I am in the interview process for an IBanking analyst position after being recommended by previous professors… that’s great and all but I’m not exactly sure I want to pursue it so I decided to start sending my resume to others. I don’t have the advantage of getting my professors recommending me to a connection of theirs.
The problem I’m having is that my resume is actually pretty strong, except for one part (my current job)… and because it’s my only full-time and most recent work experience it goes smack dab as the first position on my resume.That’s prime real-estate, the first thing they will be reviewing… a very lackluster start. What should I do about that? My internship with the same company was 100x as impressive… I can’t just put the internship on top can I?
So how do you have a good resume if you don’t have any good work experience? Never had a “good” full-time job in your life… so you’re pretty much just an education. Put that up top.
If your education is your ticket, put it on top. If experience is your ticket, put it on top. But if a professor gives you a job, in this market, and you shrug it off at below your standards, I sure as hell hope your a BSD or you’re going to be in a world of regret.
Not sure if Ibanking is for me that’s why I’m “shrugging it off” - it’s not below my standards. And my resume is strong as if I were graduate without any full-time work exprience. I had a great internship, pretty unique leadership positions, and great experience working for faculty as consulting assistant for my TA position. A lot of really great things as a student… and yet my current job is SO boring and not impressive. The current layout of my resume is:
Education: Major, GPA CFA Level II Candidate
Work Experience: -Current Job (LACK LUSTER START!!) -Internship as student -Company I started late high school and sold in early college Leadership & Extracurricular: -President & Founding Member of student investment fund -Assistant Consultant (TA position)
How can I re-arrange this… it just seems natural that my most current role goes first… but I would rather start on a strong note.
The problem I’m having is that my resume is actually pretty strong, except for one part (my current job)…
If , as you say, your resume is pretty strong then this does nor seem to be that much of a ‘decisive’ issue or problem as you feel. Why?
First of all, recent work experience (which is the first job) being not that impressive only indicates you were not mature enough to judge the job beforehand due to lack of experience (somewhat immaturity in job selection) or even extent of desperateness to be in a job. Nothing new on that we while in selection committees holding interviews for ‘good’ jobs see plenty of such cases. It is considered suspicious and reflecting something lacking in you when it is true for first two or three jobs consecutively. However, your period of continuity in the lacklustre job is of crucial consideration for interviewers, longer the period more negative impression it carries. I hope your stay in this job, as of now, is not that long as that itself is a strong reason for the change you are seeking.
Secondly , while writing the job description you write, I am sure you are intelligent enough to project at least two or three tasks and responsibilities (relevant fully / partly or even remotely to the job you are applying ) which indicates your competency, decision taking/making capability and ‘something new to learn’ aspect of your current job. You need not either state the job description you were given at the first instance by the company in as it is or state all the routine / mundane tasks you are responsible for. Even the worst job has something in it which makes it at least sound impressive at first sight. Think over and try, you will get it.
I can’t just put the internship on top can I?
Thirdly, keep the job description and details as brief as you can (under current job just the job title since…, company, two or three bullet points for the responsibilities ) while highlighting the internship assignment in detail. While in the interview bring the discussion around to the internship assignment at the first instance. What you put at the top really is not the decisive factor specially because of the no. of assignments you have to your credit.
Finally, wash out the negative thoughts about the negativity you are carrying in mind as these thoughts will be self-defeating and harm you more than the cv. You will be entering the room with more of defeated altitude than the self-confidence you need to show about your competency, suitability and strengths. Just highlight (even to yourself) the strengths and positive qualities you have at your command than what you think is /are uninspiring.
Put your education on top. Put your current job as your first line item on work experience but fluff it up…don’t lie obviously, just make it sound interesting and when you talk about it, spin it to be interesting. Again, no lying but obviously dont make it sound or look boring.
^ Yep, and be proud of where you came from, what ever you are doing. If you are ashamed, that is like blood in the water and they push down your offer.
All I could think of was after seeing this posting was the other 50+ post thread where you were asking about investment banking and whether it really is that bad. Did you decide after all was said and done that it’s something you’re actually willing to deal with?
@Numi, Unfortunately yes. My “interview” with the investment bank was telling for me. Technical questions were fine, and the qualitative questions I did fine with, but it gave me something to think about when I went home. They all followed the theme of: “given this job is going to undeniably suck so much, how will you handle it - how effing bad do you want this?” I went home thinking wow… no, i’m sorry I don’t want it THAT bad. All the comments from the thread you mentioned kind of fell into perspective after that.
Now looking at equity analyst positions (have another connection that is very kind enough to recommend me, here’s to hoping it all works out). Plus, the position I’m going for would be about 3/4 of the pay of the initial IB salary+bonus, but working half as much… I think I’d like that better. An equity anaylst position may not give me as broad of exit opportunities as IB, but I’m okay with that.
I’ve been in my currently role 7 months. The internship the company gave me was just phenomenal in every way, so I thought that would show in a full-time job. I knew the job I’d be taking now was subpar, but not this mind-numbing. Plus in this company people change roles every 2-3 yeras and rotate/move-up, so I figured I’d suck it up until I move on. Turns out after doing a lot more talking with people… it might be 2 or 3 rotations before I get a job that I actually like any and 10+ years to get the roles I’d love.