Investment Banking Cover Letter & Résumé Workshop Presented by: Jessica Johannes Ekaterina Petrovitch September 10, 2007

Agenda Introduction Overview of recruiting process Preparing your application package Résumé Cover letter

Introduction

Overview of recruiting process

Preparing your application package

Résumé

Cover letter

Overview of Recruiting Process Recruiting starts in early September Banks come to McGill and give information sessions Attend every information session and speak to as many people as possible Interview process: First round interviews are held in Bronfman, at the bank’s office in Montreal, or by telephone Second round interviews are conducted in NYC/Toronto, typically as a “Super Saturday” Offers are extended following successful second round interviews

Recruiting starts in early September

Banks come to McGill and give information sessions

Attend every information session and speak to as many people as possible

Interview process:

First round interviews are held in Bronfman, at the bank’s office in Montreal, or by telephone

Second round interviews are conducted in NYC/Toronto, typically as a “Super Saturday”

Offers are extended following successful second round interviews

Application Package Serves one function: to get you an interview Consists of R é sum é (1 page) Cover Letter (1 page) Unofficial Transcript Read instructions carefully…

Serves one function: to get you an interview

Consists of

R é sum é (1 page)

Cover Letter (1 page)

Unofficial Transcript

Read instructions carefully…

Preparing your Application Package Read job descriptions very carefully and tailor your application to fit the descriptions Check out the company’s website Some qualities of a great analyst: High degree of initiative and motivation Strong quantitative & analytical skills Attention to detail (perfect formatting, no errors, on time) Quick learner Results-driven

Read job descriptions very carefully and tailor your application to fit the descriptions

Check out the company’s website

Some qualities of a great analyst:

High degree of initiative and motivation

Strong quantitative & analytical skills

Attention to detail (perfect formatting, no errors, on time)

Quick learner

Results-driven

Résumé - Format ONE page only Standard font selection i.e. Times New Roman Divide into relevant sections Education, Work Experience, Extracurricular, Skills, Interests No more than 3-4 bullets for each job/activity No spelling/grammar mistakes!

ONE page only

Standard font selection i.e. Times New Roman

Divide into relevant sections

Education, Work Experience, Extracurricular, Skills, Interests

No more than 3-4 bullets for each job/activity

No spelling/grammar mistakes!

Résumé - Content Prioritize points you want to get across, such as summer internships and quantitative work experience As much as possible, what you write should relate to investment banking Relate your experiences to skills/attributes they are seeking Go back to the job description/analyst skills checklist Keep your statements concise, and quantify where possible. Use power verbs! Make sure you can talk about everything you write on your resume, including interests and hobbies

Prioritize points you want to get across, such as summer internships and quantitative work experience

As much as possible, what you write should relate to investment banking

Relate your experiences to skills/attributes they are seeking

Go back to the job description/analyst skills checklist

Keep your statements concise, and quantify where possible.

Use power verbs!

Make sure you can talk about everything you write on your resume, including interests and hobbies

Cover Letter One page, 3 -5 paragraphs Paragraph 1: Self introduction and why you want to apply for that particular bank Paragraph 2-4: Talk about relevant work experience, extracurricular activities, awards and achievements Relate all these experiences to how it will help you in your role as an analyst, i.e. Captain of sports team = leadership skills, competitive spirit Paragraph 5: Summarize why you are a good candidate and your passion for the job Make a reference to the bank, i.e. conversations with an executive, etc.

One page, 3 -5 paragraphs

Paragraph 1: Self introduction and why you want to apply for that particular bank

Paragraph 2-4: Talk about relevant work experience, extracurricular activities, awards and achievements

Relate all these experiences to how it will help you in your role as an analyst, i.e. Captain of sports team = leadership skills, competitive spirit

Paragraph 5: Summarize why you are a good candidate and your passion for the job

Make a reference to the bank, i.e. conversations with an executive, etc.

Transcript Copy-paste from Minerva into a Word document Do not edit anything

Copy-paste from Minerva into a Word document

Do not edit anything

Helpful Tips Have your r é sum é and cover letter read over by the Career Service and several other people (Having an investment banker edit it would not be such a bad idea…) Make sure there are NO typos. Even one typo is unacceptable Remove any extraneous and irrelevant info. Less is more Make your files into PDF format

Have your r é sum é and cover letter read over by the Career Service and several other people

(Having an investment banker edit it would not be such a bad idea…)

Make sure there are NO typos. Even one typo is unacceptable

Remove any extraneous and irrelevant info. Less is more

Make your files into PDF format

Resources CC website http://www.mcgill.ca/management/career/signin/ Your guide to r é sum é s, cover letters, and interviews Access to Vault Guides CC office Several books available, sample r é sum é s and cover letters List of power verbs http://www.jobskills.info/resume_edge/power_verb.htm

CC website http://www.mcgill.ca/management/career/signin/

Your guide to r é sum é s, cover letters, and interviews

Access to Vault Guides

CC office

Several books available, sample r é sum é s and cover letters

List of power verbs

http://www.jobskills.info/resume_edge/power_verb.htm