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What, exactly, is wrong with my CV (6)?
11 June 2009By Anonymous
COMMENTS
I can order coffee and talk about sex in most languages and put in buy- side trade order in Urdu if i have to. Read all comments »"I am an MSc student with a demonstrated talent for sales; completed internships at derivatives broker and consultancy firm, looking for graduate and internship positions in sales and trading"
EDUCATION
London-based business School, London, UK
MSc Investment Management
2008-2009
UK University
BA Economics and Finance [Hons.], Upper Second Class
2005-2008
A’Levels (AABB), 1AS (A)
2007
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Big Four Accountancy firm
Summer Intern
2008
· Liaised with company account managers in preparing performance reports.
· Compiled data regarding client accounts such as bank statements and loan agreements to create spreadsheets that managed the general ledger and ensured accuracy of the balance.
· Consolidated and audited accounts; merged data from the P&L and balance sheets from subsidiaries of parent companies and reported balances to parent companies of PwC’s clients.
Derivatives broking company, London UK
Summer Intern
2007
· Prepared analytical report examining the performance and volatility of all the firm’s products, comprising equity-linked, fixed income and foreign exchange strategies.
· Participated in staff sales meetings and introduced a product in one of them.
· Reclassified the company's database to reveal products by category such as asset class and streamlined the search process.
Voluntary organisation
Project Leader
2006
· Co-led two groups of 25 volunteers in activities, including home building and children’s programmes in a remote village.
· Led group discussions and served as the key point of contact for communications with the local authorities.
· By the end of the summer, two houses had been built under my supervision.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Interests:
Football, rugby, swimming, tennis, squash and fly fishing
Languages:
English, Greek and French (fluent); Spanish (intermediate); Mandarin (basic)
Technical Skills:
Microsoft Office Suite, VBA, EViews, Datastream, Reuters and Bloomberg
Other:
Member of the European Youth Parliament as Ambassador, Delegate, Chair and Vice President; Participation in European Economic Think Tank, the resolution of which was delivered to the President of the European Commission
If you want your CV reviewed on eFinancialCareers, please email it to our editors at editor@efinancialcareers.com.
COMMENTS
boredof bubbles, Trading, Fri 12 Jun 09
just another bubble overstating his position and assuming he is entitled to work in the FO. Your cv is boring and so are you. Go home.
Add your comment »Global HR at GS, Investment Banking / M & A, Fri 12 Jun 09
First, what the hell is this? Internship and no offer? What a rubbish!"
There are various raasongs, some internships are not designed to get an offer at the end. Or you were working with crappy females , who just joined from their business school, and are totally rubbish or team has no headcount etc. So don't listen to this nonsense.
Second, mate your CV is disappointing. Just 1 masters from a mediocre school, no brand name internships , extracurriculars are weak as well. Having such CV in normal times would be difficult to get into IBD sales & trading, unless youa re a hot chick or your dad is CEO.
AlexCM, Fri 12 Jun 09
I would like to thank you all for the comments. Tough a market as it is, I need all the help and advice I can get.
Headhunter: Thank you for your comment. Yes, I did get an offer from the company, which I declined to do an MSc and go for a job that I’ve always wanted to- working as a salesperson on a trading floor. But you are right - companies would probably wonder whether or not I got an offer.
Viplu06: Thank you for the support.
OldTimer: Thanks for the tip, I’ve been doing that for the last year, and you are 100% right. Believe it or not, I went to a first round interview at a major bank where they immediately invited me to the assessment centre because I had made an impression during a networking event. It’s a shame their head count was frozen. Turning to the demonstrated talent for sales comment, I haven’t had the chance to work in a sales position yet, but have done many presentations, speeches and found myself in situations where I had to sell something in many languages – that is what I meant. I guess I have to bring that up during an interview. Thank you again.
AlexCM, Fri 12 Jun 09
Seasoned Pro: Thank you for your comment. However, I am afraid I cannot give up trying because I believe in myself.
Analyst: Football is a great game, and has helped me evolve as a person. You not only need to be good with the ball, but most importantly need to show that extra bit of passion that can turn a game around. As captain of the football team from high school through to university, I have learned more about teamwork and leadership than anywhere else. So I think I’ll keep it. On another note, point taken on the ‘Other’ section. I just want to show that I can make an impact. Thanks a lot about the last comment sounds like a fantastic idea, I’ll definitely change that.
AlexCM, Fri 12 Jun 09
Rob: Thanks Rob, and yes I have considered it and made my decision. I’ll tell you what though, my decisions over the last few months have frustrated many people.
BODude: Maybe not top 5 uni, which is why I’ve had time to do sports and follow my interests such as travelling and learning other languages, as well as specialising in something I’ll be able to use in the workplace. I offer energy, passion, and a hunger to learn and make an impact – but I need to make that clearer in my CV. Point taken. I rejected an offer from one of the companies and am due to meet with the other one sometime soon. Thanks again.
AlexCM, Fri 12 Jun 09
DipeshMashru: Thank you.
Isabel: Thank you very much.
kolabrou: Ta ellinika mou ine aptaista. Megalosa Kipro ke exi 4 xronia pou spoudazo UK. Ontos tha me enthiefere mia thesi, mporite na mou stilete ena email i kati na epikinoniso mazi sas? Gia pia trapeza milame?
BMLB: I appreciate your interest. Can I get in touch with you if my next few interviews don’t go as planned?
Headhunter: Thank you for taking the time to reply. You have provided some very useful comments and advice. I might go for the ‘‘year out’’ idea.
Curious: See above
CVReviewer: Thanks for the tip – I’ll work on it.
Tsunami: Thanks
SE: Point taken. Thanks
ponterotto, Derivatives, Fri 12 Jun 09
drop "Microsoft Office Suite" from technical skills
everyone can use a computer
"demonstrated talent for sales" is not demonstrated on your cv
you should be applying to grad positions etc, you should be filling out things like online application forms. I hope you are not using headhunters or applying just by sending your CV in. too inexperienced for that.
as others said - simply too much competition. so much easier for hr now to filter out everyone without a first and still have huge numbers of candidates left.
if i were you i'd go down the accountancy route, do something like aca and after a few years try banking again.
ponterotto, Derivatives, Fri 12 Jun 09
AlexCM - honestly the person claiming they have a place is probably pulling your leg. There are a large number of greek speakers out of the market right now so it seems surprising an actual position would appear like this , so randomly. Be careful - lots of mallakas out there
Add your comment »alexbouditsk, Fri 12 Jun 09
You have a very strong CV for a graduate. I have every confidence that you will find a job soon.
From my standpoint you’ve got three big advantages: 1) languages; 2) experience in the Youth European Parliament; 3) two internships with good companies.
I think that you should combine all these merits into one profile statement because recruiters don’t like to read beyond the first paragraph.
PS People who want to see real achievements at the internship level (how much he saved to the company, what a new system he introduced etc.) make me laugh. No student will do it if he has no experience. This just shows “narrow mind” of recruiters who seek “sales phrases” in CVs and cannot even recognize talented people.
SE, Investment Banking / M & A, Fri 12 Jun 09
Alex - good form to thank everyone for comments (I mean that seriously - although a bit contrived on here, in reality it can sometimes make a difference - e.g. always write a thank you note after interviews etc etc)
Couple of questions for you to consider. I know you want S&T - doing the ACA will not allow you to get in straight away - it will be more of a case of then moving to middle office and pushing. Is S&T really what you want given the current situation and the long route you will probably have to take to get there? (this assumes you can't secure a grad position now which is not impossible, just difficult)
So, this leads to next question - consider other FO roles? The ACA route, should you end up doing that, may lend more easily, if the markets improve by the time you finish the qual., to equity research and other corporate finance type roles. If this appeals as an alternative and you manage to get training contract at Big 4 I would urge you to push for experience in their corporate finance and/or restructuring divisions whilst doing the ACA. Will make transitioning easier.
Happy to talk further.... Sarah / Editor - able to facilitate exchange of contacts?