Investment Banking CV Template, Examples, & Tips for 2024

Working in the City of London as an investment banker seems like a dream come true? Well, to get there, you need to have an outstanding investment banking CV! And we are here to tell you exactly how to write one that will get you the position you're trying to get.

Invest a few minutes in reading this guide and find out how to write a great investment banking CV that will impress the hiring officers and get you where you want to be.

This guide will show you:

• An investment banking CV example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write an investment banking CV that will land you more interviews. 
• Tips and examples of applying skills and achievements on an investment banking CV. 
• How to describe your experience on a CV for investment banking to get any job you want.

Want to save time and have your CV ready in 5 minutes? Try our CV builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ CV templates and create your CV here.

Create your CV now

Use this template now

Sample CV made with our builder—See more templates and create your CV here.

Looking for some other CV examples for finance and business? Here they are:

• Business Analyst CV Example
• Sales CV Example
• Consultant CV Example
• Finance CV Example
• Account Manager CV Example
• Career Change CV Example
• Internship CV Example

Investment banking CV template

That’s definitely one of the amazing investment banking CV examples. So without further ado, let’s find out how to make one for yourself. And let’s begin with finding out what’s the perfect format for your CV.

1. Select the best format for your investment banking CV

Did you know that according to the IBIS World report, there are currently 140 investment banking businesses in the UK? However, there was a negative 9.4% business growth noted this year. These numbers mean that there are still many places to find work as an investment banker, however, due to the business decrease, you need to have a CV that’s impressive from top to bottom. 

There is a simple way of making your CV outstanding immediately as it lands on your hiring officer’s desk. How? With the right formatting, of course!

Let’s find out how to format a CV for an investment banker:

• Figure out what to put on a CV. To have a great CV, you must not forget about dividing it into sections, such as the following:
• CV Header (including your name, position, phone number, and e-mail address)
• CV Summary
• Work Experience Section
• Education Section
• Relevant Skills
• Additional Sections
• Choose the right type and font for your CV. The most common is Times New Roman set at 12 points in size, but it is not the only one.
• Tailor your CV margins to an inch on each side. 
• Select a line spacing of 1.15 points. 
• Name your CV correctly. Having your surname and the position you are after should be enough.
• The perfect CV layout is figured out. Now we shall learn how to show your experience to impress your future employer.

Pro Tip: Boost your chances of getting hired by submitting an investment banking cover letter created in the same style as your resume.

2. Highlight your work experience on your investment banking CV

This is perhaps the most important part of your CV. It shows your previous achievements, responsibilities, and the continuity of your work. And let’s face it: your future employer would not want to invest in you if you don’t present your work experience perfectly on your CV.

How to describe your work experience on a CV for investment banking jobs?

• Show your most recent activities by following the reverse chronology CV format.
• Demonstrate that you’re the perfect candidate for the position by tailoring your CV to the job description.
• Use adjectives, action verbs, and power words to make your achievements more outstanding. Don’t forget about synonyms too!
• Include numbers whenever you can. Your job strictly involves showing, understanding, and dealing with the numbers. Using them correctly on your CV will only boost your chances!

Let’s take a look at some examples of experience sections on investment banking CVs:

Investment banking CV example (experience section)

Assisted in the preparation of PowerPoint decks, delivered marketing pitches, built a network of contacts (UK, China, etc.), and worked closely with high-profile clients.

The first example leaves the reader with precise knowledge about the candidate. Specific achievements and relevant numbers prove the experience is impressive.

The second example, however, doesn’t tell you much about the candidate. Was there any success in the work? Dunno. Let’s move on to the next candidate then, thought the hiring manager.

But what about a candidate who doesn’t have a lot of experience in investment banking? Well, there’s a way to make it right as well. Just focus on skills that are relevant to the position you’re after, and you can make your hiring officer see you as a future investment!

Investment banking CV example (without experience)

The first example shows that, despite no impressive investment banking experience, the candidate might be a good person to hire. 

The second example lists responsibilities without any detail. That’s not how you get hired!

Your experience section is ready. But where did you learn all that? Let’s find out in the education section of your investment banking CV! 

If you’re looking for more tips regarding writing a resume with little relevant experience, make sure to visit our guide: How to Write a CV with No Experience

When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional CV template here for free.

Create my CV now

When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.

3. Illustrate your education on your investment banking CV

The rightly done education section is another thing that makes a great CV. Whether you studied finances at Oxbridge or finished tons of investment banking extra courses, your education section must shine!

Let’s see some examples of how to make it right!

Investment banking CV (education section)

You know well how renowned the University of Oxford is. But adding those bullet points is truly a spot-on move!

Some people might think it’s time to send out a CV. They’re wrong. It’s time to highlight your skills!

Wondering if including references on your CV is a good idea? Find out more in our guide: Should You Include References on a CV

4. Show your skills on your investment banking CV

As an investment banker, you need more than perfect analytical skills on your CV to impress your future employer. Don’t forget that you also need to be persuasive so that your clients trust you with their decisions. So you require both hard skills and soft skills to make your CV work.

But don’t overthink it—your skills are already in your CV, scattered in your education and experience section. So just write them down in the form of a list, such as this:

Investment banking CV—examples of skills

Skills

• Communication Skills
• Active Listening Skills
• Decision-Making Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Computer Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Rapport Building
• Transactional Experience
• Presenting
• Public Speaking
• Valuation
• Qualitative Analysis (e.g. market analysis)
• Quantitative Analysis (e.g. financial analysis)
• MS Office
• Networking
• Customer Relationship Management
• Persuasive Skills

Now let’s see how it should look like on a CV.

Investment banking skills on a CV

Skills alone might not help you stand out from your competitors. But the right description surely will.

You’ve got the basics ready. So let’s consider some additional sections you can add to your CV.

Pro tip: If you don't have much relevant experience, are still studying to become an investment banker, or have just graduated, you might want to write a skill-based CV. Just make sure to present your skills, so they look relevant to the job opening.

5. Put additional sections on your investment banking CV

You might already know that sharing the same interests sparks attraction between people. The same goes for you and your future employer or hiring manager. So why don’t you express your hobbies and interests and other activities on your CV?

But taking a chance that you might “click” with your recruiter is one thing. The other important reason for adding additional sections is to make them mirror the skills you just listed. So if you’ve included Public Speaking in your skill list, and you’ll add an amateur theatre in your additional activities, that just proves that you are indeed a public speaker! If you include analytical skills, being a keen chess player will second that. Etc, etc.

Additional skills on your CV can include:

• Licences and Certification, which are a perfect way to step ahead of your competitors.
• Language skills with proficiency and fluency levels, as it is always valuable for hiring officers.
• Awards, as it shows you’ve achieved something that was outstanding and worth recognition.
• Publications, which make you not only a pro but an authority figure!

Let’s see some good and bad examples of additional sections on a CV:

Investment banking CV: examples of additional sections

The first example is very precise. The second one is not. It’s not hard to tell which one has a better chance of impressing the hiring manager, don’t you think?

So now that you have all your sections ready, it’s time to return to the beginning of your CV. Let’s see how to write a perfect introduction using what you’ve already written!

Pro Tip: Wondering how many pages should a CV be? One page is ideal. However, if you have a lot on your plate, making it two-page long is also a good idea.

6. Create a perfect investment banking CV summary 

Having the perfect introduction of your CV is how you make your future employer look at it for over 7 seconds. That’s why you need an investment banking CV summary.

And the easiest way to make it? Follow these steps:

1. Write it last. Look for the things in your sections that make you stand out and can help you get the job.

2. Select 2–3 top accomplishments and skills that are relevant to the opening.

3. Structure your CV summary using the following formula:

Let’s see some examples:

CV for investment banking—example summary

All the key achievements can be seen immediately after looking at the first candidate’s summary. It’s strong, and it’s eye-catching. The second example is all about what the candidate wants. And someone like that is not often invited for a job interview.

And that’s your CV ready. But before you hit that send button, let’s include one more document. Your cover letter.

Learn more about writing a great introduction to your resume from our guide: CV Profile

7. Include a cover letter to your investment banking CV

Adding a cover letter to your investment banking resume will surely show you’re an achiever, an ambitious and determined candidate who really wants the job and is not afraid to go the extra mile to get it. And don’t these qualities sound like a perfect investment banker's qualities? 

So, how to write a cover letter for an investment banker?

1. Write a captivating start for your cover letter and grab the reader’s attention from the top.

2. Make sure you know what to include in a cover letter. Contact section, professional salutation, and explanation of how the company will benefit from hiring you are some parts you cannot miss.

3. Stick to the ideal length of your cover letter. Anything over 300 words, one page or 4 paragraphs is too long.

4. End your cover letter strongly. Include a call to action and offer a precise date for an interview.

With a perfectly written cover letter added to a perfectly written investment banking CV you’ll be answering interviewee questions in no time!

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key takeaway

Well done! You’ve invested your time right, and now you know exactly how to create an outstanding investment banking CV. Soon enough, you will see that this decision will pay you off!

Let’s just have a quick recap of how to write an impressive investment banking CV:

• Select the proper format for your CV. Include all your achievements and history in reverse-chronological order.
• Create a CV summary to catch the reader’s eye immediately.
• Showcase your experience and education in two separate sections.
• Include some additional sections, like awards, languages, references, and hobbies.
• Add a cover letter. Make sure it’s consistent with your resume.

Have you got any questions regarding investment banking job applications? Let’s talk in the comments section below. And thank you so much for reading our guide!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• Investment Banking in the UK - Number of Businesses
• Jörgen Sundberg, "How Long Do Recruiters Spend Reading Your CV?"