Trader Resume Examples

Even in the fast-paced world of traders, it’s understood that taking the time to do some research is part of doing the job well. The same is true when it comes to writing or rewriting your resume. By taking the time to review a few current trader resume samples, you’ll be able to identify the kind of information included in a trader’s resume and the format options used to present it.

The guide that follows will present and explain the importance of the most often used resume sections, the order in which they should appear, and examples of unfamiliar concepts.

Every trader resume will be different by virtue of the variations in education, experience, and overall career path. A financial analyst hoping to move into an equity trader position will present transferable, skills while a day trader looking to make a lateral move will likely focus on their career accomplishments.

By reviewing trader resume samples, you’ll note that the content varies significantly while the three most often used format options, which are chronological, functional, and combination, share a basic framework that includes the following sections:

• • Contact info (name/phone/email)
  • Resume summary
  • Accomplishments*
  • Work experience
  • Skills
  • Education

*Add the accomplishments section if you decide to use the functional style

Explanations of these format options and the type of job seeker each might work best for follows:

Chronological format: This format focuses on the job seeker’s work history, which indicates a traditional career path. For those with no employment gaps, it would be a good choice.
Functional format: Job seekers with difficult to explain employment gaps, periods of self-employment, or who are looking to change careers may find this format friendlier to presenting their work history since the focus is on accomplishments rather than previous employers.
Combination style: This format works for those who prefer using elements from both formats and are comfortable creating their own combination style.

By reviewing trader resume samples, you’ll not only determine which format best highlights your skills but how each looks on the page.

Traders live in a world of snap decisions, and so do potential employers. Your resume summary statement, as the first element of your resume the employer reads, could be a make-it or break-it section. If they’re not compelled to read further, they won’t.

Let the job description be your guide as you mirror the employer’s job requirements in your resume summary. You want them to feel like they’ve found the ideal candidate to meet their needs.

In your fast-paced world, taking the time to craft a summary statement that speaks to the employer is worth it. Following are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

• • Avoid first-person pronouns in your summary statement or anywhere in your resume
  • Incomplete sentences are preferred over conversational, complete sentences
  • Keep your resume summary to 2-3 statements
  • Your accomplishments should be presented as skills that would add value to the employer

Read a few summary statements from the trader resume samples you’ve already identified to get a feel for tone and content. Two examples of trader resume summaries from different sectors are presented below as well:

• Experienced equity trader who consistently developed trading strategies to make transactions that maximized profits for banking industry clients. Diligently watched the market, identified trends, and evaluated financial risks. All transactions were made in compliance with SEC laws and regulations. Followed markets in different time zones. Portfolio has shown a sizable year-end profit each year for the last decade, resulting in consistent six-figure bonuses.
• Current intern at a top-50 hedge fund conducting research and other supportive activities. Immersed in the environment by working onsite. Developed a mentor relationship with a senior director of the firm. Fulfilled internship responsibilities requiring 10-15 hours per week while working full-time in another position. Developed in-depth understanding as an emerging markets analyst and acquired high-quality name recognition in the industry.

If you haven’t yet decided which resume format you’re going to use, now is the time to go back to the trader resume samples for help in deciding. Depending on your choice, the following are guidelines for writing the next section for each format:

If you’re writing a chronological style resume, the work experience section will follow your resume summary and will focus on your work history. This style works best for those with no employment gaps, and previous jobs should be listed in reverse chronological order, including the following information: job title, employer and location, period of employment, and 2-3 accomplishments performed for that employer.

A typical job listing might look like this:

Trader
Anderson and Hill Securities
February 2011 to February 2016

• Developed specialization in equity option bonds that provided a consistent advantage against less specialized traders
• Leveraged purchases to the client’s advantage
• Enlarged client base through referrals and networking events

If you’ve been in the industry for many years, it’s important to realize that employers usually consider just the last 15-20 years of employment to be relevant. By limiting your work history, you can avoid age discrimination that you would never be aware of.

If you’ve decided on the functional format because you have some employment gaps or you’re considering a move to a different industry sector, insert the accomplishments section between your resume summary and work experience sections.

Give careful thought to the 6-8 career accomplishments that will appeal to a potential employer. Refer once again to the job description, and as you compile this list, keep in mind that you don’t have to link your achievements to a specific employer, nor do you have to list them in date order. This will allow you to show the employer what they want to see in the order of importance based on the job description.

These bullet points should emphasize your agility, successes, and gains made for your employer and clients.

Once you’ve completed the accomplishments section, you can move on to the work experience section, which will now be a very slimmed-down list of previous jobs. Since there’s no need in this format to include dates, you’ll be able to avoid drawing attention to employment gaps.

The third option, the combination style, is your choice to incorporate the best of both formats. If you like the idea but you’re not sure how to do it, refer to the trader resume samples for inspiration.

It’s easy to look back on your often hectic day and see how much you actually do, but when you talk about your responsibilities and accomplishments, it’s best to create an image of you doing the job the employer is looking to fill. This is best done by using action verbs like the ones listed below:

• • Monitor
  • Maximize
  • Buy
  • Hold
  • Sell
  • Study
  • Evaluate
  • Identify
  • Comply
  • Oversee
  • Develop
  • Resolve
  • Assess
  • Inspire
  • Communicate
  • Retain
  • Generate
  • Manage
  • Network
  • Strategize

A quick review of trader resume samples can provide additional, applicable action verbs.

By referring to the job description, you can determine which skills are most important to the employer and present those that you have in their order of importance. As an example, the skills of a trader can probably fall into three categories: technical, industry knowledge, interpersonal/personal.

If you believe your skills should be classified differently, use your best judgment. Don’t feel constrained by the following example:

Technical skills:

The education section is your opportunity to break away from the crowd, so be sure to list your highest level of education first, no matter what the qualifications are.

While requirements vary, a bachelor’s degree is often the minimum requirement for a trader position. Studies in business, finance, accounting, and economics are important to large firms, and often, a master’s degree (MBA) is preferred and is rewarded with better compensation and other perks.

Another sub-heading in the education section would be licenses/certifications. There are different licenses that enable the holder to sell various investment products. Some requirements vary by firm, and agents registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) must attend continuing education courses in legal requirements or new financial products to keep their licenses, so be sure to list the courses that fulfill those requirements.

There are extensive qualifications in order to earn the Chartered Financial Analyst certification (CFA) from the CFA Institute, but while the demands of this certification are many, it enhances professional standing.

If you’re a member of an industry organization, consider a memberships sub-heading, and if you’re not already a member, you might want to consider membership in one of the following or similar organizations:

• • National Association of Stockbrokers (NAS)
  • National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD)
  • Security Traders Association (STA)

Use the trader resume samples for formatting ideas for the education section.

It’s important to keep your resume within the 1-2 page length, and adding your references will make it longer than it needs to be and take up valuable resume space that can be put to better use highlighting your skills and qualifications.

Your references should be a separate document that is available upon request. As you’re writing your resume, you’re sure to be reminded of former managers or directors with whom you’ve developed a good relationship that you can use as a reference. If you’re lucky enough to have a mentor, list them too. Obviously, you’ll need permission from each of the 3-4 people chosen.

When the employer requests your references, you’ll know for sure they’re interested. You can give your references a heads-up to expect a call, and you can ask them to let you know when contact’s been made and how it went.

• • The best way to mirror an employer’s requirements is to use the keywords they’ve used in the job description. They’re the trigger for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to identify resumes that will end up on a human being’s desk. It’s a fact of modern life that to get to the employer, you need to get past the electronic gatekeeper first.
  • Traders are accustomed to snap decisions and fast actions, but when it comes to proofreading your resume, take the time to do it right. Even after you think you’ve got it right, have someone else proof it for you. If there are errors, they’ll jump off the page, and that’s not the look you want to project in your job search.
  • In the regulated business of securities trading, confidentiality is prized, so be careful when you list your accomplishments that you don’t reveal proprietary information. A potential employer will wonder if you’ll do the same to them, and your resume may end up on the reject pile.
  • You may be very familiar with charts and embedded tables, but those formatting tricks often confuse an ATS, and what the system can’t read, it won’t pass on. Keep it simple.