How do I fix my CV when I feel like I have nothing impressive to put on it?

Having helped in revamping 300+ CVs throughout my life - I believe I can comment on this. The CVs I have revamped range from zero to 18 years experience - across countries - across tiers of experience - and across personalities.

Unfortunately, there is no secret sauce to writing a good CV (except perhaps Google's XYZ formula). Every single CV has to be dealt with separately, and individually.

You are not alone with this feeling of inadequacy in writing your own CV - it plagues so many candidates. Most of them don't even feel it. They write a CV that they 'feel' works. Then they get it 'reviewed' by someone who also 'feels' it works. And life goes on.

The biggest challenge is translating your actual work into CV-worthy points. Often, candidates are so deep into the nitty-gritties of their work, that they forget how their small actions are having broader and bigger impacts to their organisations. Candidates often miss the point that CV is less of a "task-account" and more of a skill & impact showcase.

And ultimately, the final challenge is believing in yourself. If you believe your experience at the small local business is any lesser than someone's finance internship - then you have lost the battle before it begins. Sure, the differences in brand values will impact the stickiness of recruiter eyeballs. And if you feel that your work itself was also not worthy, then its probably best to run it by a coach to see if that is indeed true.

That said, you say "second year of uni" - means no full time experience yet as I understand. So you can't really expect your CV to be full of stellar-class experience. You have to build it over the next 10 years. Sure, you started small - but you can't make it big overnight - your work and efforts over the coming years will build it.

I apologise I cannot give more personalised comments on your CV's standing - but perhaps you can share it over messages and we can discuss what we can make out of it.

Hi there,

Totally understand how you’re feeling—this kind of stress is more common than people admit, especially in competitive fields like finance where it can seem like everyone else is ahead. The truth is, many successful people in IB or finance started without perfect resumes, and what set them apart wasn’t early internships or flashy titles—it was how they told their story and what they did about the gaps.

You say your summer job wasn’t impressive, but here’s the thing: impact doesn’t have to be glamorous. You worked at a real business. You probably dealt with real problems. Maybe you cleaned up messy spreadsheets or made someone’s job easier. That’s valuable—and it’s your job now to frame it in a way that highlights your initiative, reliability, and any problem-solving you did. That’s what recruiters are actually looking for: someone who shows they get things done, even in small roles.

It also sounds like you're motivated and self-aware, which already puts you in a good position. You're in your second year, which means you still have time to course-correct. You can take on a few targeted activities—join a student society (even in a basic role), start a finance course online, analyze a company on your own and turn it into a mini-project you can talk about. You don’t need to wait for someone to give you a title to start building experience. A lot of great candidates create their own momentum.

If you’re up for it, I can help you rework your current CV to bring out the strengths in what you’ve done and map out a few simple steps over the next 3–6 months that’ll make your resume feel a lot stronger. You’re not starting from nothing—you just need to learn how to shape what you have.

Best,
Harrshit M Kansal, CFA, MBA

Hey,
you’re not the only one feeling this way. Honestly I think everybody feels like this at some point in their career. Either when they just start of right after school or when they switch jobs or careers. 

What matters is how you present what you do have. Even working at a small business can show ownership, reliability, and problem-solving. Focus on what you improved or learned, not just what your title was.

Also, think about quick wins going forward: join a student club, take part in a case comp, or start learning financial modeling. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just show that you’re proactive and developing.

A clear, honest CV with energy and structure can stand out more than one that tries too hard.

You’re on the right track!

Good luck. 

Rita

Totally get how you’re feeling — a lot of people start in the same place. The good news is, you probably have more to show than you think. It’s all about how you present it. Even work at a small business can highlight things like taking initiative, problem-solving, or supporting decisions with data.

To boost your CV: Rework your existing experience to show impact, not just tasks. Add things like free finance courses, virtual internships, or small projects you've done on your own. Start getting involved now in societies or competitions — it’s definitely not too late.

What matters most is showing you’re proactive, willing to learn, and serious about the industry. Everyone starts somewhere — and you’re already on the right track by thinking ahead.