I have worked in recruitment for many years and have had the opportunity to see many CVs. When you are looking for a new job in finance, your resume is your first impression and therefore needs to be a good one.
From my own experience, I can tell you that employers require a clear, understandable and detailed description of practical experience. Keywords are also very important in a CV.
When you send your CV to an agency or directly to an employer, the person who receives it is not necessarily a finance professional. Therefore, it is important to tailor your resume and highlight your experience so that it clearly relates to the job description.
Tips for writing a CV with a finance focus
Here are some tips to help you write a CV that can help you make yourself more visible when applying for a job in the finance sector.
Format
It is a very good idea to start your CV with a personal profile and a summary of your qualifications. This presents a clear and direct way to immediately catch the attention of finance recruiters.
E.g. "aspiring accountant with ...-years experience" or "qualified accountant with XXX in the field and experience."
Use bullet points and paragraphs throughout the resume, this will make it easier to read. Another good tip is to keep a Word and PDF version if necessary. Ideally, a CV should be no more than 2 pages long - try to remove work experience that is not essential.
Work experience
When writing about your experience, think about what you were responsible for in each relevant role and what you did on a weekly or monthly basis.
For example, "I was responsible for processing payroll for over 150 employees", "I was in charge of weekly cash flow", or "I processed over 2,000 invoices each month/week". Job achievements are highly valued, so if you have something to show off to an employer, put it on your CV. Make sure there are no gaps in your work history. If you took a year off to travel, put that in there.
Education and qualifications
This section should be short and include only essential qualifications. If you are from an accountancy background, always state whether you are a part or fully qualified accountant. E.g. 'CIMA, ACCA, ACA qualification'.
Employers will be interested in your accountancy qualifications, so be sure to include them.
As far as college is concerned, you can state your major, but you don't have to state all the courses you have taken. Even if you are applying for a graduate post, there is no need to give detailed information on your CV.
Technical skills
Most employers will want to know what software you have used. Highlight any technical skills you have, such as SAP, Oracle, SAGE, etc. You are reminded to stick to the job description when listing skills.
Tailored CV
You should never have a generic resume. Small changes can be important. Take the time to write a resume that will benefit you in the long run.
In the remote working world, this is the main way you can present yourself on paper. If you have the skills the company is looking for, highlight them and stand out from the crowd.
My last piece of advice is to let the recruiters help you. Contact the recruiters at Cpl. We can always advise you on how to write a resume.
Another piece of advice is to be prepared to document everything at job interviews. If you have a lot of work experience, it is important to be able to demonstrate your expertise and what you have learned in each job.