Private Equity resume examples & templates

You can spot a great deal a mile away, but can you create a private equity resume that has you looking like the perfect investment? Read the guide below for tips and ideas to get you there.

Resume guide for a private equity resume

How to write a private equity resume
• Choosing the right resume format for private equity
• Include your contact information
• Craft a summary that excels
• Outline your private equity work experience: your career valuation
• Include the relevant key skills that make you great at private equity
• Detail your education & relevant private equity certifications
• Pick the right resume layout and design for a private equity resume

Private equity job market and outlook
• What type of salary you can expect in private equity

Key takeaways for building a private equity resume

A private equity resume is like a great lead on a promising company needing a cash infusion. When the opportunity arises, you do your due diligence, and then you act quickly. A compelling resume does the same for your job search. It gets the hiring manager to act on your application. Make your job search profitable with a resume that gets you that interview in no time.

How can a resume do that for you? By employing passion and a clear message.

As a businessperson with an eye for a good deal, you know that you need to present your case strongly and with ample evidence to convince the board they should invest. You may only have one shot at it, so your first impression has to be a great one. Your private equity resume performs the same task for the firm’s HR department. An energetic resume will make a great first impression and encourage them to invest in your future.

Resume guide for a private equity resume

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This resume guide and the embedded private resume example will cover the following:

• How to write a private equity resume
• Choosing the right resume format for private equity
• How to add your contact information
• Developing impressive summaries
• Adding your private equity experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the private equity market looks like and what salary you can expect

How to write a private equity resume

Before you dive in, you need to know what sections you’ll be writing for your private equity resume. Your resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

While all resumes contain common elements, you know that just like with companies in the same industry, no two are alike. Details matter and your job is to ferret them out. Convincing the hiring manager to give you a shot requires knowledge of what they want and how to present it, just as you do when you argue for investment in a new company. Do some digging into the firm’s culture, the types of companies it typically invests in, and how it operates. Then, tell them why your talents and skills fit the bill.

Any good presentation has a structure. Stick to this structure for your private equity resume:

• Showcase achievements, not job responsibilities. What will you bring to the firm that others won’t? Demonstrate this with the highlights of your career so far and what your successes have brought to your employers.
• Refocus your resume to speak directly to each employer. Match the tone and style of the firm. Adjust your bullet points and skills to tell them that you know exactly what they need and that you can provide it.
• Pay as much attention to the layout and design as to your text. Present yourself as professional and analytical without coming off as boring or rigid.
• Target the ATS filtering software with appropriate keywords for every online application. ATS resume templates are designed to smooth that process.

Optimize for the ATS

Before a human being lays eyes on your carefully crafted private equity resume, it must pass the Applicant Tracking System test. ATS software is programmed with algorithms that rank resumes according to keywords and other data important to the employer. You can boost your chances of making it through this gatekeeper using your analytical skills to choose appropriate keywords.

For example, if the private equity job description seeks:

• “Private equity associate”
• “Two years of experience”
• “Ability to analyze data to provide insights and directions to clients”
• “Proficiency in negotiating fund documentation”

An ATS-optimized summary could say:

“Private equity associate with two years of experience analyzing data and providing insights and direct to clients. Proficient in negotiating fund documentation. Tailored investment strategies for client produced 15% increase in realized gains over one year.”

Choosing the right resume format for private equity

Your resume needs to project professionalism, attention to detail, and communication skills; the same image you want to project during your interview.

The best format for most private equity resumes is the reverse chronological, which is also the most common. It’s common because it presents the best opportunity to outline the story of your career success and because recruiters can scan it easily. Your employment history, listed in reverse chronological order, takes up the bulk of the space in this one-page document. Below is an example of this format.

Job hunters beginning their private equity career or seasoned pros with years of experience under their belts may do better with the functional format, which puts the focus on skills over work history. A hybrid style combines the two.

When you’re ready to choose from among the many resume templates in our resume builder, you can also choose the format that works best for your career story. We have layouts for all three formats available as resume examples.

Include your contact information

Your clients and prospective clients know how to reach you because they have a hard copy or virtual version of your business card. The header of your private equity resume serves the same purpose.

List all your contact information professionally. HIghlight it so it's easy to find and read.

• Full name and title. List your first and last name. If you have a common name, consider adding your middle initial. Use the extract title from the job ad.
• Professional email address. Use a clean format like [email protected].
• Phone number. List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting.
• Location. Include only your city and state. Listing a street address or zip code is outdated and reveals more information than necessary. Note 'Willing to Relocate' here if applicable.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and shows your finance or industry network, include it here.

• Date of birth: Not necessary and could potentially lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details: Marital status, social security number, passport number, etc.