Your CV is often the first impression a hiring manager will have of you. In financial services, where attention to detail and professionalism matter enormously, a poorly presented CV can rule you out before you have even had a conversation.
Keep it concise
Two pages is the ideal length for most financial services professionals. A third page is acceptable for very senior candidates with extensive experience. Every line should earn its place. If it does not add something relevant, cut it.
How far back should you go?
For roles in the last ten years, include full detail — responsibilities, achievements and context. For anything beyond ten years, your job title, employer and dates are usually sufficient. Hiring managers are primarily interested in what you have done recently.
Make your words count
Use clear, active language. Instead of “was responsible for managing a team,” say “managed a team of eight advisers.” Specific, measurable achievements are far more compelling than vague descriptions. If you increased AUM, grew a client base or hit a particular revenue figure, say so.
Structure matters
Lead with a brief professional summary that positions you clearly. Your level, specialism and what you are looking for. Follow with career history in reverse chronological order, then qualifications. In financial services, your qualifications (Diploma, Chartered status etc.) are important and should be easy to find.
Presentation
Use a clean, professional font and consistent formatting throughout. Avoid tables, text boxes or creative layouts as these often break when imported into recruitment systems. A Word document in a simple format is almost always the right choice.
Tailor it
If you are applying for a specific role, make sure your CV reflects what that role requires. Highlight the most relevant experience and remove anything that is not applicable.
Finally
Check everything twice. Spelling mistakes and formatting errors in a CV for a financial services role send entirely the wrong message.