Investment Banking Cover Letter & Résumé Workshop Friday, September 11, 2009 Presented by: Justine Erickson With contributions by Jessica Delfino, Annie Deng & Ekaterina Petrovitch

Agenda Introduction Overview of recruiting process Preparing your application package Résumé Cover Letter Unofficial Transcript Examples of résumés and cover letters

Introduction

Overview of recruiting process

Preparing your application package

Résumé

Cover Letter

Unofficial Transcript

Examples of résumés and cover letters

Introduction Justine Erickson Investment Banking Full-Time Analyst RBC Capital Markets, Toronto [email_address]

Justine Erickson

Investment Banking Full-Time Analyst

RBC Capital Markets, Toronto

[email_address]

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” Each bank has a slightly different second round process 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”

Each bank has a slightly different second round process

Offers are extended following successful second round interviews

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

Serves one function: to get you an interview

Consists of

Résumé (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 Multi-tasking 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

Multi-tasking skills

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

Quick learner

Results-driven

Résumé - Format

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 Describe accomplishments within each experience 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

Describe accomplishments within each experience

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 Explain why your qualities will help their specific bank (look up company’s values/beliefs/goals on their website) Show, don’t tell Paragraph 5: Summarize why you are a good candidate and your passion for the job; make a good closing 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

Explain why your qualities will help their specific bank (look up company’s values/beliefs/goals on their website)

Show, don’t tell

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

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 résumé and cover letter read over by Career Services 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 Always send to recruiters in PDF format

Have your résumé and cover letter read over by Career Services 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

Always send to recruiters in PDF format

Resources CC website Your guide to résumés, cover letters, and interviews Access to Vault Guides CC office Several books available, sample résumés and cover letters Lots of great websites including: http://ibankingresumes.blogspot.com/ http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-resumes/

CC website

Your guide to résumés, cover letters, and interviews

Access to Vault Guides

CC office

Several books available, sample résumés and cover letters

Lots of great websites including:

http://ibankingresumes.blogspot.com/

http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-resumes/

Upcoming Workshops Technical Interview Workshop Wednesday, September 16th 4:30 – 6:00 pm BRONF 425 Friday, September 18th 1:00 – 2:30 pm BRONF 045 Join our Facebook group for updat es

Technical Interview Workshop

Wednesday, September 16th

4:30 – 6:00 pm BRONF 425

Friday, September 18th

1:00 – 2:30 pm BRONF 045

Join our Facebook group for updat es

Question and Answer