I'm in the process of preparing my first CV/resume targeted at quant roles (in fact my first targeted at a real job of any kind). I'm a bit uncertain how I should present (if at all) a gap year of solid world travel immediately after completing my PhD. My current and previous jobs and education are not finance related so I've chosen a CV format that will more directly highlight the skills I can bring to the quantitative finance world, as opposed to just presenting a strictly chronological CV. However I'm now faced with the issue of how to present the gap year (which might have had a natural place in the strictly chronological CV format).Is it ok to just sweep the gap year under the table as being unrelated (even though a gap year can be a valuable learning and maturing experience)? Or will recruitment people spot the absence of 2004 in the CV and react negatively?Alternatively, how will recruiters view a gap year if its presented on the CV as simply "2004: world travel"?Any suggestions and/or comments appreciated

Well yr CV is skill-based, so if you think you got particular skills there, mention them. If not, just have a good verbal answer for when anybody asks you. Nothing wrong with a gap year - for too many graduates 'reality'='academe', and actually having experience of interacting with very non-academic people counts in your favor in my book.

Well yr CV is skill-based, so if you think you got particular skills there, mention them. If not, just have a good verbal answer for when anybody asks you. Nothing wrong with a gap year - for too many graduates 'reality'='academe', and actually having experience of interacting with very non-academic people counts in your favor in my book.

As Zmei says, a bit of "real life" doesn't hurt. A line, maybe two tops.I would counsel against going over the tops. Some people have got the idea that every part of your life should be spun as part of your growth as a human being.ie"I travelled the world, learning from their culture and enriching my experience of the diverstiy of the human race. I successfully managed my time to catch not only planes, but also trains, and upon one occasion I travelled on a bus, even though I could notspeak the language of the driver. I now understand global economic trends as explained to me in bars across the world, and have developed leadership skills when I met some Vietnamese backpackers who needed directions to the local YMCA.

Thanks guys - At a loss for anywhere suitable to put it I've mentioned it in my 'hobbies and other interests' section where I already had 'travel'On a different note ZmeiGorynych, I was just checking out your web page and noticed "Books on Quantitative Finance Worked Through" on your 'relevant skills' page. Did you also have that on your CV when you were applying for jobs? Is that a common thing to have on ones CV? Seems like a good way to indicate active investigation of the subject area, specially if you're trying to break into a new field as I am.

As we say in the guide, a CV is like the way you pick a fight in a bar.If you say "I have read every last bloody page of Paul Wilmotts Big Book of Banking", then this is the equivalent of sticking your chin out, putting a finger on it, and saying"well if you're hard, enough, right here, right now".It is a good thing to pick this sort of fight if you're sure you're going to win.There are fewer "classic" books on finance than finance courses and a manager is vastly more likely to have read/access to the book than to know if you did quadrature on your numerics module.Better to know one or two than a skim of 5.

QuoteOriginally posted by: DCFCIf you say "I have read every last bloody page of Paul Wilmotts Big Book of Banking", then this is the equivalent of sticking your chin out, putting a finger on it, and saying"well if you're hard, enough, right here, right now"so we get to punch everyone who's read Wilmott ?

QuoteOriginally posted by: ppauperQuoteOriginally posted by: DCFCIf you say "I have read every last bloody page of Paul Wilmotts Big Book of Banking", then this is the equivalent of sticking your chin out, putting a finger on it, and saying"well if you're hard, enough, right here, right now"so we get to punch everyone who's read Wilmott ?Good thing I never bothered to read it then

Anyway, as to the original question, there's a suggestion from a headhunter here

QuoteOriginally posted by: drakeI'm in the process of preparing my first CV/resume targeted at quant roles (in fact my first targeted at a real job of any kind). I'm a bit uncertain how I should present (if at all) a gap year of solid world travel immediately after completing my PhD. My current and previous jobs and education are not finance related so I've chosen a CV format that will more directly highlight the skills I can bring to the quantitative finance world, as opposed to just presenting a strictly chronological CV. However I'm now faced with the issue of how to present the gap year (which might have had a natural place in the strictly chronological CV format).Is it ok to just sweep the gap year under the table as being unrelated (even though a gap year can be a valuable learning and maturing experience)? Or will recruitment people spot the absence of 2004 in the CV and react negatively?Alternatively, how will recruiters view a gap year if its presented on the CV as simply "2004: world travel"?Any suggestions and/or comments appreciatedWell, do you have a genuine reason for that gap of 1 year, then don't worry too much. Also, its pointless to mention that on the resume. Resume should highlight your skills first and then the employment history / academic history.Mostly, the recruiters will ask you the question themselves but yes be honest about the dates. If you have the right skill and you are honest, I have seen people appreciate that.