Equity research analysts provide investigated and researched reports, offer projections and make recommendations on securities and assets in the securities industry. Analysts on the buy-side of the industry may work in hedge funds, pension funds, wealth management firms, etc. Analysts on the sell-side of the industry may work in a bank, brokerage, etc.
Equity research analysts will usually enter the industry as research associates. Educationally, you will be required to have a bachelor’s degree preferably in a finance-related or a quantitative-research-related degree. As you progress in your career, you will most likely be expected to get your CFA certification and/or a master’s degree in the field.
In addition, analysts will specialize and develop expertise in a small group of firms as their career progresses. This profession is a very high-pressure profession requiring long hours and high levels of dedication to thrive.
We will show you strong sample resumes that highlight the above, and highlight some skills and action verbs that you can use to strengthen your resume.
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An equity research associate position is commonly an entry-level position in the equity research analyst industry. In this position, you will generally be working under/with a more senior research associate. You will be doing a lot of financial modeling, valuation, and other necessary financial research. Your work will help inform the recommendations the senior analyst will make to the decision-makers.
This position has a heavy and varied workload. You will want your resume to show your ability to complete varied research and analysis-related tasks to a high level. If you do not have years of experience, you will also want to clearly list any related educational background and any skills that would enable you to complete expected tasks.
Because this can be an entry related position, you may not always have a lot of equity research experience. So include any positions you have had in related industries. Especially if those positions are research and analysis related.
What you can’t prove in experience, you can prove with your skills list. Ensure you write a comprehensive list of all your learned skills that would be useful in your position. Remember that you can always take courses online to learn new skills to bolster your resume.
An equity research analyst is generally a step up from an equity research associate. While you may still be working under a more senior equity research analyst, you may not be doing the more grueling research tasks such as financial modeling; you may have research associates for that. At this point in your career, you might also be expected to start specializing in a small group of firms.
What is very important to recruiters at this stage is how accurate your forecasts and reports have been. These allow fund managers to make financially beneficial decisions in the market. This resume does a good job of quantifying that accuracy and the subsequent financial gain of their previous employers.
Show potential employers the success of your previous forecasts and reports. Give actual figures of how much money your forecasts helped make or save. Employers will be able to grasp your level of expertise and will be eager to interview you.
As you progress in this career path, you will be expected to specialize in a smaller number of firms in the industry. If you already have a specification, be sure to briefly describe that. You will look more attractive and advanced to some recruiters than other analysts that are still general researchers.
A senior research analyst is a highly specialized and highly skilled professional in the industry. In this position, you will most likely be collating the models and reports created by your subordinates and preparing the final report and recommendations for your assigned fund manager. Professionals in this position are expected to be specializing in a small group of firms and will most likely have either a master’s degree or CFA certification. Do well in this position and you will be on your way to potentially becoming a fund manager yourself.
Like this resume, you will want to quantify your value addition and how much your work has been able to make or save for your company. Being able to show that you already have experience with managing portfolios or funds would also serve to impress recruiters.
As mentioned, by this time in your career, you will most probably have expertise when it comes to a specific sector or small group of firms. Be sure to highlight this in your resume.
This is a highly specialized industry. While in a senior position you may not have to do as much financial modeling and financial research, being able to show that you have a wealth of experience in doing these tasks in previous positions will bolster your resume. It will show recruiters that you have a strong understanding of how financial models and reports are created and can therefore properly draw recommendations from them.
A director of research manages a company’s research and development department. As the head of the department, you will have many functions including hiring staff, developing goals for the department, and overseeing the realization of those goals. This is an executive position so recruiters will expect to see close to 10 years of experience in research with many of those years in a leadership position. You will also be expected to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field, but many companies will require a master’s degree or a doctorate for this position. Take a look at this recruiter-approved resume sample.
Show recruiters your upward progression in your career. It will show recruiters your dedication to your profession and give them a better idea of the relevant skills you have gained along the way. This applicant started as a research assistant and moved their way up to a director of research position.
We spoke with hiring managers at top equity research firms like J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley to get their insights on what makes a strong resume in this field. They shared that the best resumes showcase a candidate's ability to analyze financial data, communicate insights effectively, and build relationships with clients and colleagues. Use the following tips to make your equity research resume stand out.
Equity research roles require strong analytical skills to evaluate companies and make investment recommendations. Showcase your expertise by including:
Avoid simply listing 'financial analysis' as a skill without providing concrete examples of how you've applied it.
A resume summary is an optional section that provides a brief overview of your professional experience, skills, and career goals. While not required, it can be a valuable addition for equity research professionals, particularly those with extensive experience or looking to transition into the field. Avoid using an objective statement, as it focuses on your needs rather than how you can contribute to the employer.
When crafting your summary, tailor it to the specific equity research position you're targeting. Highlight your most relevant qualifications, such as your analytical skills, financial modeling expertise, and industry knowledge. Be concise and objective, using metrics to quantify your achievements whenever possible.
The work experience section is where you show the impact you've made throughout your career. It's the most important section of your equity research resume, so you need to get it right.
Follow the tips below to write a work experience section that will impress hiring managers and help you land your next equity research job.
The education section of your equity research resume should be concise and highlight your most relevant academic achievements. It's an opportunity to showcase your specialized knowledge and training that qualifies you for the role. Follow these tips to create a compelling education section that grabs the hiring manager's attention.
An equity research analyst's resume should emphasize the applicant’s strengths in research and analysis. Using the right action verbs can ensure that recruiters take note of your ability to do both tasks effectively.
The following are some action verbs that would be particularly effective for an equity research resume.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
As mentioned, the equity research field is highly specialized. You will need to list skills that are specific to the research and analytical tasks you will be performing. Include all the tools you use and types of research and modeling that you are experienced in.
Here are some relevant skills to your skills section to impress recruiters.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Equity Research job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
