Creating an Investment Banking CV: A Step-by-Step Guide
By following this guide and using the provided template, you can create a strong investment banking CV that showcases your skills, experience, and achievements.
1. Personal Information
Start by filling in your name, physical address, phone number, and email address. Make sure your email address is professional, using your name or initials and avoiding nicknames or unrelated phrases.
2. Education
List your university name, its city, and state or country. Include your degree type (Bachelor of Arts/Science), major, and expected graduation date. Add your GPA, SAT scores (if relevant), and any academic honors you received. List relevant coursework such as economics, accounting, finance, or other business-related classes.
3. Work & Leadership Experience
Include internships, part-time jobs, or relevant work experience related to investment banking. List each experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. For each experience, include:
– Company Name
– Position Title and Group Name
– Start and End Dates
For each role, describe your responsibilities and achievements using bullet points. Focus on quantifiable accomplishments and outcomes, such as increasing efficiency, saving time or money, or contributing to higher sales. Include specific projects or transactions you worked on, highlighting your leadership and problem-solving abilities.
4. Student Club Involvement
List any relevant clubs or organizations in which you held a leadership position or played an active role. Include the club name, position title, and the start and end dates of your involvement. Describe your responsibilities and achievements within the club, focusing on any recruitment, event organization, or marketing efforts.
5. Skills, Activities & Interests
List any relevant languages, technical skills, certifications, or training courses you’ve completed. Mention your involvement in volunteer work, or independent activities if you haven’t mentioned them before. Finally, include your personal interests, but keep it concise and specific.
Tips for Crafting a Strong Investment Banking CV:
Below are some important tips to consider when creating your CV:
- Tailor your CV to the specific investment banking role you’re applying for, emphasizing relevant skills and experience. Research the company and the position to understand their specific needs and requirements, and adjust your CV accordingly.
- Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments, such as “analyzed,” “led,” “developed,” “managed,” or “implemented.” These words emphasize your active role in achieving results and demonstrate your initiative and problem-solving skills.
- Quantify your achievements whenever possible, using numbers, percentages, or other measurable outcomes. This helps to showcase your impact and provides concrete evidence of your abilities.
- Keep your CV concise, aiming for one page in length. This demonstrates your ability to prioritize information and present it effectively.
- Maintain a consistent format and style throughout your CV. Use the same font, size, and spacing to create a polished and cohesive look.
- Highlight your transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, and analytical abilities, which are valuable in investment banking roles.
- Showcase your leadership experience, whether in a professional, academic, or extracurricular context. Investment banks value candidates with proven leadership abilities.
- Proofread your CV carefully to avoid any spelling or grammatical errors. Consider asking a friend, family member, or HIC member to review your CV for clarity, consistency, and professionalism.
HIC CV Review Sessions
We are committed to helping our members succeed in their career pursuits. As part of our ongoing support, we host CV review sessions each semester, where all HIC members can have their CVs checked by experienced HIC Board Members. Stay tuned for announcements regarding the dates and details of our upcoming CV review sessions.