The scene of finance and banking is always full of interesting work opportunities meant for talented individuals.  Interestingly, these are only open to those who know exactly what to write on their resumes.  Some phrases have been included in so many CVs that they have become generic, pushing you to the back of the applicants.  Some points to be considered while crafting the resume for your next job interview are highlighted below.

1.  Basic Skills and Grammar

Every student who went to college can use Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and Outlook, so it would be wise not to mention this in special skills.  These generic computer skills will certainly repel a prospective employer.  Talk about special field related skills along with your proficiency in important operating software.

Ensure your resume is proofread before you hand it in for no one will hire you for high-profile jobs or even as a junior banker if you cannot spell correctly or phrase proper sentences.

2.  Fluency in a Number of Languages

It is a fact that financial markets prefer people who can communicate fluently in a number of tongues.  This is especially a growing trend when clients are from a number of diverse nations.  While it might be tempting to add in that you’ve studied Mandarin or Japanese at a school or university level; always make sure you mention your level of fluency.  Financial institutions seeking fluent Cantonese speakers will be disappointed to learn that you aren’t bilingual in reality.

Resume Workshop with Bain & Company by City Year, on Flickr.  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License.

3.  Saying You’re Motivated and Skilled

This is usually a dead give-away and tells interviewers that you’re a first time job seeker.  Such a line on your CV adds no value to it and should be avoided at all costs.  Impress the reviewer by putting across the fact that you’re a dependable go-getter in all your tasks and duties.

4.   Claiming to be Resourceful and Diligent

A lot of people add this to their CVs so much so that it has become quite overused.  In case you’re new to the field, writing this might put you out of the running for it can suggests a lack of originality.  When too many applicants write the same matter, it fails to have any relevance for recruiters.  It is better to stick to the facts and include only measurable aspects of your work.

5.   Past Experience

It is crucial that you write a list of projects and your specific role in them as a part of your achievements at a previous workplace; it is the best way to inform an employer of your past experiences.

If you wish to impress recruiters while interviewing for jobs in Hong Kong then you must exclude this list from your CV.  Once you have adhered to these aspects and crafted a resume, you shall be able to forge ahead and secure a job for an aspiring career in the finance sector.