Résumé positioning
Write the résumé that earns the next question.
Finance recruiters scan for evidence, trajectory, and role fit. Give them a coherent reason to keep reading—without inflating the work you did.
The outcome
A one-page, evidence-led résumé with a clear target and no unverifiable claims.
Start with the target
A résumé cannot be optimized for every corner of finance at once. Choose the role family first, then order evidence around the work that role values.
- Investment banking: transactions, modeling, diligence, process ownership
- Research: differentiated analysis, writing, sector fluency, idea formation
- Wealth management: client development, retention, planning, assets, service
- Risk, operations, and technology: controls, scale, reliability, automation, measurable outcomes
Build bullets from proof
Use a simple sequence: what you owned, how you approached it, and what changed. Numbers help only when they are accurate and give the reader useful scale.
- Lead with the action, not a generic responsibility
- Name the product, sector, client type, or workflow when confidentiality permits
- Quantify scope, speed, quality, risk reduction, revenue, or adoption
- Explain team outcomes without taking credit for work you did not own
Handle confidential work honestly
You can signal deal or client experience without disclosing names or material nonpublic information. Use public deal names only when public, otherwise describe industry, approximate size, product, stage, and your contribution.
Make the first third work harder
Put contact details, target-relevant experience, and the strongest evidence near the top. Dense summaries and long skill inventories usually hide the signal rather than improve it.
Put the guide beside the opportunity
