6 Investment Banking Analyst Resume Examples

How to build a job-winning investment banking analyst resume

When companies “go public” and start selling stock, investment banks make it happen.

Investment banks specialize in complex financial transactions, and the investment banking analyst role is the entry point into this lucrative career path.

Analysts are the workhorses of the industry, putting in long hours to conduct research and prepare reports.

Your resume needs to show that you are exactly the kind of candidate they want: someone who can handle demanding hours, has the education and knowledge to create strong pitch books, and can help move deals forward.

Investment banks rely on analysts to determine whether investments are worthwhile, so your resume must prove that you are financially sharp.

It should also demonstrate strong people skills and your ability to master the art of the deal.

Because investment banking analyst is an entry-level role, recruiters also look for candidates with the hunger to climb the corporate ladder after a few years.

You want the opportunity to advance to positions such as vice president, director, or managing director.

Are you ready for the challenge? Is your resume ready?

Don’t sweat it. We’re here to show you how to write a winning investment banking analyst resume.

This investment banking analyst resume guide will show you:

• 8 investment banking analyst resume examples and samples that show how you research the deal.
• How to balance your financial knowledge with people skills.
• How to show you have the right industry know-how.
• What education is expected and how to list it on your resume.
• How to include keywords from the job description.
• How to land the interview that turns you into an investment banking analyst.

Looking for related resumes?

• Data analyst resume guide
• Banking resume guide

How to write an investment banking analyst resume

You prepare pitches that make potential clients want to do business with you. Your resume should show how you’ve built those finance skills.

Candidates need deep insight into changing financial consumer demographics, along with strong analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.

Key industry skills include performing evaluation analysis, building financial models, and writing investment memorandums.

Your investment banking analyst resume should present the right mix of industry skills, soft skills, and knowledge. Be ready to discuss how you learned those skills.

Analyst jobs often require a college education, and your resume should also prove that you have the right work ethic.

Investment banking analyst is one of the most demanding jobs in investment banking.

Each investment banking analyst resume section should help make your case for why you are the best fit for the bank. Here’s how to approach it.

Sell yourself with your investment banking analyst resume header

Your first chance to make an impression in person starts with a handshake. On your resume, that first impression starts with your investment banking analyst resume header.

This is where you begin showing why they should pay attention to you and invite you to interview.

This isn’t the right way to do it.

What’s wrong with this? It reads like any other candidate.

There’s nothing compelling here to persuade a recruiter to keep reading.

Let’s make a few changes to show what we mean.

Investment bank recruiters already see that you’re an experienced financial analyst. When they notice you have a LinkedIn profile, they may also assume you understand the importance of marketing yourself.

That is the first step in convincing them that you’re the best candidate to represent their employer. It may seem minor, but details matter in a job built on making strong impressions.

How to deliver your elevator speech in your investment banking analyst resume summary

At this stage, think of your investment banking analyst resume summary as your elevator speech. You need to quickly explain why you’re the strongest candidate.

In a way, you’re creating a pitch book about yourself.

Include relevant keywords from the job description. Keep the summary concise and centered on your qualifications, including both your financial knowledge and soft skills.

This investment banking analyst resume summary isn’t the pitch to make.

The recruiter forgot who you are before finishing the summary. Here’s why:

• It gives no details about your experience.
• It includes a topic that has nothing to do with the job.
• It does not share any accomplishments.

Employers want to know what you can do for them. They want to see how you can make a difference, such as writing a pitch book to land that dream client.

This summary gives them nothing that shows that value.

Let’s look at another example.

If this were your summary, it would likely catch a recruiter’s attention.

This investment professional resume summary includes useful details, such as the candidate’s years of experience. It also mentions relevant skills like relationship management that can help in investment banking.

However, it still does not include any accomplishments or quantitative data. It also focuses more on the type of job the candidate wants than on what they can do for the company.

That makes it closer to a resume objective than a resume summary.

A strong summary should emphasize the skills and experience you offer, not the kind of role you want.

Investment banking analyst is an entry-level position, and recruiters may accept candidates straight out of college.

You may be tempted to skip the summary if you lack the right experience.

Do not skip this step. Instead, draw from experience you do have, such as internships that gave you real-world skills.

Let’s look at one more.

This example highlights more of the candidate’s skills, including quantitative detail about the size of the fund they co-managed.

It also shows that the candidate has experience delivering pitches similar to those the role may require.

Put the spotlight on your investment banking analyst experience section

Investment banking analysts help senior bankers close deals. Some of the work, such as revising presentations, may feel mind-numbing.

The role also requires extreme sacrifice. You may work 70-plus hours a week or pull an all-nighter to revise a pitch book.

Why do it? It can open the door to more lucrative positions, such as director, or careers like venture capital.

Can you cut it as an investment banking analyst? You need to prove that in your resume experience section.

Investment banking analyst jobs require experience in quantitative analysis, statistics, and information modeling. You should also show experience with researching and editing reports and making presentations.

Many candidates build this background through internships in college. Others gain related experience in banking-adjacent roles, such as financial analyst positions.

Review what you have done and match it to the job description. Look for key phrases such as “performing financial analysis” and “client management.”

Include quantitative data whenever possible. For example, if you worked as a financial analyst, how large were the portfolios you analyzed?

Let’s look at a few examples.

This example shows that the candidate can handle tasks such as delivering presentations, but it does not explain how their work benefited the company.

Phrases like "delivery presentations" and "client interaction" can be valuable when used in the right context. Be sure to show how your work made a difference.

Let’s look at another example.

This candidate shows her value to the bank by highlighting achievements such as exceeding monthly goals.

Recruiters want candidates who are motivated to succeed, and she demonstrates that drive with quantitative results like a 95 percent approval rate.

How do you explain your job duties on your investment banking analyst resume?

Investment banking analysts do substantial preparatory work to support senior bankers. Common responsibilities include:

• Assessing client needs
• Reviewing and analyzing financial data
• Preparing presentations and pitch books
• Building financial models for different corporate situations
• Performing administrative tasks

Candidates for entry-level investment banking roles often come from backgrounds such as financial analyst or chartered accountant.

On your resume, include duties that closely match what an investment banking analyst does. Review the job description carefully and highlight responsibilities from your experience that align with the role.

Many investment banking analysts begin with internships or roles such as summer analyst. If you have not had that kind of opportunity, connect your current or past work to the position. For example, have you analyzed financial data, prepared reports, or pitched deals to clients?

Investment banking is highly competitive, and landing a job can be extremely difficult. Your chances improve when you have the right experience and education. In some cases, the right education alone can help you land an investment banking analyst role.

Let’s look at how to impress recruiters with your education.

Frame your investment banking analyst education on your resume

You can become an investment banking analyst straight out of college if you have the right education.

Hiring managers typically look for candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, or economics. A master’s degree in business administration or finance may give you an edge.

Your education section should be especially strong if you lack experience. Many aspiring investment bankers pursue internships while in college, but you may still have a chance even without a business-related degree.

Recruiters may choose well-rounded students they believe can quickly learn the required skills. Many investment banks offer their own training programs.

If accepted, these programs provide preparation for licensing and registration exams along with on-the-job experience. You may learn how to build financial models and prepare client pitches.

Much of the training also focuses on the bank’s culture, since you will be part of a team working to convince clients to do business with the bank.

You may also want to pursue a professional certification to improve your chances of being hired as an investment banker.

A highly respected option is the Chartered Financial Analyst certification from the CFA Institute. It signals a strong understanding of advanced investment analysis and portfolio management.

The main goal of presenting your education well is to show how you developed your skills. Those skills can become your closing pitch to the recruiter.

List your must-have investment banking analyst resume skills

Making the deal is central to investment banking, but first you need to show that you can recognize a strong opportunity.

Investment banking analysts need strong analytical skills. You must evaluate every angle of a potential deal, including transactions such as mergers.

This analytical work often includes building financial models such as:

• Discounted Cash Flow
• Comparable Companies and Comparable Transactions
• Merger and Acquisition models
• Leveraged Buyout models

Soft skills such as communication and relationship building are also important. You may need to connect buyers and sellers and help persuade both sides of a deal.

Under communication, you can also include linguistic skills. Knowing another language can be an advantage in investment banking.

The field also requires strong math and accounting skills. A math mistake can hurt a deal, so your hard skills need to be strong.

You should also mention experience with Excel and PowerPoint, which are essential for analyzing deals and creating pitch books. These fall under technical skills.

Discipline is another important skill. There may be times when the workload is so heavy that you get very little sleep.

If you can handle an 80-hour week while still paying close attention to detail, that discipline matters. Here is a list of skills you can use for your resume skills section.

How to Market Yourself on Your Investment Banking Analyst Resume

We’ve covered how to write an investment banking analyst resume that impresses both recruiters and investment bankers. Here’s a quick recap of the main points:

• Show why you’re the best candidate
• Match your qualifications to the job description
• Prove you can handle the work involved
• Highlight your education and skills
• Pay close attention to detail

Your goal is to show that you’re the financial workhorse the bank needs. Above all else, write to impress.