About this template
The Tier One Bank template is a professional CV at Goldman/Morgan grade: deep navy banner, copper hairline, Source Serif identity. The typography itself signals that you already work in the room you are applying to. The format is calibrated for the recruitment processes of Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Bank of America Securities, Lazard, Rothschild & Co and the elite M&A boutiques (Centerview Partners, Evercore, Perella Weinberg Partners, PJT Partners, Moelis & Company).
Who is it for?
It suits Analysts, Associates, VPs and MDs in M&A, ECM/DCM, Leveraged Finance and Restructuring across bulge-bracket investment banks and top-tier boutiques. It also fits senior bankers transitioning to PE buy-side (KKR Capstone, Blackstone Investment Banking transitions, Apollo) or to Corporate Development at strategic acquirers (Microsoft M&A, Apple Corporate Development, Walt Disney M&A). Inappropriate for Operations, Risk middle-office or Sales & Trading profiles (these functions follow their own CV conventions).
How to use it
Four blocks structure the document — Transactions signed (lead-managed and co-managed, with exact role in the deal team), Sector coverage (industries followed in MD coverage), Education (Ivy League, top-10 MBA, CFA Charterholder), Certifications. For each deal, give the triplet client / deal type / size (for example « Sell-side advisory to ExxonMobil on the divestiture of its UK upstream assets — $5.2bn EV »). Long-tail: « M&A banker CV Goldman », « Morgan Stanley Analyst CV », « Lazard VP resume », « Rothschild M&A banker CV », « banking to private equity transition CV ».
Frequently asked questions
Should I disclose confidential deal codenames (Project Falcon, Project Atlas)?
No — internal deal codes remain confidential even after public closing. Cite the client (if public and the transaction was announced) and the deal type with size. For confidential or aborted deals, stick to a generic envelope (« Buy-side advisory to a European industrial group on a $2-3bn cross-border acquisition »). Publicly announced deals can be cited by name with a Mergermarket or Bloomberg source.
How do I position an Analyst → Associate → VP track record?
List the linear sequence with dated internal promotions (« promoted to Associate, July 2023 »). For inter-bank moves (for instance Goldman Sachs Analyst → Lazard Associate), state the year and the reason (lateral move, off-cycle, conversion from summer associate to permanent). Bulge-bracket recruiters read these transitions very carefully; any approximation is immediately checkable on LinkedIn or industry directories.
Does the template work for a banking-to-private-equity move?
Yes, particularly for M&A VPs and MDs joining KKR, Blackstone, Apollo, Carlyle, TPG, Bain Capital or Thoma Bravo. The tier-one sobriety works equally well on the bank and the fund side. For this transition, reinforce the Deals section with 4-6 sell-side or buy-side transactions that demonstrate industrial reading (not just financial mechanics): that is what funds look for in an ex-banker.
