Not getting first rounds - resume help?

I've posted here before and was told my resume is perfect. I've networked heavily at many firms but am not getting first rounds. Does something look wrong with this or anything you'd improve? thanks

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Your resume is very impressive but it makes you look like a tool. That might be it, especially if you're coming on really hard while networking. Everything is finance, finance, finance.

When screening resumes, at least from my experience, most people are looking for well rounded individuals who they might want to talk to/get a beer with, etc. There are a lot of kids who can do the work, but there are fewer who also might come across as personable, client-friendly, etc.

If you're a little bit more laid back, make that more apparent. Play up your interests, make it seem a little less dense, and be laid back in networking calls. let your accomplishments (which are solid) speak for themselves, and just focus on being a nice and energetic kid.

 

Personally I would trim the highschool portion (remove honor roll, AP Scholar, maybe intel badge idk what that is) and possibly the interests down to your top 5. The only 'lacking' portion is your leadership and you still have a solid position. Truth is though, as the above poster mentioned, chances are it's something other than your résumé that's holding you back. You should be getting OCR looks without networking at all.....

 

Bump anyone else? I understand it might not make me look like the most interesting man in the world but I don't have much to emphasize apart from the interests I already have on there.

Do you really think this is a question of me being uninteresting and having too much finance on my resume? I really don't have anything else to put on there. I don't understand why I haven't gotten first rounds even at places I've networked heavily.... any more ideas would be appreciated.

TrackBack I really don't come on hard when networking, I know how to talk about things other than finance too. Still, I'm not getting first rounds even at places like RBC, etc..

 
 From someone who had struggled with your same problem not too long ago to deciding between Corp Dev and 2 IB's and now waiting to hear from a <abbr title="private equity&#10;"><abbr title="private equity">PE</abbr></abbr> <abbr title="full time&#10;"><abbr title="full time">FT</abbr></abbr>, it's probably the way you're networking. I switched up my strategy to not try to impress them as much as getting them to like me. You might want to try some different approaches. It could also be bad luck tbh.

  Other than that take your high school stuff off and only keep your SAT/ACT. Also, your <abbr title="private equity&#10;"><abbr title="private equity">PE</abbr></abbr> experience might want to be toned down. You're young so I don't know if they will care but here are my thoughts:

1) "Analyzed $5mm+ investments focused within education technology and healthcare IT verticals for $3bn global AUM." What exactly is 3bn AUM for? if your trying to say the firm has 3bn AUM then you should rephrase that, it seems like your trying to randomly throw that in there. Maybe "Analyzed potential investments for PE firm with $3bn AUM ranging from $5mm - $xx in enterprise value within education technology and healthcare IT verticals." or something like that. 2) "Constructed financial models in Excel for deals-in-progress to calculate EBITDA, IRR, ROI, levered FCF, etc" I don't really understand what ect. would mean considering these metrics aren't really correlated where I can make the assumption I know what other metrics would come next. Specifically list the kind of financial models (like LBO,DCF) or rephrase this to not make it sound like your spitting out random metrics. Also, take "in Excel" out, of course your using excel.
3) "$2mm Add-on Acquisition for a $30mm Edtech Company: Led deal sourcing and developed 5-step origination process; narrowed down candidates based on revenue and cost synergies with platform company; completed detailed DCF analysis to quantify returns in 25% to 30% range, leading to successful acquisition" Good but throw IRR in the part where your talking about returns. Also, did you create the returns analysis?

  Overall very impressive, just some things that bothered me. Like they mentioned before, it's more than likely networking or maybe bad luck. You should be getting <abbr title="on campus recruiting&#10;"><abbr title="on campus recruiting">OCR</abbr></abbr>. Reach out to alumni if you haven't already, get them to like you. Keep grinding man it'll all work out.
 
  In my opinion yes. They could read into it as you don't really understand what your talking about. I don't think that's the case but realistically they have most ivy kids applying for the same jobs so they're looking for any reason to ding somebody. That's really the only thing I can think of considering your GPA and overall profile is very solid.   Also, make sure your submitting a cover letter as well. They don't necessarily read it but it's a check the box kind of thing.
  Also, start applying to any bank with a solid deal flow. There are a couple of awesome boutiques in Silicon Valley that would be great experience. You can probably land something at a top bank but you want to be able to say you have multiple options because it'll make you seem more attractive. 
 

Apart from some minor tweaks (remove high school portion, maybe add another leadership position that doesn't necessarily have to do with finance, fix your phrasing in your PE internship description as was mentioned in another comment, remove major GPA) your resume looks fine.

Since you're from a target with a solid resume AND have extensively networked, I honestly doubt your resume is the problem here. Perhaps you come off as boring or uninteresting or even too eager and slightly annoying. Are you comfortable and confident around people or do you appear awkward and weird?

In general, your issue is probably your networking approach. Try to break down the way you talk to people and identify possible red flags. Also make sure you always make your "ask" when networking.

To infinity... and beyond!
 
Best Response

I have screened hundreds of SA interviews -- it's not a resume issue.

The analysts from your school wield a lot of power in the selection process, so if you do not already know them or have some "connection" to them (i.e., same frat, sport, or some club), then you don't have anyone on the inside actively pushing for you.

Even if you do not have that, you could still be a known quantity if you have a good reputation around campus ("I heard this guy is really smart" or "Wow, this guy's extracurriculars are really impressive."). But if you aren't any of those, then it gets really hard.

The process differs from bank to bank and school to school, but I am honestly surprised that you haven't gotten a single first-round interview. But, having seen things from the other side, I can also understand why. Hang in there and don't get discouraged by the process! Good luck with everything!

 

I have gotten first rounds - about 6 or 7 in fact. Just not at top firms. Haven't gotten a single one at a BB for IB except for the JPM Hirevue, and only got two at EB's. I read about people getting dozens of first rounds just by virtue of dropping their resume everywhere and I don't understand what's preventing me.

I understand what you're saying though and no I'm not in a frat/sport, although I never thought it would make that much of a difference for actually getting the interview given my prior experience.

Oh well, it's too late for that. Would appreciate any further comments

 

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