Sales & Trading Analyst CV example

Student or graduate · UK CV · set in the Compact template

Markets desks hire for numerical speed, a real interest in markets and the ability to communicate under pressure. The CV has to show all three quickly, and the interests section is read more closely here than anywhere else in finance.

James Whitfield

BSc Mathematics and Economics, Durham

London, UK · +44 7700 900321 · james.whitfield@example.com · linkedin.com/in/james-whitfield

Education

Durham University: BSc Mathematics and Economics (Expected 2:1)Oct 2023 - Jun 2026

Modules: Probability, Stochastic Processes, Financial Economics. 72% second-year average.

Royal Grammar School, Guildford: A-Levels: Mathematics (A*), Further Mathematics (A*), Economics (A)2021 - 2023

Experience

Bramwell Markets: Summer Analyst, Rates TradingLondon, UK · Jun 2025 - Aug 2025

Built a pre-market briefing on G10 rates for the desk each morning, read by 8 traders for 6 weeks
Wrote a Python tool to reconcile 300 daily swap trades against the booking system, cutting the check from 40 minutes to 5
Pitched a curve steepener idea to the head of desk on the final day, sizing it with a simple DV01 calculation

Durham University Investment Society: Head of MarketsDurham, UK · Oct 2024 - Present

Ran a weekly markets briefing for 180 members and organised a trading game with 64 entrants

Skills

Technical: Python (pandas, NumPy), Excel (VBA), Bloomberg

Languages: English (native), Spanish (B1)

Interests

Personal portfolio since 2023 with a written thesis per trade, returning 11% against 7% for the FTSE All-Share; first team rugby; poker.

A sample person: the name, employers and figures are invented. A maths and economics finalist with a trading internship and a markets society role, applying for a graduate markets programme.

The order, and why

Education first with mathematics results visible; experience; then interests given a full line, because desks read them.

Weak bullets, made strong

Weak: Followed the markets closely

Strong: Ran a £2,000 personal portfolio since 2023 with a written thesis per trade, returning 11% against 7% for the FTSE All-Share

Interest proven by a record you can be asked about.

Weak: Shadowed traders on the desk

Strong: Built a pre-market briefing on G10 rates for the desk each morning, read by 8 traders for 6 weeks

You contributed, and someone used it.

Mistakes to avoid

An interests line of "reading and travel". Desks ask about it.
No numbers in a CV for a numbers job.
Not saying whether you want sales, trading or structuring. Desks read for fit.

UK CV or US resume

UK: one page, A-levels and degree grades. US: one page, GPA, and SAT or similar scores are still read by some desks for graduates.

Live sales & trading roles

Open now on the tracker, with their deadlines.

Every sales & trading role on the tracker