REVIEW MY CV: Should I stay, or should I go back to Europe?

7 February 2011

3 minute read

REVIEW MY CV: Should I stay, or should I go back to Europe?

I've been spontaneously applying to just about every institution in the UAE and Bahrain, looking for a relationship manager role within an asset manager.

After five months, I've managed to secure interviews within six different entities, but - despite making the shortlist - have not been offered any positions.

I have 18 months experience as a junior relationship manager in the region, and am actively preparing to take the CFA level II qualification.

I'm now a little worried, as I declined a good position within my current employer in Luxembourg. Is it worth pursuing another position in the Gulf, or am I better off looking towards Europe? Or, are there improvements I can make to my CV to better my chances here?

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

Competences

· High resistance to stress, discipline and responsiveness

· Acute sense of communication, ability to listen

· Ability to work in a team and to share information

Professional experience

International asset manager - Institutional Sales

Manama, Bahrain

Junior Relationship Manager

May 2009 -November 2010 (18 months)

· Providing support to Senior Relationship Manager with the day to day management of the overall portfolio of clients:

- Liaising with product experts typically based in Paris, Brussels, Luxembourg and Australia

- Elaborating presentations and notes for client meetings

- Researching, identifying and targeting prospects whose product appetite are fitting to benefit from the firm's product's portfolio

· Market sizing: analysis of the addressable assets in the GCC and Levant

· Prospecting new clients across the GCC

· Organizing the firm's "Investors Seminar 2010" from A to Z

Securities arm of large French bank - Forex and Debt

Paris, France

Derivatives Sales for small and medium-sized companies

2007-2008 (13 months)

· Structured, priced and sold financial products for clients (Forex and Debt products)

· Found solutions and advised clients regarding Forex and Debt markets

· Hedged operations with Anglo-Saxon banks

· Wrote daily and weekly market analysis

· Designed sales supports: presentations, plain vanilla Forex brochure

Education

2010: Enrolment in the CFA program

Passed level I of CFA program in June 2010

2005 -2009: Business School, France

M.Sc. in Capital Markets.

2002-2005: Classes préparatoires économiques et commerciales, Toulon, France

Special intensive classes preparing for the competitive entrance examinations to the prestigious French Business Schools.

Other Skills and Interests

French: Native

English: Fluent

Italian: Advanced

IT skills: Microsoft Office, VBA, Bloomberg, Reuters Xtra 3000, Tradix, Kondor, Zawya

Hobbies:

Dance: 15 years of practice, participation at the French championships

Golf: 15 years of practice. Handicap 9

Travel: Italy, England, China, Japan

Promoter and Treasurer of the association Challenger (organization of business games)

Co-organizer of the ICN Gala 2006

AUTHOReFinancialCareers Gulf

Insider Comment

la
laxman
10 February 2011
I think you should head back to europe as you can find my opportunities there...bahrain and in particular dubai are a so called hyped financial hub which in reality you will have to relax your capabilities and compromise with what you get in hand.
Its not worth it !
Reply
Mo
Mo
8 February 2011
Keep plugging = more jobs are coming!
Reply
Ge
Gee
7 February 2011
Microsoft Office?! Are you an Excel whizzkid? If not, is there any point in including the fact that you know how to use word or put together a powerpoint presentation in your CV?!
Reply
Ja
James
7 February 2011
The sad fact of life is that you'll have many more options available to you in Europe. Currently, most asset managers are looking for connections and experience, which means junior roles are still relatively few and far between.
That said, you have a decent amount of experience, and seem to have achieved a modicum of success during the interview process. If you want to stay, you have to accept that the process is going to take a long time, and you'll receive more knock backs than offers before eventually securing something.
Specifically on your CV. It's short and to the point, but your professional experience section focuses on your responsibilities not your achievements. What have you done that makes you stand out?
Reply