I-Banking Resume #11: Internship Needed
By BankersBall on Aug 28, 2008 in Investment Banking Resumes
An undergrad finance major is (surprise) looking for an internship.
What would you do to help this resume? Add your constructive criticism below.
Candidate’s Objective: “Looking into: Investment Banking or Consulting… looking for an internship at the moment..”
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On Aug 28, 2008, bballer said:
Why does this website suck so much? With all the unemployed bankers, you think there would be more commentary.
On Aug 28, 2008, Young Buck on the Make said:
I would say add a section on the bottom titled Interests and put some things you like to do, it will make you stand apart from the other hundred resumes any good firm gets, and give people a way to connect with in another way from saying, “oh yeah I was in a fraternity too, whats your secret handshake” put things you like to do which show your personality, like Movies, Tennis, skiing, cooking biking etc.
On Aug 28, 2008, Murray said:
I’m not sure about the frat stuff.
On Aug 28, 2008, GSBS said:
“The George Washington University” ??
for serious?
On Aug 29, 2008, Ray Shan said:
Put boutique IB internship first, delete some non-relevant positions, I’d keep the frat info, looks promising for an internship at a bulge bracket
On Aug 29, 2008, Rhay Sham said:
Ray Sham shouldn’t be giving out advice. He obviously doesn’t know what it takes to get into banking. This resume has no chance. Also, it’s blatantly obvious to any banker that your experience at your “Regional Boutique Bank” is in no way “Investment Banking”. Please stop exaggerating your title; your responsibilities are nowhere close to what bankers do.
On Aug 29, 2008, I Read Good said:
GSBS,
Don’t hate on this guys. The George Washington University is one of the best community colleges in the country.
On Aug 29, 2008, lvl3asset said:
Proficient in using Lexis-Nexis? Thats like saying your proficient in using Google.
On Aug 30, 2008, Cal said:
@Ray Shan:
Wouldn’t it look weird if it’s not in (reverse) chronological order though? (I’m also an undergrad trying to get into ibanking…)
On Aug 30, 2008, Horatio said:
This website sucks because we’re lucky to see 2 updates per week. Blogging is all about momentum.
Dude, fix your formatting. There’s a period missing after the 4th “Dec”
On Aug 31, 2008, Adam said:
Looks like you didn’t land an internship in banking this summer and now you’re looking for a full-time position. Your f***ed.
On Aug 31, 2008, Matt said:
- Use only one address (whichever is permanent for you).
- Delete “The”, before college’s name
- Change “the school of business” to actual name i.e. Kellogg School of Management
- Center “education”, “work experience” “extra curricular titles”
- Indent bullet points
- Italicize your position/department at each job
- Put location of job in parentheses after company name (not on right side)
- Put dates worked on line where location was previously listed
- Use full names of months - do not abbreviate. Makes it look like you’re lazy and trying to cram more on the page (which you are, but you don’t have to be obvious about it)
- Use slightly better action words to describe your responsibilities. “assisted”, “helped”, don’t convey that you DROVE the project, you just sat on the sidelines. Frankly, secretaries “assist” on every deal. Highlight better what exactly you were doing.
- Delete “computer skills” section. If you have not been exposed to these things already you will be taught in training. I don’t see this as a “skill” or “leg up” on any other applicants. If you JUST HAVE to talk about computer skills, think of any outside the box ways you applied those skills to a previous project you worked on, and slip that into one of your bullet points
- Find a better way to state the fraternity stuff. I see girl’s resume’s with positions like “social coordinator” only to find out they were the “t-shirt chair” (no joke), so i’m wary of titles. Find a better way to explain what you do/did there and why its amazing/worthy of being on your resume and why i should be impressed. If this entry is to fill up space or the bullshit factor, find something better. You’ll get called on that one pretty quick if it is.
Good luck. Also, I disagree with “Ray Shan” on moving Boutique IB up. I’d like to see this is chronological order. Re-arranging it would just red-flag the fact that you’re highlighting that positon (and thus find it better than the other stuff on your resume). Right now at #2 on the list I’ll still see it and I’ll personally decide how important it is. I don’t need/want/desire someone listing what THEY find to be their best work experiences first. If it’s good enough to be on the resume, then it better have already passed the smell test.
On Sep 2, 2008, Big Baller said:
I would also add your house chores to the extra curricular activities. Things like ‘washed the dishes’ and ‘took out the trash’. It will better round up your background and will show recruiters that you are a team player and are not afraid to get your hands dirty.
Good luck.
On Sep 4, 2008, Ray Shan said:
Matt had some great advice.
Cmon guys, this Kid’s bg isn’t so bad. Much better than your average state grad w/ no work exp and only learned how to drink beer upside down in school. I agree that his timing is way off now that summer is over, but if he has some in’s at a BB, still looks promising.
Keep on keeping on.
On Sep 14, 2008, Shorty said:
wow, everyone’s a fucking expert on this blog, huh. too bad NO ONE here actually works in ibanking … just douches wishing/hoping/jerking etc. give this guy a break … he’s a fucking undergrad working on an internship. he has good prior internships and goes to a good school (you wharton douches go fuck yourself b/c you wouldn’t last a second at LSE). the reason he won’t get an ibd job is b/c no one is getting these jobs and the people that currently work in ibanking are getting sacked left and right. my advice: say fuck the glorified knife salesmen and seek opportunities in a part of finance that doesn’t require doing rails off of MD’s cocks at 2:30am.
On Oct 7, 2008, GW Alum said:
3.67 in the GW School of Business?
back office 4 LIFE
seriously that’s fuckin’ pathetic.
On Oct 7, 2008, ohwhat said:
Also look into boutique investment banks. The bulge brackets are going to be hurting for a long time, and boutiques (Evercore, Centerview, Jefferies, etc.) will be very popular for the forseeable future and will give you an opportunity for pure dealmaking. I’d start looking into soon though, consider the fact that most laid off bankers from Lehman, Bear, BofA, ML, etc. will be heading in that direction as well.
On Oct 14, 2008, Value Creator said:
I don’t know where all you Ivy League cocks get off thinking you are God’s gift to the world. You just screwed our entire country with a toxic debt flavored condom, we really appreciate it.
As for a 3.67 in the GW school of business, that’s damn good. I don’t know why you think a degree from Harvard in Native American History qualifies you to do DCF’s. Any undergrad business school student is going to know 100x more directly out of school. Why do you think the Wharton kids do so well? Nobody gives a shit about your SAT score anymore.
On Oct 18, 2008, Val said:
Round up your GPA to a 3.7
On Dec 3, 2008, Newbie said:
I completely agree with Value Creator - having finance experience is what matters at the end of the day. I currently work at a bulge bracket and there are kids in my analyst class from schools like Tulane, TCU and Colby. How the hell did they get in??? Finance experience. Your only drawback of GWU is the lack of direct recruiting there, but just get your foot in the door (through alumni connection/friends at banks) and you’ll be straight.
- Make your GPA 3.7
- Move your Events Company into a new section called Extra Curriculars
- Boutique IB should be first
- Change all your Govt. work to sound more “financial” and “business-like” than anything. Name drop financial action words and NUMBERS.
- Add a skills and interest section and put stuff about you THAT STANDS OUT. No one cares that you are “proficient in MS Word”. Even my pet beagle can use Word.
Hope that helps…good luck.