance Banking Investments Society: that feels like it's missing some sort of punctuation, like commas or something.

Magic: you better be able to actually do some real magic tricks during an interview. I would definitely ask you about that. It can't suck either. No pulling off your thumb tricks.

 
Best Response
PrangsWow thats actually really helpful thanks SirTradesaLot.

2 things 1- I didn't close shit at AFLAC. Is it better to take it off?
2- if im nontarget, do i have a shot at any sophomore IBD rotational programs? what should i get into this next year to help myself? I know of a few boutique IB's near my university that do school year internships..

1. I would leave it there. I doubt many will care about what you did there. 2. I have no idea. You seem to have good grades and test scores, but I don't know anything about your personality. Do you come across as a tool-face in person? If so, that won't help. Are you willing to reach out and make a bunch of contacts at the banks? If so, that will help (a lot).
 

Okay thanks so much. also for magic tricks, i perform in public frequently and i normally have a deck of cards with me and stuff-but do you think it would count against me if i just whipped one out of my pockets when the interviewer asks? I feel as though "fit" wise an interviewer may see that as strange. thanks for you answers to everything above it definitely helps me consolidate my thoughts

 

Yes, that would definitely be incredibly odd in an interview and almost certainly not viewed positively. You want to come across as professional and mature beyond your years. For sophomore programs they understand you haven't had the academic exposure a junior would, but the goal is to get you performing at the same level to the point where your group doesn't even know you aren't a junior. Whipping a deck of cards out in front of someone while you're sitting across from them wearing a suit isn't going to convey that, frankly.

For your internship, add Smith Barney to the end of the firm. Also, the level of information is a bit overwhelming for a summer PWM position. You can completely remove the last bullet point, and I'd recommend tweaking the remainders. You have three levels of bullets. I have never seen that before. Literally half the space on your resume is dedicated to a single thing (which is only three months long!). Flesh out your academic section if you need to. Add your high school, include how many APs you took if it was a lot, any scholarships or awards you received. For your college, add any scholarships or awards you've received there as well.

Great detail and formatting and presentation, but it can come across as a bit contrived. Remember that your applications are being evaluated by people with years and years of industry experience and they can see right through anything. Best of luck.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

Smith Barney is in the process of being phased out form the name for wealth management (super ironic because the merger between wealth management firms is still in process). i think i'm going to put in Smith Barney if the name has not been phased out by the time i apply next spring, but keep it if its still in process.

Also i'm accepted a part time position during the school year because i have access to metro stations and its super convenient.

I think you are 100% correct with everything APAE. Thanks for the input. If i do magic tricks, I will make it a point to have something not card-oriented probably.

Do you think it would still perhaps be out of place if I did something that was either a) mentalism (no props-just mental magic-like think of an object and i guess it right) or b) prop oriented (interviewer can give me a pen, a coin, or a dollar bill and i can show him or her some pretty cool stuff?

thanks again

 
PrangsSmith Barney is in the process of being phased out form the name for wealth management (super ironic because the merger between wealth management firms is still in process). i think i'm going to put in Smith Barney if the name has not been phased out by the time i apply next spring, but keep it if its still in process.

Also i'm accepted a part time position during the school year because i have access to metro stations and its super convenient.

I think you are 100% correct with everything APAE. Thanks for the input. If i do magic tricks, I will make it a point to have something not card-oriented probably.

Do you think it would still perhaps be out of place if I did something that was either a) mentalism (no props-just mental magic-like think of an object and i guess it right) or b) prop oriented (interviewer can give me a pen, a coin, or a dollar bill and i can show him or her some pretty cool stuff?

thanks again

Absolutely to much information for a PWM stint. You want to spin your experience as much as possible for following IB opportunities, but as a banker I would throw this in the garbage just because it's so rough on the eyes. Stop indenting it up to three times, just keep it at one or two indents. Keep your experiences nice and sweet by showing what you did and what results you achieved - save the bs and details for the actual interview. Thank god you have Morgan Stanley on there that is probably the only means of saving you right now.

About your magic: don't whip out a deck of cards because that is just weird. And don't try any mentalism crap. Instead be casual about it and say "maybe I can show you some other time or if you would like me to do one right now you could give me a pen or coin." Again, I hope you look decent and youre not some pimply freshman kid. Watch the Prestige or the Illusionist to get some sense of style and what it takes to be an awesome magician.

If you can act like Bale or Jackman, I will be sold to hire you.

 

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This to all my hatin' folks seeing me getting guac right now..

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