Harvard · Resume

Banking · 2026

Harvard Resume for Investment Banking

IB analyst recruiting is one of the most résumé-dependent processes on earth. Goldman, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Evercore, Centerview, and Lazard see thousands of applications per office per cycle. The Harvard format is the unspoken standard. This recipe shows how to write IB-grade bullets that survive a Managing Director's 8-second scan.

Start composingfree · no signup
Harvard Resume··~5 min

What recruiters look for

  • Top-15 undergrad, GPA 3.7+ (or international equivalent)
  • Brand-name prior internships (PWM, Big-4, BB IB Summer)
  • Modelling skill stated explicitly (LBO, M&A, DCF)
  • Deal sizes and roles (deal-side or buy-side)
  • Standardised test scores (SAT 1500+, GMAT 740+ for laterals)

Required sections, in this order

Education section

  • GPA listed in italics next to degree; SAT/ACT/GMAT in the same line if strong
  • Honors societies (Phi Beta Kappa, Dean's List by year)
  • Relevant coursework only if non-finance major (e.g., 'Advanced Corporate Finance, Financial Statement Analysis, Derivatives')

Experience bullets — be specific about deals

  • Name deal sizes ($X.XB Sell-side M&A, $XX0M IPO, $XB LBO)
  • Name sectors (TMT, Healthcare, FIG)
  • Name your specific contribution (built LBO model, drafted CIM)
  • Confidential clients: 'Fortune 500 industrial conglomerate' style generalisation

Sample in Harvard format

Harvard Resume for Investment Banking · 2026 Template
Harvard format · 1 page

Strong vs weak bullets

Before

Worked on M&A transactions in the technology sector

After

Built and presented LBO and DCF models for a $4.2B sell-side M&A advisory mandate (TMT sector); managed buyer outreach to 28 strategic and 14 sponsor parties; transaction signed July 2025

Deal size + sector + specific work product + buyer pool + signed date. A staffer infers you can run a real process.

Before

Created presentations for client meetings

After

Drafted 4 IC memoranda (60-80 pages each) for $XB+ healthcare-sector transactions; managed senior banker comments through 7+ iteration cycles per deck without missed deadlines

Deck count + page count + comment cycle discipline + on-time delivery — all signals of a junior who can take real responsibility.

Before

Helped with valuation analysis

After

Built 3-statement merger model for a $1.8B cross-border acquisition; ran accretion/dilution and pro forma capital structure scenarios across 12 financing combinations presented to MD-level on Monday calls

Specific model + transaction size + cross-border + scenario count + audience seniority. Reviewer infers technical fluency + comfort in front of MDs.

Mistakes specific to this role

  • Inflating internship titles ('Summer Strategy Analyst' for a 10-week PWM stint reads as desperate).
  • Listing 'Excel, PowerPoint, Bloomberg' as skills. These are assumed; replace with VBA, Capital IQ, FactSet specifics.
  • Vague deal references. 'M&A transaction' tells a reviewer nothing; '$4.2B sell-side TMT' tells them everything.
  • Including high school activities (unless Phillips Academy / Eton / similar AND you were Captain).

Your résumé starts here. Pay later.

Start composing

Frequently asked

How do I list confidential deals?
Generalise the client ('Fortune 500 industrial conglomerate') and keep the deal economics specific ($4.2B sell-side). Recruiters know the convention.
Should I list standardised tests besides GMAT?
SAT 1500+ goes in the Education section as a one-liner. ACT 34+. GRE only for laterals from PE/research. CFA Level passed at each line.
Is a one-page résumé strict for IB analyst roles?
Strict. Even Associates submit one page. Two-page résumés are a screening kill for analyst-track recruiting.

Related