The resume is an essential tool to present the key milestones of your professional career and education in a clear and concise manner to the hiring manager. But what requirements should a resume fulfill for consulting, investment banking, or auditing? Is international experience relevant, and what are the key facts that matter to major companies in the financial industry? Here, we will show you how to avoid the biggest mistakes in your resume to succeed in the race for the best jobs and leave a good impression.

An insider tip for the job interview: If your resume impresses, you should prepare your own applicant questions that demonstrate your in-depth knowledge of the company.

Less is more, but make it meaningful

Before you craft your resume for entering consulting, investment banking, or auditing, you should be aware that experienced recruiters may receive hundreds of applications for a single job posting. They have to form an impression of you within a minute. Therefore, make sure your resume is complete but compact. A resume should not become a biography. You should always check if a piece of information is relevant to your professional development. If in doubt, you can omit that information.

No lies

We strongly advise against embellishing experiences in your resume just to increase your chances of getting an interview. The information in your cover letter and resume must be consistent, logical, and supported by certificates. A mere trip to Asia remains a leisure activity and should not be made to look like independent consulting work. It is important not to conceal any dates and always provide precise month details, even if it reveals that an internship lasted only two months. If one of your jobs was lucrative but not a major highlight, stick to the truth or leave it out. Telephone marketing does not automatically mean marketing analysis conception. Do not use fictional employers to enhance your application. If you are applying from a current position, be cautious as recruiters often seek references. A longer period of covering for the boss can be mentioned, but it does not automatically make you a project manager or team leader.

Establish a connection to the company

The same principle applies to the resume as it does to the cover letter: simply updating the dates is not enough. Instead, you should tailor your resume as precisely as possible to the company you are applying to. This includes not only using appropriate industry terminology but also selectively filtering information. For example, if the company is actively involved in the Asian market, highlight your knowledge of Chinese - provided that you actually possess it.

Online vs. Offline

Before sending out your resume, it is important to check your online presence and clean up your web portfolio to avoid any embarrassing situations. In today's communication world, heavily influenced by social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook, they can pose a significant risk for you. There is hardly anything more embarrassing than having a photo from a wild beach party published online - and of course, recruiters from top consulting firms, banks, and law firms will also search for information on the internet. It is also important to ensure that your online profiles on career portals match the resume you send out. Even slight discrepancies can make recruiters suspicious and can get you into trouble. To avoid that, you should increase your privacy settings on social media and review your presence on career portals.

Spelling and Grammar

Flawless spelling is essential for a successful application. It signals attention to detail and seriousness and is an important criterion for hiring managers. Incorrect spelling can leave a negative impression and may result in your application being discarded. Therefore, you should carefully review your application documents and have friends proofread them to avoid typos and grammar mistakes. Additionally, it is important to adapt the language in the cover letter to the job posting. For example, if the position is advertised in French, your application should also be in French. Even if the team is multilingual, choosing the right language is crucial.

Proper Structure

A clear structure is an important factor for your resume to overcome the initial screening. To guide the reader quickly and precisely through your CV, it is recommended to use three main categories such as "Education," "Work Experience," and "Skills and Interests." Within these categories, maintain consistent logic, such as always listing the company name, location, department, and position in the same order for internships. Additionally, it is advisable to place the most recent stages of your career at the top. If you are applying abroad, different rules may apply, so always make sure to research the specific requirements in that country.

Honesty with Resume Gaps

Resume gaps pose a challenge for many applicants. Especially a longer period of unemployment or a study interruption is often perceived as a major flaw. However, instead of lying or making excuses, it is important to be honest. Lies will eventually be exposed and are one of the biggest mistakes in the application process. A phase of reorientation or an international experience can actually be positive for your application. For example, use the term "Professional Realignment" and explain how you utilized that time. Have you done internships or taken language courses, for instance? It is important to remain credible and not focus on fabricated career steps. Instead, use that time to refine your unique selling points and differentiate yourself from other applicants.

Last Step: Double-Check Everything

When applying for a position in consulting or auditing, it is of great importance that your resume meets the high expectations of the industry. In these fields, document quality is particularly crucial as they may be handed over to clients and must meet the highest standards. Before submitting your application, it is essential to perform a final check. Verify if your key message is clearly visible and if each point has a clear "so what?" Consider any feedback or comments you have received from clients or the company. Ensure that your argumentation is free of logical inconsistencies and that all numbers and data are accurate. Also, review the format of your application to avoid any formal errors.