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The CV format banks expect.

The standard single-page banker CV used across DACH finance recruiting, as an editable template. Replace everything in brackets with your own stations and you're ready to apply.

Preview of the Internship Monitor CV template: single-page banker format with Education, Professional Experience, Extracurricular and Skills sections
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One page in Times New Roman, exactly as recruiters expect it.

This is deliberately not a creative template. It is the conservative format that M&A bankers, PE funds and Big-4 deal teams read every day, and that familiarity is what makes your content stand out instead of the layout. The DOCX is the editable master, and the PDF shows how the finished page should look.

Download DOCX template Download PDF reference

All names and employers in the template are placeholders (Max Mustermann, [University], [M&A Advisory / Investment Bank]). Replace every bracket with your own details.

Before you send it

10 rules for a DACH finance CV.

This is what recruiters at Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich desks actually expect before they invite you in.

01

Keep it to one page.

Bankers scan a CV in under a minute. If it does not fit on one page, cut the weakest line rather than shrinking the font.

02

List everything in reverse chronological order.

Put your most recent station first in every section. Recruiters look for your latest experience, so do not make them search for it.

03

Give your grades context.

German grades confuse international readers. Write "Grade: 1.7 (top 10% of cohort; ~3.7/4.0 GPA)" so that your cohort rank and GPA equivalent do the translating for you.

04

Treat Praktika as first-class experience.

Internships and working-student roles belong under Professional Experience with full bullets, not as one-liners. In DACH recruiting they are your track record.

05

Quantify every bullet.

Write each bullet as an action verb, a task and a measurable result, for example "Supported 3 sell-side processes (incl. €250m EV)". A number makes a claim checkable and memorable.

06

Get the photo right for the market.

Never include a photo for London or US applications. In DACH a professional photo is still common but optional, and if you use one it should be a proper business headshot.

07

Use LinkedIn, not Xing.

Put one LinkedIn URL in the header and keep the profile up to date. Xing is irrelevant in finance recruiting.

08

Send a properly named PDF.

Always send a PDF rather than a DOCX, and name the file Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf. Recruiters save dozens of files a day.

09

Use an English CV for IB and PE.

Even at Frankfurt desks the working language is English. Apply with an English CV for IB and PE roles unless the posting explicitly asks for German.

10

Have a native speaker proof-read it.

A single typo can end an application. Have a native or near-native English speaker read the final version after every edit.