Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords and structure. They rank resumes and filter many applications automatically. For a Trading Assistant, missing keywords can stop your resume before a human reads it.

You should use standard section titles like "Work Experience", "Education", and "Skills". Use simple fonts like Arial or Calibri. Save as a .docx or a clean PDF and avoid heavy design.

Include relevant Trading Assistant keywords naturally. Examples include:

• trade capture
• trade reconciliation
• settlements
• FIX protocol
• Bloomberg
• Reuters
• Excel
• VBA
• OMS (Order Management System)
• SWIFT
• equities
• derivatives
• compliance

Avoid tables, columns, headers, footers, text boxes, images, and graphs. ATS often misread those elements and drop content. Keep layout linear and simple.

Match keywords from the job description, but keep language natural. Put certifications and tools in the Skills section, and mention them again in job bullets. Use short, clear bullet points that show your actions and results.

Common mistakes include swapping exact keywords for creative synonyms. ATS looks for exact terms like "trade reconciliation" not "trade checking." People also bury key facts in headers or graphics. Finally, leaving out tools like Bloomberg or OMS hurts you for Trading Assistant roles.

You work as a Trading Assistant and you need a resume that reads fast and parses well. Pick a clean, professional template with clear headings and simple lines.

Use reverse-chronological layout unless you have long gaps or a career pivot. Hiring managers for trading roles scan for recent market, trade support, or risk experience first.

Keep it to one page if you have under 10 years of relevant experience. Use two pages only when you have long, directly relevant trading or operations roles to show.

Choose ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia. Set body text at 10-12pt and headers at 14-16pt to keep hierarchy clear.

Keep margins wide and add white space between sections. Short bullet points help you show trade entries, reconciliations, and platform experience without clutter.

Avoid heavy graphics, multiple columns, and nonstandard fonts. These elements often break ATS parsing and slow human readers.

Use standard headings like Contact, Summary, Experience, Skills, Education, and Certifications. Put quantifiable outcomes first, for example, reduced reconciliation errors by 20 percent.

Watch these common mistakes: packed text blocks, inconsistent dates, and mixing fonts. Also avoid long paragraphs and vague task lists without results.

Proof the file in PDF and plain text and check ATS parse if you can. Make sure your resume shows accuracy, speed, and attention to detail—the traits traders value.

Writing a tailored cover letter matters for a Trading Assistant role because it shows real interest and explains how you support traders. A well-written letter complements your resume and makes your application personal.

Header: Include your contact details, the date, and the company's contact or hiring manager if you know it. Keep this short and clear.

Opening paragraph: Start strong. Name the Trading Assistant role you want. Say why the firm appeals to you. Mention one clear qualification that makes you a fit.

Body paragraphs:

• Connect your experience to the job needs. Describe trade support, reconciliation, or reporting work you handled.
• Mention technical skills like Excel, VBA, Bloomberg, or Python where relevant. Give one short example of how you used a skill to solve a problem.
• Show soft skills such as attention to detail, teamwork, and quick learning. Tie them to day-to-day trading support tasks.

Use numbers when you can. Say how many trades you helped process, how much time you saved, or how you reduced errors. That gives hiring managers a clear picture.

Closing paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the Trading Assistant role and the specific firm. State that you can contribute to trade accuracy and team efficiency. Ask for a meeting or interview and thank the reader for their time.

Tone and tailoring matter. Keep your voice professional, confident, and friendly. Customize each letter to the firm and the job posting. Use keywords from the job description, but avoid copying whole sentences.

Write conversationally. Imagine you speak to one hiring manager. Use short sentences, plain language, and active voice. Edit ruthlessly to remove filler words and keep the letter tight.

Hiring managers expect clarity and precision from a Trading Assistant resume. Small errors can make you look careless, especially when you claim accuracy and attention to detail.

Focus on clean formatting, measurable results, and relevant skills like order entry, OMS usage, and risk checks. A tidy resume helps you get past screening and interviews.

If you want a Trading Assistant resume that gets read, focus on clear trade support experience, fast data skills, and tight attention to risk. These FAQs and tips help you show relevant tools, quantify impact, and format your information for trading desks and ops teams.