Your guide to a career in financeTM

Resume Doctor Blog: Post #3

Introduction

First of all, thank you to all of you who submitted you resume for review. We read them all and will feature some of them in future posts. If you would like your resume featured in future posts, click below to submit your resume.

Submit your resume for a free review

Featured Resume

And now, let’s evaluate this next resume. Give it a quick read and make a mental note of your first impressions. Would you call this candidate for an interview? Please note that the candidate’s name and contact information have been changed for privacy purposes.

Click here to view the featured resume

Resume Review

Dear Candidate,

Overall, the resume is pretty good for a young candidate close to graduating from university. The major selling point of your resume is that you have two summers of investment banking experience.

EDUCATION

  • No graduation date. For every degree on a resume, you should always include your graduation date, or note the expected graduation date for a degree in progress.
  • GPA. Do not include your GPA on a resume unless 1) the company that you are submitting for requires it or 2) it is at least 3.5. And when you do, you should indicate an “Overall” versus a “Major” GPA.
  • Extracurricular activities. For the Emerging Student Leaders Circle, you indicate how competitive it is to be admitted into the organization. However, the relevance of this organization or your role within it is unclear.

EXPERIENCE

  • Investment banking experience. If you are applying for finance positions, particularly invesment banking or private equity, this is your strongest selling point. That said, it should probably be at the top of the section. Also, because you were there for two summers, this section can (and should) be expanded to at least 3-4 hard-hitting bullets emphasizing the skills and exposure gained during those two summers. Interviewers will likely spend the most time on this section. What types of models did you build? What industries did you perform client work for? What were the deal sizes? What activities did you shadow with the Chief of Operations? You may even want to expand it into two subheadings – 2009 and 2008.
  • Carolina Finance Club. Instead of stating that you “excelled” in the position, cite highlights that demonstrate this.
  • Emphasize successes. While it is good to provide information to give the reader an idea of the job scope, remember to emphasize achievements and the impact that you made. The second “Chief of Formal Event Operations” bullet does a good job of this.
  • Bullet consistency. All bullets should begin in the same verb tense.

Additional Information

  • Competencies. What types of analyses are you familiar with (e.g. DCF, LBO, etc.)?.
  • Humanitarian work. What type? Impact?
  • 6 years work experience… Never begin a bullet with a digit. Besides, numbers below 11 should be written out (e.g. one, five, etc.).
  • Overall, the pieces are there so keep revising!

If you would like your resume featured in future posts, click below to submit your resume.

Submit your resume for a free review