CV TIPS
Are You Being Overlooked for the Right Roles?
I recently spoke to a candidate applying for quant equity roles who had been passed over by internal recruiters for jobs they were perfect for. Why? Their CV was filled with technical jargon but didn’t explicitly mention "equities" in their last three roles. Hiring teams assumed they were multi-asset and filtered them out. Even worse, they left out key details about the models they had worked on, assuming it was obvious. But recruiters won’t always fill in the gaps. If it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist.
Remember: Internal recruiters review hundreds of roles across different areas. They won’t always spot the details a specialist headhunter would.
A summary at the top of the page is good but keep it short (3 lines max) and factual.
Order it so your most recent role is listed first and descends from there ensuring that the most detail provided is for your most recent role, not the one you preferred from 6 years ago.
Include Dates. Potential employers want to see what months you left/joined, not including it looks like you are trying to hide something.
Spell check! You would have no idea how many CV’s I have seen from senior candidates where the simplest of words are spelt incorrectly. This can often be an instant no
Headshots/Pictures of yourself are not received well. It shouldn’t be a contributing factor as to whether you are interviewed so shouldn’t be on there.
Avoid Boastful comments. A recent CV I saw included many quotes from Managers, colleagues and industry peers about how fabulous they are. Statements such as ‘Headhunted to do XYZ’ or quotes from a performance review give potential employers the sense that you might have an overinflated ego. Save this for references if you get this far.
Factual Statements relating to your successes are fine such as, ‘voted top analyst’, sales figures, promotions.
Avoid lots of different coloured writing, fonts and styles. A CV looks much more professional in one black and white Font.
Education must be included. At the top of your CV if you are a junior candidate and at the bottom if you have more experience. Include the grades and the dates.
Explain significant gaps (6 months+) succinctly. If you have been travelling for a year or taken time out to look after children this is still experience, include it!
