Introduction
In the high-stakes world of investment banking, interviews are rigorous and competition is fierce. One question you can almost always expect to encounter is: "Walk me through your CV." How you answer this seemingly simple query can set the tone for the entire interview. Here's how to navigate this question with finesse, ensuring you present yourself in the best light.
Dos
Start Strong with a Summary
Begin by summarising your professional experience in two to three sentences. Make it concise, but impactful. Tailor the summary to highlight experiences that demonstrate your qualifications for the role.
Highlight Specific Accomplishments
Don’t just list roles and responsibilities. Instead, focus on specific accomplishments that showcase your skill set. For instance, if you led a team that improved operational efficiency, state how much you increased efficiency and how you achieved it.
Connect the Dots
Clearly articulate how each role or project has equipped you with the skills required for the investment banking position you're seeking. For example, if the role requires strong analytical skills, discuss projects where you applied such skills and achieved measurable results.
Be Quantitative
Whenever possible, quantify your achievements. Did you increase sales or reduce costs? By how much? Concrete numbers can add credibility to your story.
Be Chronological but Brief
Walk the interviewer through your career in a logical manner, starting from your most recent experiences and working backwards. However, don't dwell too long on each item; keep the narrative flowing.
Don'ts
Avoid Over-Explaining
Investment banking is a fast-paced world; demonstrate that you can convey important information succinctly. Avoid going off on tangents or getting lost in the minutiae of your past roles.
Don't Dwell on Irrelevant Information
While it might be tempting to mention every course or certification you’ve completed, focus only on those that are directly relevant to the job at hand.
Skip Childhood Aspirations and Early Education
Unless your early experiences have direct bearing on your qualifications for an investment banking role, leave them out. Your interviewer is more interested in your recent professional experiences.
Avoid Jargon
Unless it's industry-specific and relevant, steer clear of jargon. You want to come across as knowledgeable but accessible.
Don't Oversell or Undersell
It's a fine line to walk. While you want to present yourself as the best candidate for the role, avoid sounding arrogant. Conversely, don’t be so humble that you undersell your accomplishments.
Example Case Study
The Candidate: Sarah, a financial analyst with 5 years of experience, including a stint in a mid-sized accounting firm where she led a team focused on M&A due diligence.
The Position: An investment banking role specialising in M&A.
Sarah's Response: "I started my career as a junior financial analyst at XYZ Corp, where I was quickly promoted for optimising cost-efficiency, saving the company $1M in the first year. After gaining this foundational experience, I moved to ABC Accounting as a Senior Financial Analyst. Here, I led a team in M&A due diligence that successfully closed 15 deals in two years, with a total transaction value exceeding $500M. I believe my strong analytical skills and proven experience in leading high-stakes projects make me an excellent fit for this role."
By focusing on her relevant experience, quantifying her achievements, and showing how her skills align with the investment banking role, Sarah successfully walks the interviewer through her CV in a compelling and focused manner.
Conclusion
The "Walk me through your CV" question offers a golden opportunity to showcase how your background makes you the ideal candidate for an investment banking role. Tailor your narrative to highlight experiences and achievements that align closely with the job description, and remember, be succinct but impactful. With the right approach, you can turn this question into one of your strongest selling points.
How can Circle Square Help you further?
When preparing our candidates for interview, our Search Consultants provide candidates with as much information as possible to help guide them to give them best chance at success. For more information on how we can assist, give us a call today on 020749 20705.
