What, exactly, is wrong with my CV (3)?

26 March 2009

4 minute read

I'm currently an associate in real estate investment banking, but am looking to move on. I'd consider emerging market private equity (Africa/Asia ideally), including distressed debt analysis. Alternatively, I'd be interested in working for a developer in their corporate finance department. Eventually I would like to be involved in African real estate development projects, in a financial capacity, such as CEO or CFO. In the meanwhile (over the next three - five years). I haven't applied for anything in a while, but would appreciate knowing what you all think. What specific advice might you have for me in terms of missing experience?

Work Experience

Major international bank, London

Associate, real estate investment banking February 2007 to present

Evaluate cash flow covenants of listed developers and investment managers in, test for covenant breach and estimate liquidation value working with market professionals.

Assessed the accretive nature of various takeover targets for bidder; met with board member to discuss basis for cooperation, review combined portfolios for overlap and fit.

Organised a response to an RFP by a real estate company regarding its restructuring and value maximisation strategy, given its controlling interest in another market player.

Analysed major European real estate firm, built residual valuation model, mapped industry peer group, and presented competitive positioning to company CEO, CIO, CFO during IPO pitch.

Reviewed balance sheet and real estate (investment and development) property with CFO and Development Manager of client company.

Maintain relations among senior industry advisors and investors.

Software employed : FactSet Global, Bloomberg, Reuters, Mergermarket, Thomson Financial.

<Major real estate group

Senior Surveyor, International Portfolio Valuations, (London) Sept 2005 to February 2007

Conduct multinational portfolio valuations; responsible for portfolio analysis and reporting.

Liaise with fund managers, lenders, lawyers, and other group European offices.

Coordinate supporting offices and manage overall reporting process.

Analyse portfolios for credit risk, leasing risk, and sector/geographic exposure.

Valued commercial and industrial property in Western Europe.

Use of Circle Visual Investor and Developer (now Argus), MS Excel.

(Same) Major real estate group

Analyst, Investment Brokerage, September 2005 to July 2006

Deal analysis (MS Excel modelling), origination and execution.

Oversaw "sealed bid" auction sale process; communicated with investors.

Introduced $60m in new business; explored joint opportunities with international offices.

<Real estate group

Student Intern, Office Lease Brokerage Summer 2004

Student Intern, Research Analyst Summer 2003

Education

CFA Institute June 2008

Scheduled to challenge Level 2 examination June 2009

Level 1 First Time Pass

Financial News Training April 2008

Leveraged buyout modelling certificate

Advanced real estate modelling certificate

Financial Services Authority, London, England May 2007

Authorised and approved to provide formal advice in corporate finance

Major North American Business School; Sept 2003 - June 2005

Honours Business Administration, HBA, graduate with First Class Honours

North American Real Estate Association July 2004 - July 2006

Commercial Realtor, graduated with First Class stand (85%)

Major North American University Sept 2000 - April 2003

Studied Accounting, Investment Finance, achieved First Class stand (84%)

Extra Curricular

Committee member, Housing Initiative April 2008 - Present

Index global best practice in emerging market affordable housing schemes, develop and test policies through field work

To set and maintain meeting agendas, minutes

President, University Financial Services Society Sept 2003 to April 2005

Partially merged the three accounting clubs on campus to form one entity

Increased sponsorship and fee revenues by 500%; doubled membership

Languages

French (intermediate) ; Mandarin Chinese (elementary, ongoing study)

Personal Interests

Reviewing opportunistic residential investments in UK, African developments

Mountaineering, chess, European football, snowboarding, surfing.

If you want to contact/hire the owner of this CV, please contact him at MintLifeRealty@gmail.com

Note from the editor: If you want your CV to be reviewed too, please email us at editor@efinancialcareers.com.

AUTHORAnonymous

Insider Comment

Ri
Richard
1 April 2009
Your profile is essentially solid real estate operations, so a move to PE or Corp Fin, let alone a CFO or CEO role would be difficult without a "career-shifting" intervention. The first step could be to apply for a permanent position in the financial sector. Thereafter, 3-4 years in roles with increasing responsibility would allow you to move out of the analyst position and into a place where you could get into a good MBA programme. The CFA is relevant to your current position, but not to your stated ambitions, so your resume should focus on evidence of your commercial awareness/skills. You would also be advised to start taking on more international work - there are good contacts in Asia that you could access through the Ivey alumni association, especially if you don't mind playing into a real estate niche for a couple of years (the geographical move plus trying to claim a finance role will be a stretch).
Reply
Da
Daniel San
31 March 2009
Regarding your CV, I thik it is way too long, and you can obvious some technical tasks and focus more on commercial abilities, as expected from an Associate. The French guy is right, even if he cannot write it in English, it's all about contacts. I would also leave out some education (rewrite the CFA part!) and the "personal interests" section.
As per your possibilities, I think you are well suited for a jump into a new role in Africa or Asia, just sell the international side of your life, and improve your French so that you can defend your cv in that language. You will probably need it in Africa. Last, I would suit the cv for African OR Asian roles (not a common cv), since you will have to show that you are determined and love that continent!
Good luck!
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Ja
James
27 March 2009
CFA Institute June 2008
Scheduled to challenge Level 2 examination June 2009 Level 1 First Time Pass
The above statement my friend is a violation of the CFAI code of ethics
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Di
DiopTrader
26 March 2009
Nonobstant quelques coquilles, ton CV est d'une qualite sans commune mesure. Les postes auxquels tu aspires demandent davantage de relationnel et une certaine prise de risque. Le monde de la finance ce n'est qu'une affaire de piston.
bien Cordialement
Reply
Sa
Sarah, Editor, eFinancialCaree
26 March 2009
If you want your CV reviewed, you simply need to send it to the email address given above (editor@efinancialCareers.com). We don't guarantee to post all the CVs that are sent through for review.
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