As commonly depicted in movies, podcasts, and radio shows, finance can be an ultra-competitive world. Opportunities might be plentiful, but so are expectations and their weight.
If you’re making your way up here, chances are you’ve been applying for jobs using your CV and resume. However, just like any other industry, there are mistakes that you could be making knowingly or unknowingly that ultimately hurt your chances of landing those jobs.
We recommend using a highly rated CV maker to help you get the most out of your job application process. With that said, here are some mistakes you should avoid when tailoring your CV for finance roles.
1. Using a Generic CV
Did you just use Chat GPT to generate your CV?
While it might seem harmless to use AI tools to help you craft your CV, think about all the generic and similar responses it might have generated for other people, all while hiring managers get to see the same content repeatedly.
Consider writing your own CV. Yes, you can use AI to help you get rid of that writer’s block (trust me, we understand), but let it be more of an assistant that gives you ideas.
Not only that, a generic CV is the ultimate red flag for recruiters in the finance industry. Employers are looking for candidates who are genuinely interested in their company and role. Submitting the same CV for every application makes you appear disinterested and unprepared.
2. Overloading with Irrelevant Information
Yes, becoming a high school ping-pong champion was a great achievement, but recruiters wouldn’t care less about it because it does not contribute in any way to a finance role.
Recruiters in finance don’t have time to sift through pages of irrelevant details. Including outdated roles or unrelated hobbies can dilute your CV’s impact. That’s a mistake you shouldn’t make on your CV.
The solution is to prioritize relevant experiences and skills that you know are a perfect fit for the job in question. For example, if you are applying for an investment banking position, include experiences in financial analysis or strategic decision-making.
3. Failing To Highlight Measurable Accomplishments Or Achievements
Unlike some other sectors, the finance sector is results-oriented. Results drive a lot of decision-making, meaning the hiring manager won’t just look for someone who out and out ‘worked hard’ or led projects, but they are looking for someone who can actually back it up with real hard data.
This is where many finance job applicants miss the mark because they focus on their previous responsibilities as opposed to tangible outcomes. Remember, numbers tell the story of how you contributed to success in your previous role(s).
To better illustrate this point, consider the following examples:
Example one: I handled and prepared financial budgets for corporate clients for 5 years.
Example two: I managed corporate budgets estimated at $3 million per year, saving my clients 10% on expenses. Part of this role included identifying cost-saving opportunities.
Which one do you think will resonate better with finance hiring managers? I’ll let you be the judge.
But as a rule of thumb, review your previous roles and ask yourself, What changed because I was there? This perspective helps uncover metrics, numbers and accomplishments that make your CV relatable all while standing out.
In Conclusion – Avoid These Mistakes When Applying for Finance Roles
Your CV is the ticket to landing that finance role that you’ve always wanted. However, there are a ton of mistakes that can set you back, costing you years in job searches and lucrative opportunities.
That’s why we recommend using a professional CV maker to help you avoid these costly mistakes.
However, if that’s not an option, you can still create and design your CV, but you’ll have to be smart and focus on some of the things discussed in this article. Assuming you’ve already highlighted your soft skills and certifications, including CFA and CPA, while having properly formatted your CV, here’s a summary of how to approach your finance-based CV;
- Using a generic CV for all your job applications – (there are no one-size-fits-all all types of CVs, so tailor your for every job you’re applying for).
- Neglecting or failing to highlight measurable achievements or accomplishments – (Finance is all about numbers, and measurable achievements are tangible representations of your contributions in previous roles).
- Overloading your cv with irrelevant information – Focus only on experiences and qualifications that align with the job. For example, if you’re targeting an investment banking role, emphasize accomplishments like financial modelling or strategic decision-making to prove you’re the right fit.
