Top Private Equity sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers & results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a memorable experience section: Private Equity resume edition
Perfecting Your Private Equity Resume Experience Section:
- Focus on results, not responsibilities;
- Use 4-6 bullet points per position;
- List only positions that are relevant to what you’re applying for;
- Include at least some form of quantitative data – it can be linked to the number of people you’ve managed or the - percentage decrease in costs that’s followed from your work - you decide;
- Choose action verbs over buzzwords.
We’ve selected some of the top Private Equity resumes made using the Enhancv platform to illustrate what a great experience section looks like. Use them as inspiration when building your own resume:
- Analyzed financial statements and market data to evaluate investment opportunities, resulting in the successful execution of 3 transactions totaling $200M
- Built and maintained detailed financial models to forecast future performance of portfolio companies and identify areas for improvement, resulting in a 20% increase in EBITDA for one company within 12 months
- Collaborated with senior team members to develop and present investment theses to the Investment Committee, resulting in approval of all recommended investments
- Conducted research on emerging trends and competitive landscape in target sectors to identify potential investment opportunities, resulting in a pipeline of 10 high-quality prospects
- Identified and engaged with potential expert candidates through targeted outreach and networking, resulting in a pipeline of 500 qualified candidates within 6 months
- Conducted phone and in-person interviews to assess candidates' fit for specific engagements and client needs, resulting in a 80% placement rate and high satisfaction ratings from clients
- Developed and maintained relationships with expert candidates, ensuring a strong pool of candidates for future engagements and repeat business
- Collaborated with senior team members to develop and implement new recruiting strategies and processes, resulting in increased efficiency and improved candidate quality
- Conducted due diligence on 20+ potential investments, resulting in the successful acquisition of 2 companies.
- Assisted in the preparation of pitch books and investment memos, resulting in a 30% increase in successful pitches.
- Built and maintained financial models for portfolio companies, resulting in a 15% increase in valuation over a 2-year period.
- Assisted in the management of a $50M fund, resulting in a 20% IRR over a 5-year period.
- Created detailed financial models and conducted extensive industry research to support client transactions, resulting in the successful completion of 4 deals worth over $1B.
- Assisted in the preparation of pitch books and management presentations, resulting in a 40% increase in the number of successful pitches.
- Developed strong relationships with clients and industry contacts, resulting in a 30% increase in repeat business over a 2-year period.
- Led a team of 4 consultants in developing a market entry strategy for a leading technology company, resulting in a successful launch in a new market.
- Conducted extensive customer research and analysis, resulting in the identification of a new revenue stream for a client, generating an additional $5M in annual revenue.
- Developed and delivered training sessions on strategy and innovation to client teams, resulting in a 20% increase in employee engagement and productivity.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with clients resulting in repeat business and referrals.
- Contributed to the continuous development of exceptional processes, market expertise, and client service.
- Ensured timely execution of trades by coordinating setup amongst clients, their counsel, internal resources, and potential dealer counterparties.
- Reviewed relevant loan documentation and prepared term sheets, confirming economic details of transactions prior to execution.
- Structured trades and optimized for hedge accounting efficiency.
- Collaborated with hedge accounting colleagues to ensure internal processes run smoothly post-execution.
- Analyzed financial data and performed financial modeling resulting in successful transaction execution.
- Created pitch books and marketing materials for M&A transactions and debt and equity offerings.
- Interacted with clients and potential investors and presented findings to senior bankers.
- Analyzed financial data and prepared financial statements and reports resulting in accurate and timely financial information.
- Conducted financial modeling and forecasting and provided insights to management for decision making.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams and provided financial support to various departments.
PRO TIP
The person reading your Private Equity resume will be busy, make sure you never waste their time with fluff.
Action Verbs for your Private Equity Resume
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Writing a Strong Skills Section for Your Private Equity Resume
Checklist for your Private Equity skills section:
- Include all relevant skills from the job description to pass ATS;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise;
- List your technical skills in a clear and concise manner;
- Leave room for transferable skills related to teamwork, communication, negotiation, and conflict management.
Top skills for your private equity resume
Financial modeling
Business analysis
Due diligence
Valuation
Portfolio management
Market research
Deal structuring
Investment analysis
Excel modeling
Data analysis
Leadership
Communication
Negotiation
Relationship building
Critical thinking
Problem solving
Decision making
Attention to detail
Time management
Adaptability
PRO TIP
Add a Talent Section to your resume, where you can pick your top 3 soft skills and describe how you used them to complete a project or balance departmental communication.
Private Equity resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Things to include in your Private Equity resume summary:
- Your total years of experience in the industry;
- 2-3 of your most remarkable achievements so far;
- How your experience relates to the position you’re applying for;
- A very brief description of your strengths.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
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The Right Format for Your Private Equity Resume
When it comes to formatting your Private Equity resume, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. These include your level of expertise, your total years of experience, and the position and company you’re applying for, to name a few.
You can choose between three basic resume formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
The reverse-chronological format is just that – all your experience listed in a reverse-chronological way. It’s great for experienced professionals who have been in the industry for many years and have no career gaps.
The functional skills-based resume, on the other hand, focuses on skills, education, and personality traits, rather than experience. This makes it great for graduates, people with less experience, or bigger career gaps. The idea is to show you’re the perfect match without putting too much emphasis on your lack of relevant experience.
If none of these sound suitable, go for a hybrid (or combination) resume. It’s a mix of experience, skills, and personality traits. It’s also considered modern and innovative because of its non-traditional structure and sections. Here, you can add details about what your typical day looks like or what your life philosophy is. In short, the hybrid resume format shows who you are, both as a professional and as an individual.
Private Equity Resume Formatting Checklist
- Choose the resume format based on your level of experience and the company you’re applying for
- Go for a traditional 10-12p font
- Stick to 1-inch page margins to ensure high readability
- Match the length of your resume to your experience, but don’t go for more than two pages!
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
