Prepare CV for a Market Risk job
Understand the CV preparation process for a Market Risk job in <10 mins
While applying for a role in the Market Risk domain, the power of a finely tailored CV and strategic interview readiness cannot be overstated. When you’re navigating the intricacies of market risk, the following insights will serve as your guide to rising above the competition. A meticulously crafted and eloquently presented CV is not just a document; it’s your key to catching the eye of potential employers and securing that coveted interview.
Recruiters and hiring managers actively seek specific keywords and skillsets when sifting through CVs and LinkedIn profiles. Standing out in this competitive landscape requires aligning your profile with their expectations.
In this article, we’ll delve into invaluable CV tips and highlight job description-specific skills. Discover how to effectively showcase your expertise and experiences, enhancing your chances of not just being noticed but shortlisted for the opportunities that align with your career aspirations. Let’s embark on the journey of crafting a CV that speaks volumes about your market risk prowess!
General CV tips
- One Master CV: Prepare a master CV with all the projects, online courses (if <5 years of experience) and other certifications. Add a brief summary for each project which covers 3 points: project overview, your role in the project and impact created by you.
- Formatting and Design tips: The font type should be Calibri or Cambria and font size should be 11 points. There should not be any unnecessary margins, paddings and line spacings. Try to avoid unnecessary colors. It is ideal to keep it Black and White.
- Individual CVs: Create individual CVs for each profile such as Credit Risk, Market Risk and Data Analytics roles. The individual CVs should be 1 Pager each with a word count of approximately 550 words. There can be some overlap between projects, due to the nature of the projects or lack of relevant projects for a particular profile.
- Fill gaps: To fill gaps in your CV, use online courses such as: Regression Models using Python/R, Machine Learning Python/R, Financial Modelling using Python/R
- Relevant Skills: Instead of basic skills such as experience on MS products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), mention more relevant skills such as: Python , R, SAS, SQL, C/ C++. You can use your familiarity with a particular technical skill such as Python Basics, Python Intermediate, etc.
- Sharing CV: Always share only the pdf version with recruiters to ensure convenience and safety.
Job Description Specific CV tips
- Review Job Description: Thoroughly review the JD and identify the keywords from it which are relevant to Market Risk.
- Tailor Market Risk CV: Modify your Market Risk CV based on the requirements mentioned in the JD. Make your CV aligned with the JD. It should reflect that you possess the right skills for the job and you are interested in the role.
- Quantitative Skill sets: An understanding of the fundamentals of Probability and Statistics is expected from the candidate. If you have done any courses related to Probability, Statistics, Econometrics, Quantitative Finance, Stochastic Calculus, etc you can mention these in the CV under a bullet item Coursework.
- Technical Skills: For a candidate who is just starting out his/her career, a basic proficiency in at least one programming language is expected in most of the roles. Mention technical skill sets in your CV such as Python, R, SAS, etc with familiarity (basic/level/advanced). Some level of familiarity with programming is expected at even mid-level and executive roles in most of the firms.
- Modeling skill sets: If you are applying for a profile related to Market Risk, your CV should reflect your modeling skillsets such as Derivatives Valuation (across one or more asset classes), VaR (historical, parametric and Monte Carlo), Counterparty Credit Risk (PFE, CVA, XVA), RNiV, CCAR, IR models (Hull White 1-factor and 2-factor models, Vasicek model, CIR model), Vol models (implied vol, Dupyer vol, stochastic vol), IRC model validation/ development, Monte Carlo Credit Exposure models, incremental default risk, specific risk charge, and Stress Testing, etc.
- Regulatory Knowledge: For a role with >3 years experience (approx), a candidate is expected to be familiar with at least one or more regulatory guidelines related to BASEL II/III, IFRS 9, CCAR/DFAST, FRTB, CECL, SR-11/7 from the perspective of data sufficiency, modeling methods, industry standards etc.
- Products knowledge: A candidate with >3 years experience is expected to have an understanding of financial products like Options (European, American, Exotics), Swaps (IR, FX, XCCY), Forwards, Futures, FRA, IR Caps/Floors, Swaptions, Securitization, CDO’s, etc.
- Interpersonal and Soft Skills: As you progress further in your career, your interpersonal and soft skills play a determinant role in your professional growth both inside and outside the organization. So, if you are planning to switch to a new role, you must have strong interpersonal and soft skills. While having a relevant experience such as an MBA degree in your CV highlights this aspect, this can be demonstrated in other aspects such as having crisp and clear interaction during your interview.
- Leadership Skills: If you are applying for a senior role (> 5yrs), you must demonstrate leadership experience based on your CV. This experience can be related to a leadership role played by you during training program, hiring drive, innovation projects or can be subtly placed while mentioning your work experience where you can highlight about the team size led, value delivered and the overall impact created by yourself.
Next Steps
As next steps, prepare a list of firms and profiles which are hiring for that particular profile. Start reaching out to the hiring managers and explain to them about your background and why your profile is a fit for the role for which they are hiring. Once your CV is shortlisted, you need to start preparing for the interview. The steps to prepare for an interview are given in the next article.
Few Final Words: In my experience, transitioning from a job is just a phase and part of the journey, both personal and professional. Before 30s, it is not very difficult to switch and we are always excited about a new role, new people and new places. However, things become difficult after 30s as our personal and professional responsibilities increase and we want stability and control in our lives. So, it is extremely important to make long-term plans for ourselves before applying for any role and accordingly prepare ourselves for it, both mentally and emotionally.
