Graduate Investment Banking Analyst CV (UK): One Page, Quantitative and Deal-Ready
Investment banking is one of the most selective graduate hiring markets in the world. Firms make decisions fast, screen hard on academics and quantitative ability, and expect CVs that are concise, precise, and formatted to a standard. A weak CV here does not just reduce your chances — it eliminates you before anyone has read a word.
The rules of an investment banking CV
One page. No exceptions.
Any CV over one page signals poor judgment to a bank. The discipline required to fit your strongest evidence onto one page is itself a signal of the precision IB hiring teams expect.
Reverse chronological. No photos. No objective statements.
A standard format: Education, Experience, Skills/Activities. No exceptions to this structure.
Quantify everything.
"Managed a fund" means nothing. "Managed a £50k notional equity portfolio, generating a 14% return over 12 months against a FTSE All-Share benchmark of 8%" means something.
No typos. No formatting inconsistencies.
CVs are read by analysts who were recently screened on attention to detail. A single typo will get your application rejected. Use consistent fonts, consistent bullet spacing, consistent date formats.
Education section (lead with this)
For investment banking, education comes first — always.
University of Warwick | BSc Economics | 2021-2024
Grade: First Class Honours (predicted / achieved)
Relevant modules: Financial Markets, Corporate Finance, Econometrics, Derivatives Pricing
Awards: Top 5% of cohort; Dean's List 2023
[School Name] | A-Levels | 2019-2021
Mathematics (A*), Further Mathematics (A*), Economics (A)
GCSEs: "10 GCSEs grades A*-A including Mathematics (A*) and English (A*)" — one line only.
Experience section
Each bullet should follow the same structure: action verb + what you did + quantified result.
Investment club / finance society:
"Co-managed a £80k notional portfolio across 12 equity positions; outperformed the FTSE 100 by 6.3% over the academic year through a sector rotation strategy weighted toward energy and defence."
Internship or insight experience:
"Completed a 10-week summer analyst internship at [Firm] in the EMEA Leveraged Finance team; built LBO models in Excel for 3 live pitches, prepared CIM sections, and attended 2 management presentations."
Any leadership role (society president, sports captain, event organisation):
"Elected President of the Economics Society (800 members); recruited 12 corporate sponsors generating £14,000 in annual funding, a 40% increase on the prior year."
What to include in Skills / Activities
Technical skills:
- Microsoft Excel (financial modelling, LBO, DCF, comparable company analysis — be specific about what you can build)
- PowerPoint (pitch book production)
- Bloomberg Terminal (if trained)
- Python or R (if used for data analysis)
- FACTSET, Capital IQ (if applicable)
Languages: State level accurately (fluent, conversational, business level)
Activities: Keep it tight — one or two lines. Sport at a competitive level, music to a high standard, or an unusual achievement (expedition, raised significant funds for charity). Avoid generic hobbies.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a finance degree to apply for IB analyst roles?
No — banks hire from any degree subject. Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Economics, Law, and even History graduates are successful. Quantitative aptitude (tested through online assessments) and the ability to evidence analytical thinking matter more than your subject.
What online tests do banks use?
Most major banks use Hirevue (video + coding/numerical), HireVue GameBased, or SHL numerical/verbal reasoning tests at the initial screening stage. The tests are timed and rigorous — prepare specifically for them using dedicated practice platforms (e.g. WikiJob, Assessment Day, Pymetrics).
Is a 2:1 sufficient for investment banking?
Many banks publish a 2:1 minimum. In practice, Bulge Bracket and Elite Boutique firms hire predominantly Firsts. A strong internship track record can sometimes compensate, particularly at mid-market and regional boutiques. Be realistic about which firms to target.