This candidate shows her value to the bank. She lists achievements like exceeding monthly goals.
Recruiters want candidates hungry to succeed. She shows that she is by providing quantitative data like her 95 percent approval rate.
How do you explain your job duties on your investment banking analyst resume?
Investment banking analysts do a lot of preparatory work to help upper-level bankers succeed. Basic responsibilities include:
- Assessing needs of clients
- Reviewing and analyzing financial data
- Preparing presentations and pitch books
- Building financial models for different corporate situations
- Performing administrative tasks
- Candidates for entry-level investment banking jobs often come from career paths like financial analyst and chartered accountant.
List duties that would be similar to what an investment banking analyst may do.
Look through the job description to see what would be expected of you if you are hired. Include duties on your resume that are similar to these.
Many investment banking analysts start out with internships or opportunities like summer analyst.
If you have not had opportunities like an internship, find connections with what work you have done. Does your job include analyzing financial data?
Do you prepare reports or pitch deals to clients?
Investment banking is a very competitive field. Finding a job is extremely difficult.
Your chances increase if you have the right experience and the right education. In fact, you sometimes can land a job as an investment banking analyst with just the right education.
Let’s discuss how to impress recruiters with your education.
Frame your investment banking analyst education on your resume
You can become an investment banking analyst straight out of college if you have the right education.
Hiring managers search for candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like finance, accounting, business or economics.
Having a master’s degree in a field like business administration or finance may give you an edge.
Your education section needs to be especially strong if you lack experience.
Many people interested in becoming investment bankers will seek internships in college.
There is still a chance to become an investment banking analyst if you do not have a business-related degree.
Recruiters may select well-rounded students whom they believe could easily learn the right skills. That is because many investment banks offer their own training programs.
If accepted, these programs offer training for required licensing and registration exams and on-the-job experience. You learn how to prepare financial models and client pitches.
Much of the program focuses on introducing you to the bank’s culture. After all, you will be part of a team convincing clients to work with your bank.
You may also want to seek a professional certification to increase your chances of being hired as an investment banker.
A highly respected certification is the Chartered Financial Analyst certification offered by the CFA Institute. It shows that you have a strong understanding of advanced investment analysis and portfolio management.
The primary purpose of framing your education is to show how you learned your skills. Your skills will be your closing pitch to the recruiter.
List your must-have investment banking analyst resume skills
The art of making the deal is huge when it comes to investment banking. You’ll eventually be the one making those deals.
First you’ve got to prove that you can spot a good deal.
Investment banking analysts must have strong analytical skills. You must look at every possible angle while analyzing a potential deal like a merger.
Analytical work you will do includes building financial models like:
- Discounted Cash Flow
- Comparable Companies and Comparable Transactions
- Merger and Acquisition models
- Leveraged Buyout models
Soft skills like communication and relationship building skills will also be important. You must introduce potential buyers and sellers and sell both sides on the deal.
Under communication, include linguistic skills. Knowing another language can be a benefit as an investment banker.
Industry requirements include strong math and accounting skills. You do not want to fudge a deal because of a math mistake. Your hard skills need to be on point.
Add on experience with Excel and PowerPoint, two programs that will help you analyze potential deals and design pitch books. Those fall under the category, technical skills.
Add discipline to the list of needed skills. There will be days when you may not sleep at all because of all the work you must get done.
Can you work an 80-hour week and still pay close attention to details? You must have the discipline to do so.
Here is a list of skills for you to use for your resume skills section.