No IBD Interviews For 2 Years --> CV Review Needed
No interviews for IBD over the past 2 cycles (summer last year, summer/FT this year). I was recommended by a fellow university student to post up my CV for comments. I want to improve my CV so its competitive for off-cycle IBD internships (I've already been rejected from a BB IBD off-cycle internship with this CV).
Please rip this apart.
[Linked Deleted]
Thanks!
Note:
I'm in the UK so we spell optimised, modelling and analysed differently to the USA.
Please do not quote the link as I will be deleting the link eventually.
>imgur r u srs bro
Uploaded a Word Doc just now. Hope this helps.
I think that listing Excel and PPT might not be your best use of space since a) from what I've read, it is presumed that a university grad (especially a target univ) can use these programs and b) it can reasonably be inferred that you know how to use these from some of your bullet points. A consistent date format would help as well.
As far as content goes, it seems like you're more interested in a CorpFin route because the tech company gig is what you spend the bulk of the resume talking about, as well as your website.
Just my 2 pence, feel free to discount as you wish.
A lot of good guys don't get ib interviews like yourself? Why?
Well, I think at some point you have to realise that you can go do well in another business. Changing a resume here or there is not going to make a huge difference.
Just some quick thoughts:
"Led team of three (including weekends) ... " "Constructed xx company profiles using financial statements, Capital IQ and Bloomberg under tight deadline .. "
This screams "I'm a try-hard" and sounds ridiculous imho.
There's also no reason to list coursework for someone who studies Finance. It's pretty clear that you will hear some courses related to Finance when doing a Finance degree. Moreover, I don't like A-Levels on the resume, but some might disagree.
Thank you for all the comments.
@danin650 I did remove MS Excel/PowerPoint etc but 3 MDs at BBs said they actually look for this one someone's CV so it doesn't hurt including it. I take your point though.
The date format is month year - month year (badly formatted on the word doc attached I agree).
The bullet points are proportional to the time spent at the firm eg the tech internship was the longest hence I had more to write about. The no name boutiques were unstructured and more about doing what you could. I can add a few more lines to either if it helps but it wouldn't be anything very impressive (and I was told to try to keep only the 'impressive' stuff on).
@G.M.Trevelyan - looking at my CV - what alternative profession do you suggest? I have tried for consulting/Big 4/IBD with this CV and am not interested in a markets based role eg trading. This doesn't leave very many options.... (The tech firm requires 2 years consulting/banking experience before coming in for most full time gigs).
@above_and_beyond - I agree with both comments. Only added the weekends thing because several analysts said it shows a willingness to work the extra hours (as the firm is not banking). Understood on the coursework - will remove this. I removed my A Levels from a few CV drafts but was told time and time again to put it back (especially by recruitment agencies) hence I did. Is there a reason why you don't like to see A levels on someone's CV?
If the BB MDs said to keep Excel etc on, then go do that. Point taken about the bad formatting on the word doc and the # of bullet points spent on the tech internship. I agree with @"TheSanchize" about your resume really begging the question "why banking?" which is probably a very difficult obstacle to overcome.
Based on your resume, I presume you are originally from a non-EU country? If that's the case, it might simply be that the work Visa is too much of an issue (especially for boutiques) when you are likely competing with equally qualified students from across the EU who don't have that hurdle. If that's the case, I would look into opportunities in your home country.
2 IBD internships and finance in my degree - and I did a valuation/financial modelling course (I had this in my old draft which I am trying to dig up) - what more can I do other than get more IBD experience (which is what I'm trying to do) and make sure my cover letter explains my internship decisions?
Nope - born in the UK - so VISAs/sponsorship is not an issue.
Well, I think you're either going to have to eat some humble pie and start with a BO position or not go into finance at all.
Curious why you said this... not even MO!? Is the CV that bad? Does anyone second this opinion?
It's difficult to say. Fact of the matter is that IB is extremely competitive, and you are not just competing against other UK kids but people from all over Europe. I'm sure you have tried, but I would try even harder for boutique IB, especially in TMT, and venture capital. I believe your biggest issue may be that your profile is very entrepreneurial/'techy' - which begs the question why you want to do banking. There is a world in difference between tech and BB IB and I don't think it is clear from reading your resume that banking is the one that you are most attracted to.
Thank you for your comment.
What do you recommend I do to make it look more banking/finance focused? I explained why I did the tech internship in the cover letter but perhaps I need to make it more obvious on my CV. Should I split the work experience into 'Investment Banking Experience' and 'Other Experience'? Do you have any alternative suggestions?
It's funny you mention its very tech orientated - I was told it was too finance orientated before (note that I applied last year too without the tech internship and was unsuccessful in landing an interview). I'll try and dig up that version and upload it.
Many people work for NGO's or oil/gas companies etc and then go into banking without a problem. Not sure why my tech experience/entrepreneurial venture is being 'looked down' upon. At the end of the day it was just an internship.
I did hit up all the smaller boutiques but I was left in a situation where I only had that offer - so it was either take it or do nothing for the summer. Loads of people on WSO said it would put me in a strong position for FT recruiting because of the brand name of the firm but this has proved untrue. I'm just trying to figure out what went wrong so I can improve and try again.
Forget banking, go work at Apple/Google/Facebook
I didn't mean to be discouraging - your resume is strong. What I meant by the tech comment is this: when I read the resume and try and put together your story, I see someone who did investment banking, didn't like it, tried an entrepreneurial venture (the startup) and then went to a large tech company because he found that industry more exciting than banking. I bet that is the impression most people will get.
At this point I think you just have to realize that your resume is not getting the job done - no matter why. It could just be poor luck - maybe the teams you have been applying for are looking for German speakers, who the fuck knows. You need to get out there and GET interviews, not sit on your ass, sending out resumes while changing the date format every other time and hope for them to come to you. Call it networking, pounding the pavement - whatever you call it, you need to be proactive in CREATING opportunities for yourself.
Please do not worry - I was not discouraged by what you typed. It was constructive and I appreciate it.
I posted the resume up mainly to get feedback as once I have completed a call/met the person they (almost) always request my resume - so if its as strong as possible then this will help. A few people have offered to help and then vanished when I sent my resume which unnerved me (as either it was terrible or they are genuinely really busy). Therefore I wanted another pair of eyes on the resume.
If the resume is strong enough then I will continue with my current networking efforts for sure with this resume.
No GPA on resume is an automatic ding.
I have my UK grade (expected) on there with the degree title. Is this ok or should I add a GPA conversion too?
Also - do you have any ideas on what I can do with this summer that will help my future application? Been cold calling boutiques for months now but nothing has panned out so I currently have no summer plans. Will continue networking/trying but is there something else I can do that will help?
ok, not sure where to start....
I think it's relatively strong but it's not targeted and the tech experience coupled with the 5 bullets (!!!) you have under your start-up SCREAMS "wants tech but couldn't land FT"....that on top of a bit of overselling / red flags may be leaving people with a bad taste in their mouths.
Big red flag: "including weekends" - WHAT?! you want a reward for that? That fact that you would point that out as an aside on your resume says to me you have very low EQ (maybe why people disappear after seeing your resume or discussing with you).
WHY are you listing the BILLIONS in revenue that your TEAM generated when you were just an intern there? How is that relevant to you ability or demonstrate anything about you as a candidate? Did you think writing the word Billions on your CV would make you look more important as an intern? This isn't transactions/deals you were listing sizes, this is revenue of a division? confused why you would put that...
This is from a quick look... WSO Resume Review is here for a reason: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/wso-finance-resume-review Of course, I'm sure your application in your mind was too strong to get help.
WARNING TO ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE LIKE YOU: IF IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS AND YOU HAVE YET TO LAND 1 INTERVIEW, THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Your formatting is actually better than 9/10 resumes i see, but there are some red flags of overselling all over your resume and a very clear preference for tech (along with a impression that you would try to be a Managing Analyst and insufferable to work with given your high opinion of yourself). THAT is why you aren't getting any interviews - obvious after a 5 min scan (yes, stand alone, your experience is strong, but how you convey your experience for FT positions also says a lot about WHO you are, both consciously and subconsciously).
Hope you can turn it around. Listen to @"TheSanchize" and eat some humble pie, don't embellish, and you will get a lot further.
Good luck, Patrick
Thank you very much for the comments.
The tech startup lasted 2 years. When I only had a couple of bullets I was told by bankers to expand on it otherwise it doesn't 'look good' (and therefore did this time around). I will try to dig up the old CV which was much more finance focused (prior to the tech internship). It was also the most recent/different experience therefore I took the advice on board.
I deleted the including weekends comment (I added it because a few banker/friends told me to add it because tech hours are not long but I agree its not a good idea). All of the CVs sent prior to last December (BBs) did not have this comment on the CV though.
The team revenue was to provide some indication of the scale the team was aiming for. Many bankers do not know what the team does so when they see that figure they ask me what the team does and the conversation flows on from there. It was something I added recently after networking with more people vs something that was there before. I will revert the CV back to how it was though as I see your point.
No - I didn't think my application was too strong to get help - I'm not sure why you think this. I got help from people at the firms I knew before sending it in and assumed they would point out flaws (they did and therefore I altered it). Will save up and pay for your service next time.
Out of curious it's what is being oversold/has red flags?
Not sure I understand the managing analyst comment. In my experience so far I end up managing things because the internship is unstructured. Isn't this better than staying on the outskirts and 'support/aid'? (not arguing just asking so I can try to rephrase the lines better).
I've taken all the comments so far into consideration and uploaded attempt 2. Can someone please check to see if its okay before I start sending the new version out?
looks better, but still whole story doesn't make sense, so you keep looking at your resume, hoping that changing it will make the difference, but something else is glaringly wrong in either your networking sessions or tone, etc
...just so you know, if you have had 0 interviews, even at small regional boutiques, with your resume, your networking must not be going very well if that is 2 YEARS of hitting the pavement hard and you have yet to land a single interview. Maybe something you left out in this draft like an interest you have listed is really weird or something...
personally, I don't buy it. Regional / smaller banks hire year round and often will bring someone on if they are short staffed at random times during the year. If you are willing to move anywhere, graduate from a top target with a high GPA, are staying in touch with your contacts and building meaningful relationships, then I'm sure you would have had at least 1 interview.
Leaving your luck to applying online, even with someone of your caliber is a death wish...~2-4% response rate from those.
I think you should just close this thread... there's really nothing more to be said here. Perhaps at this point he's just trolling us.
I'd just make my point again... BO is fine. Go for it. Go get it. The best way to start in finance from another field is to start somewhere in finance.
Deleted.
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