Hello all. After 2007 year end discussions, I’ve decided to pursue other opportunities. Below is the anonymous version of my resume. Any and all feedback is welcome. I’ve tried to gear the wording to be more universal than targeted. I generally change the language up a bit for each job I apply for, though. Thank you!! John C. Smith, CFA 123 North Any Street | Anytown, ZZ 90210 Address@email.com | 555.555.5555 / 555.555.5555 (daytime / evening) Mission Statement Seeking to commit a strong professional and educational background, a steadfast work ethic, and a passion for finance and investments in a challenging career where I can add value to my employer. Professional Summary -Proven track record of business acumen, insightful judgment, strong leadership, and effective communication. -Experienced in interacting with all levels of management. Able to work in both team and independent settings. -Over nine years of progressive industry experience driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit. -Adept at industry analysis, financial statement analysis, and security valuation. -Demonstrated ability to perform comprehensive and insightful analysis. -Series 7, 63, 65, 86, and 87 Experience Portfolio Manager Small RIA, LLC, Anytown, ZZ. (July 2005 to present) -Responsible for managing $XXX million in assets across XXX accounts including retirement plans, trusts, and individual retirement accounts. -Instrumental in improving nearly every aspect of portfolio management and operations including enhancing existing processes, and devising new processes within a more robust compliance framework. -Created custom quarterly reports that greatly enhanced client’s understanding of their accounts, reduced processing time by 75%, and reduced or eliminated numerous manual processes. -Influential in gathering and retaining high net worth clients by performing comprehensive and innovative portfolio analysis for complex and unique situations. -Work closely with firm principals on key decisions related to hiring, capital investment, acquisitions, product development, firm strategy, and marketing. -Key point of contact for outside investment advisors, custodians, trading desks, and product sponsors. Equity Research Analyst Investment Bank., Anytown, ZZ. (July 2003 to July 2005) -Supported senior analyst with coverage of 18 companies in the ________ industry. -Contributed extensively in initiating coverage of 5 companies including interacting with management during due diligence, creating detailed financial models, analyzing key, macro-economic factors, and assisting with the preparation of presentations. -Responsible for keeping abreast of ______ industry, writing research notes, preparing fact sheets, conducting field research, and participating in company conference calls. -Communicated research to institutional sales force and buy-side clients by means of email, phone, and in-person presentations. -Built a central repository of dozens of economic, market, and company specific data series, which consolidated multiple spreadsheets, enhanced the speed and accuracy of workflow, and provided a more holistic perspective. Settlements Specialist ABC Mutual Fund, Inc., Anytown, ZZ. (June 2001 to July 2003) -Supported equity trading, compliance, and accounting by resolving trade issues in a timely manner. -Contributed extensively to the department’s Business Continuity Project/Disaster Recovery Plan. -Created a web-based manual, which encompassed all equity settlement procedures, system commands, and key department information. Investor Services Representative ABC Mutual Fund, Inc., Anytown, ZZ. (June 2000 to June 2001) -Responded to client calls, clarified needs, and provided information on products and services. -Responsible for researching complex client questions and communicating the results. Education State University (December 2000) -Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance, Cum Laude -Dean’s Honor List | Vice President Student Investment Club | Insurance Company Internship
Mission Statements: I would cut that out. Unnecessarily lengthens your resume without adding much value. Not trying to be offensive, but in general most mission statements are just a bunch of buzz words thrown together. PM Experience: Could add more points about your performances in your last job, what kind of return you generated for your clients etc., how much $million in client asset did you brought in/retained. And also, more concrete examples on how you “enhanced existing process/devise new process” etc. ER Experience: Good; points are result-riented
can you add any quantitatif comments to your experiences? ie I have a short line on a former experience in my resumé that goes like that :"Fund Manager of “XXX Fund Europe” (average AUM of €100m) consistently outperforming benchmark over the 2002-2005 period, making sure that the name of the fund can be retrieved easily/the outperformance can be confirmed without any trouble on my current experience I have the net and gross of fee outperformance since I started taking over the fund
Never any offense taken! I always appreciate completely open and honest opinions. “Looks good” might make me feel good, but don’t help me very much! I think you are right on the mission statement. I’ll drop it so I can add 1-2 bullet points onto my current job.
I think it is pretty important that you put the performance of the fund since you took charge and the amount under management… you have to be specific about it. regards thierry
I agree on taking out the mission statement. I also think that you may want to change your “Professional Summary”. It sounds like you’re essentially saying “I’m good at stuff” without really explaining why. If you keep it in you need to be more specifice and add phrasing like “as evidenced by _____”, etc… I think you have good experience, so in my opinion, it makes more sense to let that speak for itself. The way you have it now, it’s kind of like your explaining the punchline to your own joke, if that makes any sense.
More great thoughts, ahahah, thank you. I should have an updated version posted up by the end of the week. So far, I’ve ditched the mission statement, and added two bullet points to my current job (still fine-tuning the wording). I agree on the summary part. I need more “evidence “.
XSellSide, post your email, I’ve got the Wharton MBA resumes file here, you can take a look at it and improve your’s with it.
Alayle - I have that file, thanks for reminding me of it!
NP - Good luck
can i get a copy of the Wharton resume? I need to completely rehaul my resume to be more professional. my email is bsliu17@gmail.com thanks!
Sorry maybe Xsellside will send it, but not me.
Experience Portfolio Manager Small RIA, LLC, Anytown, ZZ. (July 2005 to present) - Responsible for managing nearly $xxx million in assets across xxx separate accounts including retirement plans, trusts, and individual retirement accounts. - Consistently outperformed benchmarks during the 2005 to 2007 period. 100% equity composite returned (net of fees, cumulative) 35.03% vs. the S&P 500’s return of 33.66% from July 1, 2005 to September 30, 2007. - Instrumental in bringing on-board 5 of the firm’s largest clients, which account for nearly 10% of AUM collectively. Performed comprehensive and innovative portfolio analysis for these complex and unique situations. - Created custom quarterly reports that greatly enhanced client’s understanding of their accounts, reduced processing time by 75%, and reduced or eliminated numerous manual processes. - Instrumental in improving nearly every aspect of portfolio management and operations including enhancing existing processes, and devising new processes within a more robust compliance framework. This was accomplished during a period of rapid growth when the firm added $130 million in new assets. - Key point of contact for outside investment advisors, custodians, trading desks, and product sponsors.
XSellSide, Your c.v. looks pretty good if you don’t mind me saying so. I wouldn’t make any drastic changes. Are the headline specs of your pertinent 4-1-1 in header/footer format? Also, what’s your cover letter like? Willy
just to sidetrack a bit …but how difficult was the transition from Settlements Specialist ABC Mutual Fund to Equity Research Analyst Investment Bank ??? How long were you looking before you landed the research gig ?
“- Instrumental in improving nearly every aspect of portfolio management and operations including enhancing existing processes, and devising new processes within a more robust compliance framework. This was accomplished during a period of rapid growth when the firm added $130 million in new assets.” I’d be more specific about the operations you improved. What Processes? What “aspect of portfolio management”? Also should you drop “within a more robust compliance framework”? If not, word it so it sounds more like a hurdle than it does now. It’s almost like added weight, unless developing a robust compliance system is something you’re proud of, in which case you should list it with your other operational accomplishments.
“Anytown, ZZ 90210” You shouldn’t use the most famous zip code in the world if you’re going to say you’re from anytown.
WillyR - No, I don’t mind you saying 
Thank you! The “references available upon request” is in the footer, but the 4-1-1 is just in the body with a line below it for separation. Maybe I’ll PDF and post it so you guys can see the formatting. I have a virtual database of cover letters that I use to create new, one-off letters. Rudeboi - IT WAS HARD! It took me a year of aggressive job hunting and many, many interviews. Passing level 3 and breaking out of operations were almost equally exhilarating ahahah - I think I am going to drop that compliance line. Yes, I have a few talking points on it, but I don’t want to emphasize it too much. I kept this bullet a little vague for two reasons. One, it’d give them a question to ask me (what did you fix?) and two I don’t want to draw too much attention to my operations abilities. This is also why it’s listed 2nd to last. Turkish - Beverly Hills That’s where I want to be Livin’ in Beverly Hills Beverly Hills Rolling like a celebrity Livin’ in Beverly Hills
In that case, I’d change it from: “Instrumental in improving nearly every aspect of portfolio management and operations including enhancing existing processes, and devising new processes within a more robust compliance framework. This was accomplished during a period of rapid growth when the firm added $130 million in new assets.” to “Instrumental in improving nearly every aspect of portfolio management and developing new, efficient, operational processes during a period of rapid growth (added $130 million in new assets, increasing AUM xxx%).”
I’m actually applying for a job at the same company I did the “Insurance Company Internship” at. Perhaps I should move this up into the “experience” section for this?