REVIEW MY CV: Is it really still feasible for a junior to relocate to Dubai?
I took a Masters in Finance in the US with the aim of switching to an investment banking role, but the timing of my graduation - August 2009 - meant there were few job options available.
However, I foresaw the situation and started focusing on restructuring, including a six-month internship with a small investment bank in Chicago. But I had to move back to Pakistan because of family issues.
This has since been resolved, so I've been in Dubai on a month-long trip to test the waters and eventually transition out of the Pakistan market. I'm targeting analyst/senior analyst roles in either corporate finance or asset management.
I've not had a great deal of luck getting much face time with people hiring in the UAE market, and am assuming my lack of regional experience and European passport is counting against me. Or is the market simply not open to people with my profile?
Below is this poster's CV with all personal and identifying details removed. Can you offer any tips to improve this? Please comment below. If you would like your CV reviewed by the eFinancialCareers community, please e-mail editor_gulf@efinancialcareers.com
EDUCATION
US university
Master of Science in Finance, GPA: 3.7/4.0, GMAT: 710/800
August 2009
University, Pakistan
Bachelor of Science (Honors), Computer Science, GPA 3.2/4.0
June 2003
CFA Institute
CFA Level I passed, June 2010, Level II Candidate June 2011
EXPERIENCE
Boutique capital markets firm, Investment Banking
Karachi, Pakistan
Manager Corporate Finance
November 2009 - April 2010
· Analyzed new investment opportunities and client mandates, performed detailed financial modeling and valuation, conducted management interviews, carried out due diligence and created pitch books for investors
· Led a corporate finance team of 3 members in transactions exceeding $100 million
Selected Transaction Experience
· Undisclosed Company - Engaged in a private equity placement for potential $20 million equity ownership and concurrent debt injection, resulting in increased operating efficiency
· Undisclosed International Hotel Chain - Arranged financing worth $60 million for joint venture of an international hotel chain based in Islamabad, Pakistan, potentially generating $3 million in profits
· Undisclosed Oil Trading Company - Raised $10 million in debt and equity to expand the trading network and bring on strategic partners
Boutique investment bank, Restructuring
Chicago, IL
Intern
January 2009 - June 2009
·Participated in a semester long bankruptcy project analyzing restructuring plans and focused on the distribution to creditors
· Identified the factors that lead to violation of the Absolute Priority Rule and give negotiation power to impaired claimants
· Applied valuation methodologies to estimate the distribution to impaired creditors; examined loan restructuring with creditors, negotiation tactics among creditor classes and debtors, and legal codes and procedures
· Study successfully provides a baseline measure to restructuring professionals at boutique investment bank for the range and form of recoveries to impaired claimants
Boutique capital markets firm, Investment Banking
Chicago, IL
Intern
December 2007 - February 2008
· Conducted extensive market research in the health and beauty care industry in order to enable the company's entry in this sector
· Developed an extensive and detailed database of skin-care companies, featuring potential acquisition candidates
· Presented a pitch report for the most viable takeover option, including positioning, valuation, and potential buyer analysis
Business process outsourcing firm, Business Process Re-engineering
Lahore, Pakistan
Project Consultant
October 2006 - August 2007
· Analyzed employee functions within a large bank in order to identify value destroyers; developed a revised modus operandi with respect to processes, structure and people by identifying redundancies and inefficiencies in job profiles
· Re-defined corporate governance by streamlining flow and decision making, resulting in a 20% and 15% growth in business and profitability, respectively
Large regional bank, Corporate Banking
Lahore, Pakistan
Relationship Manager
May 2004 - September 2006
· Structured credit facilities for corporate clients, which included credit marketing, credit proposal preparation, and in-depth financial analysis of prospective customers
· Monitored sanctioned lines to ensure a healthy relationship and carried out periodic security analysis
· Led a team of three members to manage an advances portfolio of USD 50 million
· Surpassed credit marketing target for the FY 2006 by USD 1 million, thereby improving profitability ratios for the branch
SKILLS
· Statistical Analytical Software (SAS) for data management, proficient in C, C++, Java, Visual Basic, MATLAB and SQL
· Crystal Ball Software for Monte Carlo simulation, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel for financial modeling, Bloomberg
LEADERSHIP
· Project Coordinator for large regional bank Earthquake Relief Efforts, October 2005
· Student Ambassador, US university; Organized, coordinated and managed promotional events for prospective students
