Overview
Investment analyst roles are among the most competitive in finance. Asset managers, hedge funds, and investment banks receive thousands of applications for a handful of graduate positions, and the candidates who stand out typically have a combination of strong academics, relevant internship experience, and demonstrable passion for markets.
James Fitzgerald is an economics and finance graduate from the University of Bristol who completed a summer analyst programme at Schroders. His resume works because every line connects directly to the skills investment firms are hiring for: financial modelling, equity research, and the ability to form and defend an investment thesis.
What Makes This Resume Work
A top-tier internship described with precision. Eight equity research notes, 3 DCF models, and a buy recommendation presented to 12 professionals. These are not vague claims; they are specific deliverables that tell the recruiter exactly what James produced during his 10 weeks.
Financial modelling with enterprise values named. Saying you built a DCF model is common. Saying you modelled companies with enterprise values between £400 million and £2.1 billion adds credibility and scale. It shows the reader the calibre of work involved.
Student fund management with benchmark comparison. Returning 9.2% against a 6.8% benchmark on a £30,000 student fund is a concrete result. It proves James can apply academic theory to real portfolio decisions and measure outcomes objectively.
Bloomberg brand ambassador role that adds depth. This is not a typical part-time job, and that is what makes it valuable. Organising terminal workshops and increasing usage by 35% shows initiative and genuine enthusiasm for financial data.
Key Takeaways
For graduate investment analyst roles, your resume needs to demonstrate three things: technical skills (modelling, Bloomberg, financial analysis), intellectual curiosity (research output, investment thesis), and competitive results (portfolio returns, stock-pitch outcomes). If you have an internship at an asset manager, describe every research note, model, and presentation. If you do not, a student investment fund, stock-pitch competitions, or independent research projects can serve the same purpose.

























































































































































































































































