Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Writing A CV For The Front Office

    Uploaded by

    Ravi Sankhla
    4 views1 page
    Graduate recruiters at investment banks receive thousands of applications and spend little time reviewing each CV. Recruiters may spend less than 15 seconds scanning a CV to check for mistakes before deciding whether to progress the applicant. Personality traits like intellectual curiosity and work-life balance are emphasized more than academics alone. The CV should be tailored for each application, highlight relevant achievements and skills, and avoid errors to progress to the next stage.

    Original Description:

    Original Title

    Writing-a-CV-for-the-front-office

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Graduate recruiters at investment banks receive thousands of applications and spend little time reviewing each CV. Recruiters may spend less than 15 seconds scanning a CV to check for mistakes before deciding whether to progress the applicant. Personality traits like intellectual curiosity and work-life balance are emphasized more than academics alone. The CV should be tailored for each application, highlight relevant achievements and skills, and avoid errors to progress to the next stage.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    4 views1 page

    Writing A CV For The Front Office

    Uploaded by

    Ravi Sankhla
    Graduate recruiters at investment banks receive thousands of applications and spend little time reviewing each CV. Recruiters may spend less than 15 seconds scanning a CV to check for mistakes before deciding whether to progress the applicant. Personality traits like intellectual curiosity and work-life balance are emphasized more than academics alone. The CV should be tailored for each application, highlight relevant achievements and skills, and avoid errors to progress to the next stage.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 1

    • Graduate recruiters get thousands of applications.

    s. Some recruiters • While academics are vital, banks today place greater emphasis on
    will spend less than 15 seconds on a single CV. Lateral hire personality than before the Global Financial Crisis. Having intellectual
    recruiters in investment banks spend as much as 60 seconds curiosity, demonstrable work-life balance, and evidence of creativity
    scanning a CV before deciding whether to progress it to the will help you stand out from the crowd. Recruiters often ask
    next stage. themselves, 'if I was stuck with this person for 48 hours would I find
    this person interesting?' as an acid test.
    • 15 seconds is enough time for an experienced recruiter to spot a
    mistake or omission. An average, or even a good CV, may mean you • Associated with this is your ability to demonstrate passion. Senior
    do not progress in the selection process. To keep you in contention, leaders universally emphasize a bank's corporate values and culture.
    your CV needs to be of the highest standard. By showing you are passionate about more than purely personal
    financial gains, you are more likely to be considered an excellent
    cultural fit in the front office today.
    • Some banks use automated processes ‘Applicant Tracking Systems’
    for the first review of graduate CVs i.e. it may not even be a
    recruitment or HR professional looking at your CV initially. Top tip - • Ensure your CV is not too long (no more than two pages and even 1
    tailor your CV for each application and use keywords from the page if you are in the US) and use bullet points to make your CV
    job description. easy to scan. Grammatical errors and spelling mistakes will end your
    part in the process with 100% certainty. Avoid using strange fonts,
    non-standard formatting, and if using a photo, make sure it is a
    • Your CV is there to advertise and promote what you have achieved professional headshot.
    personally. It's not there to describe the achievements of team’s
    you've been a part of. You need to show that you are capable of • Avoid clichés such as "Lateral thinker, demonstrated communication
    delivering in the future, so show how you have delivered in the past. skills, team-player with an ability to learn on the job“.
    • And, whatever you do, do not tell lies.

    • High-quality academics are the bedrock of a strong front office CV.


    Recruiters do not have the resources to closely examine every CV,
    so a quick review of academics is a common way to cut
    applicant numbers.
    • As an example, in the UK a 2.1 degree is a minimum, and in the US a
    GPA of 3.5+ gives you the best chance of your CV making it through
    the first round. If you're coming from a notoriously tough university,
    there may be a little room for movement.
    • Highlight any scholarships, awards, or academic prizes - banks like to
    know you are a hard worker.

    • Try and show a consistent trajectory in terms of a career path to


    demonstrate your suitability. This is especially important for mid to
    senior-level roles (younger professionals tend to move around more).
    This can be one of the biggest challenges in writing your CV if you
    are looking to move into banking mid-career.
    • Focus on highlighting transferrable skills and anything in your career
    that might align with your application.

    Fmi.online • Part of the MDA Training Group Writing a CV for the front office

    You might also like