[University Student, 0 Experience, Finance Major, Singapore]

Investment banking Exit opportunities
1

Hi there,

I’m a sophomore at NUS right now and I’ve been sending out applications for summer internship positions. Most of them are focused on investment banking and private equity roles. I was wondering if anyone here could take a look at my CV and share some feedback? I’m pretty new to this whole process and could really use some guidance on how to make my application stand out. Are there any specific things I should highlight or maybe things I should remove? Also, any general tips for someone just starting out in finance would be awesome. Thanks in advance for any help!

2

keep your CV to one page max - I see way too many students trying to cram everything in. only include relevant stuff. and proofread it! sounds obvious but I’ve watched solid candidates get rejected over typos. good luck!

3

Drop that CV! I’d love to help out a fellow finance student. Start networking ASAP - hit up finance events and connect with people in the industry. Your enthusiasm plus that NUS background? You’re already ahead of the game.

4

Another NUS kid thinking they’ll waltz into Goldman Sachs lol. Here’s the truth - everyone’s fighting for those IB/PE spots with identical CVs. Want to stand out? Get finance certifications or learn Bloomberg terminal basics before your internship. Stop mass-applying like it’s Tinder - firms smell desperation. Maybe start with smaller local banks instead of dreaming about Wall Street from day one.

5

StrategicMind, everyone’s covered CV tips well, but here’s what they missed - timing is everything. Singapore’s finance recruitment is crazy compressed. Most summer spots fill up between January and March, so you’ve got tiny windows to work with.

Beyond fixing your CV, nail down your story. Why finance? What makes you different? Everyone’s got similar grades, but most can’t explain where they’re actually headed career-wise.

Don’t just chase bulge brackets. Boutiques and regional firms often give you better experience and make great stepping stones. Singapore finance runs on relationships, so focus on quality conversations instead of mass applications.

Start prepping for technical interviews now - even internship roles here expect solid fundamentals. Your NUS network is gold - hit up professors and career services hard. They’re your best way in.

6

You should post your CV here (remove personal info) so we can give you specific feedback. Finance recruiters at top firms only spend 30-45 seconds scanning each CV, so every line matters. For IB/PE roles, focus on numbers - your GPA if it’s good, relevant classes like financial modeling, and leadership roles where you actually achieved something measurable. Cut anything that doesn’t show analytical skills or business sense. Join your university’s investment club, enter case competitions, or work on finance projects - these show you’re serious about the field. Also, message NUS alumni at your target firms on LinkedIn. They’re way more likely to respond to fellow students.

7

Hey StrategicMind! Been in your shoes a couple years ago hunting for my first finance internship. Here’s what actually worked for me: Tailor each CV to the specific role - sounds basic but most people skip this. For IB positions, highlight any quantitative coursework or projects where you worked with financial data. Don’t overlook “small” stuff like group projects where you led financial analysis or part-time jobs that show work ethic. Make sure your formatting’s clean and professional. I’ve seen solid candidates get passed over because their CV looked sloppy. Competition’s brutal but being from NUS definitely helps with local firms!