For students looking to break into investment banking, landing a summer analyst internship is often the most crucial first step. To get your foot in the door and score an interview, having an impressive, tailored resume is key. This article will provide investment banking resume best practices and examples to help you craft a resume that makes recruiters take notice. We’ll cover optimal resume length, essential sections, formatting, and how to highlight relevant coursework, skills, and experience. With tips to customize your resume for different banks and roles, you’ll be prepared to start applying to summer analyst positions.
Optimize resume length and formatting
Aim for a one-page resume to maximize impact. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds scanning a resume, so one page is ideal for them to grasp the key points quickly. Use 11 or 12pt standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, 1 inch margins, and avoid dense blocks of text. Strategically bold key items like your name, university, companies, titles, and bullet points to guide the reader’s eye. Stick to reverse chronological order listing your most recent experience first.
Lead with a strong education section
Since you’re applying as a current student, the education section should be at the very top. Include your university, expected graduation date, major/minors or concentrations, GPA if above 3.5, study abroad if applicable, and any academic honors like Dean’s List. Specify your major, such as Bachelor of Science in Finance, and list relevant coursework like Financial Accounting, Investment Banking, Financial Modeling, etc. If your GPA is on the lower side, listing coursework shows you have the knowledge needed to succeed in the role.
Emphasize relevant experience
Next up is your experience section. List any finance-related internships, club leadership, or jobs in reverse chronological order. Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and quantifiable achievements. Tailor each bullet point to demonstrate skills like financial modeling, client interaction, teamwork, leadership, attention to detail, and hitting deadlines. Even unrelated roles like retail can highlight soft skills that translate. For incoming freshmen without work experience, expand on relevant high school extracurriculars.
Include applicable skills
Many banks use applicant tracking systems that scan for key skills, so listing applicable abilities can get your resume noticed. Make a dedicated ‘Skills’ section including technical abilities like financial modeling, valuation, accounting, business writing, data analysis, and any foreign language fluency. Only list skills you’re truly proficient in. Soft skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving can also demonstrate your potential.
Customize for each bank and division
Research the bank’s divisions and tailor your resume to each specific role. For investment banking, play up financial modeling experience and transaction work. For sales and trading, highlight sales achievements, relationship building, and trading system knowledge. Check the job description for the required skills and use those exact keywords in your resume. Show you understand their business needs and have the background to hit the ground running.
With a tailored, achievement-focused resume showcasing your abilities, you’ll catch the eye of recruiters and advance to the interview stage. Remember to keep it concise, lead with education, quantify achievements, include applicable skills, and customize for each role. Set yourself apart from other candidates and highlight why you’re an ideal fit for the summer analyst program at your target investment banks.