You need to enable JavaScript in order to use the AI chatbot tool powered by ChatBot

Elevate your personal brand for career success this Year

Alastair Paterson our consultant managing the role
snippet image

The start of a new year is a perfect opportunity to refresh your professional profile to attract potential employers. Whether you’re actively job hunting, or looking to position yourself for future opportunities, one way to really stand out from the crowd is to volunteer your expertise to organisations who greatly need your support. Volunteering also provides valuable skills and experience which will serve you well in your professional career – so it really is a two way street!

 Volunteering has many benefits:

snippet image
At Marks Sattin, we understand the importance of a enhancing your personal brand and are dedicated to helping professionals refine their profiles and combine career expertise with meaningful extracurricular contributions to unlock new and exciting career prospects. We have a longstanding relationship with Charterpath which has YTD resulted in:
  • 800+ people attending a Marks Sattin & Charterpath event, and we raised £1,500 for Charterpath at a raffle during one of our events!
  •  Referring 200+ finance professionals to join Charterpath’s volunteering community
  •  100+ finance professionals on Marks Sattin’s database who have applied for volunteering roles, creating £300k+ value for the non-profit sector!

Here’s our key takeaways to make sure your professional profile stands out

Quantify your achievements

Here’s our key takeaways to make sure your professional profile stands out. Employers value measurable results because they demonstrate the real world impact of your work. Be as specific as possible about your accomplishments. 

Replace vague statements like "Improved team effectiveness" with specifics such as "Implemented a new workflow system that increased team productivity by 20%."

If you have ever undertaken a volunteering role, use metrics to highlight your contributions, such as revenue growth, cost savings, or project completion rates. 
Examples could be: “Managed a non-profit budget of £50,000, reducing costs by 15%”, or “Organised fundraising events that generated £20,000 for community initiatives."


LinkedIn allows you to showcase achievements further by attaching presentations, certificates, or portfolio items directly to job positions, providing recruiters with tangible proof of your skills.


Highlight extracurricular activities

Hobbies and volunteering achievements will enrichen your CV and express your personality to a potential employer. Volunteering also allows you to diversify your network and demonstrate your commitment to causes, which can resonate strongly with interviewers. Choose opportunities that align with your career goals. If you’re interested in working in finance, volunteering at a non-profit’s finance team with Charterpath volunteering at a non-profit’s finance team with Charterpath could be a great experience.

Volunteering your professional skills is more than just a selfless act—it’s an investment in your career. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone in the midst of a career transition, volunteering offers invaluable opportunities for skill development, networking, and CV building."

Alice clementi | charterpath

Here are a few steps that will help you write a compelling CV:

Focus on keywords

Recruiters and applicant tracking systems increasingly rely on keywords to shortlist candidates. Your CV and LinkedIn profile should integrate industry specific terms and skills to ensure you rank high in searches.

  • Go through job descriptions in your chosen field to identify frequently used terms.
  • Tailor to the job - highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. Include keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing applicant tracking systems (ATS).
  • On LinkedIn, add these keywords to your headline, summary, and skills section to enhance your visibility in recruiter searches.

One of the most common mistakes professionals make is focusing entirely on past roles and achievements without gearing their CV or LinkedIn towards future opportunities. Before you begin, define your career goals for the year ahead. Evaluate whether the roles and skills you highlight align with your aspirations.

Optimise sections for readability

Both CVs and LinkedIn profiles need to be scannable and easy to read. Hiring managers often spend less than 30 seconds reviewing each candidate, so your information must be well-structured.


  • Stick to reverse chronological order for job experiences, focusing on your most recent and relevant roles. 
  •  Use bullet points to summarise your responsibilities and accomplishments. 
  •  Introduce clear section headings (e.g. Professional Experience, Certifications, Skills) to guide the reader through your CV.

On LinkedIn, leverage the platform’s 2,600-character summary section to tell your professional story with clarity and impact.

Refresh and refine your profile picture & branding

Your LinkedIn profile picture acts as a digital first impression, so ensure it’s clear, professional, and up to date.


  • Use a high-quality headshot in which you’re dressed appropriately for your target industry. 
  •  Smile and aim for a friendly demeanour to convey approachability.

Equally, consider adding a customised LinkedIn banner that represents your professional branding. A simple background featuring your industry tools or a tagline can set your profile apart positively.

Stay active throughout the year

Finally, remember regular updates to your CV and LinkedIn profile keep them fresh and ensure they remain aligned with your career progression.


  • Add new projects, certifications, or roles as you complete them.
  • Celebrate milestones, contributions, or skills acquired by sharing relevant updates with your LinkedIn network.
  •  Stay active on LinkedIn - engaging with posts, commenting on industry discussions, or even writing original content, keeps your professional presence visible and top of mind.
  • The new year is a time for setting goals and aligning your professional assets with your ambitions. Crafting a compelling CV and LinkedIn profile is one of the most crucial steps in paving your way to success.

Start your job search with Marks Sattin

My advice would be to create a list of bulleted responsibilities for each role, highlighting your remit and duties. Then a list of achievements underneath, showcasing results against set targets. Remember, a CV should be about YOU and your impact. If you have achieved milestones or added value through extracurricular activities such as hobbies, sports or volunteering your skills, be sure to highlight this too! 

One of the biggest mistakes people make is include unnecessary information. Keep it concise. Use data, percentages and values to create impact. It's always worth looking at including the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when creating a CV, to give the reader context and insight into your experience.”

Alastair paterson | Commercial director

At Marks Sattin, we specialise in placing professionals in finance, technology, transformation and legal roles.

Whether you're seeking your next challenge or looking for market intel, our team of experts are here to help you navigate the job market with confidence. This year, take charge of your professional journey not just by refining your CV and LinkedIn profile, but also by engaging in meaningful volunteering opportunities with Charterpath.


snippet image
25/02/25
jobs

Related jobs

Senior Prudential Risk Analyst

Salary:

£85,000 - £90,000 per annum + + bonus + benefits

Location:

City of London, London

Industry

Investment Banking & Capital Markets

Qualification

None specified

Market

Financial Services

Salary

£80,000 - £100,000

Job Discipline

Qualified Finance

Contract Type:

Permanent

Description

An International Banking Group is looking to add an experienced Prudential Regulatory professional to their team.

Reference

BBBH183985

Expiry Date

01/01/01

Florin Hodinitu Find out more
Finance Business Partner

Salary:

£55,000 - £60,000 per annum + + bonus + benefits

Location:

Fleet, Hampshire

Industry

Investment Banking & Capital Markets

Qualification

Fully qualified

Market

Financial Services

Salary

£60,000 - £70,000

Job Discipline

Qualified Finance

Contract Type:

Permanent

Description

A financial services institution is seeking a Finance Business Partner to join the team.

Reference

BBBH183984

Expiry Date

01/01/01

Florin Hodinitu Find out more
Finance Assistant

Salary:

£30,000 - £35,000 per annum

Location:

London

Industry

Business Services

Qualification

None specified

Market

Professional Services

Salary

£35,000 - £40,000

Job Discipline

Part Qualified & Transactional Finance

Contract Type:

Permanent

Description

A world-renowned consultancy - assisting companies in their future - is seeking a Finance Assistant.

Reference

KD6060

Expiry Date

01/01/01

Kimberley Donovan Find out more
Financial Controller

Salary:

£63,000 - £70,000 per annum + Additional Benefits Package

Location:

Chester, Cheshire

Industry

Real Estate

Qualification

Fully qualified

Market

Commerce & Industry

Salary

£70,000 - £80,000

Job Discipline

Qualified Finance

Contract Type:

Permanent

Description

I am currently recruiting for a leisure organisation in their search for a Financial Controller to work out of their Chester site paying £70,000

Reference

BBBH183302

Expiry Date

01/01/01

Nathan  Jones

Author

Nathan Jones
Find out more
Deputy Finance Director

Salary:

£83,000 - £94,000 per annum + Car Allowance + Benefits

Location:

Wilmslow, Cheshire

Industry

Technology

Qualification

Fully qualified

Market

Commerce & Industry

Salary

£80,000 - £100,000

Job Discipline

Qualified Finance

Contract Type:

Permanent

Description

Deputy Finance Director role for an exciting international technology organisation based out of Wilmslow paying up to £94,000 + car allowance.

Reference

BBBH183253

Expiry Date

01/01/01

Nathan  Jones

Author

Nathan Jones
Find out more
Finance Business Partner

Salary:

£63,000 - £70,000 per annum

Location:

Manchester, Greater Manchester

Industry

Professional Services

Qualification

Fully qualified

Market

Professional Services

Salary

£70,000 - £80,000

Job Discipline

Qualified Finance

Contract Type:

Permanent

Description

Exciting Finance Business Partner role working out of Manchester city centre for a professional services organisation paying up to £70,000.

Reference

BBBH183879

Expiry Date

01/01/01

Nathan  Jones

Author

Nathan Jones
Find out more
Financial Risk Analyst

Salary:

£40,000 - £45,000 per annum

Location:

City of London, London

Industry

Investment Banking & Capital Markets

Qualification

Part qualified

Market

Financial Services

Salary

£40,000 - £50,000

Job Discipline

Part Qualified & Transactional Finance

Contract Type:

Permanent

Description

The chance to join a subsidiary of a global Investment Bank as a Financial & Risk Analyst reporting directly to the CFO.

Reference

BBBH183983

Expiry Date

01/01/01

Thomas  Steel

Author

Thomas Steel
Find out more
Treasury Analyst

Salary:

£35,000 - £55,000 per annum + Bonus

Location:

South Yorkshire

Industry

Energy, Resources and Industrial

Qualification

None specified

Market

Commerce & Industry

Salary

£50,000 - £60,000

Job Discipline

Treasury

Contract Type:

Permanent

Description

Treasury Analyst - South Yorkshire - Up to £55,000 Interviews ASAP!

Reference

BBBH183972

Expiry Date

01/01/01

Ben  Shapiro

Author

Ben Shapiro
Ben  Shapiro

Author

Ben Shapiro
Find out more
View all jobs