What Morgan Stanley Looks For
Morgan Stanley uses Workday to pre-screen every application before a human reviewer sees it. Your CV must contain the right keywords and formatting to clear this first filter.
Target Sectors
- Investment Banking
- Wealth Management
- Investment Management
- Sales & Trading
ATS Pre-Screen
Your CV is auto-scanned before any human sees it. Missing key terms or using non-standard formatting gets your application filtered before a recruiter reviews it.
8 firm-specific CV tips below
WorkdayATS & Application Process at Morgan Stanley
Understanding how Morgan Stanley screens applications is the first step to getting your CV in front of a human reviewer.
ATS Platform in Use
Workday
Morgan Stanley uses Workday as its primary ATS across all three business segments: Institutional Securities Group (ISG), Wealth Management, and Investment Management. The system performs automated keyword scanning and formatting validation before routing CVs to division-specific recruiting teams. MS places strong emphasis on demonstrated deal execution experience for ISG roles and AUM management for Wealth Management roles. In 2025 Morgan Stanley completed its acquisition of EquityZen, expanding its private markets capabilities. Avoid multi-column layouts, embedded images, and non-standard bullet characters — these cause Workday parsing failures that disqualify otherwise strong CVs.
Key Divisions at Morgan Stanley
Each division has distinct ATS keyword requirements and CV expectations. Tailor your application to the specific division you are targeting.
Institutional Securities Group (ISG)
Morgan Stanley's largest institutional segment covering investment banking (M&A advisory, ECM, DCM, restructuring), equities sales and trading, fixed income and macro, prime brokerage, and equity research. Generated approximately 42% of MS revenue in 2023 and is the primary destination for IB and S&T candidates.
Wealth Management
The world's largest wealth management business and MS's highest-revenue segment (~48% of revenue in 2023), serving over 18 million client relationships. Services span financial planning, brokerage, banking, and advisory for HNW and UHNW individuals through a network of financial advisors and the E*TRADE platform.
Investment Management
Provides asset management across equities, fixed income, alternatives, real estate, and infrastructure. Products span active, passive, and multi-asset strategies for institutional clients, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and retail investors. Includes Eaton Vance and Calvert Research acquired in 2021.
CV Tips for Morgan Stanley Applications
Apply these Morgan Stanley-specific tips before submitting your application. Each one directly addresses what their ATS and recruiters look for.
For ISG applications, quantify every M&A transaction with deal value, industry sector, and your specific role (modelling, pitching, due diligence work stream).
Include Morgan Stanley-relevant keywords: pitch book, CIM, fairness opinion, merger model, accretion/dilution analysis, capital markets, underwriting, prime brokerage.
Wealth Management candidates should prominently display AUM, client count, and credentials (CFP, CFA, CIMA, Series 7/66) — these are Workday-scanned fields.
MS Investment Management values CFA status prominently — list your CFA level near your name or in the Education section header.
Use standard fonts only: Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri at 10–11pt. Workday ATS struggles with custom or decorative fonts.
Keep the format strictly one page for analyst to VP level. Senior MS partners reviewing CVs for lateral hiring expect one page.
For Equity Research roles, list your coverage universe (specific companies and sectors covered) and any notable investment calls with outcomes.
Sales & Trading applications should include asset class specialisation and Bloomberg certification or platform proficiency.
Related CV Guides
Sector-specific guides with ATS keywords, formatting requirements, and tips tailored to Morgan Stanley's key business areas.
Morgan Stanley Resume FAQ
What ATS does Morgan Stanley use?
Morgan Stanley uses Workday across all three segments. The system auto-scans CVs for formatting compatibility and relevant finance keywords before a recruiter reviews the application. Multi-column layouts and embedded graphics are the most common causes of failed parsing.
What does Morgan Stanley ISG look for in a CV?
Morgan Stanley Institutional Securities Group looks for quantified transaction experience (M&A, ECM, DCM), modeling skills (comps, DCF, merger models), and strong academic credentials. Every deal bullet should cite the transaction size in $M/$B and your specific contribution.
Are Morgan Stanley's three segments still intact in 2025-2026?
Yes — Morgan Stanley's three-segment structure (ISG, Wealth Management, Investment Management) remains intact as of 2025-2026. The firm completed the acquisition of EquityZen in October 2025, expanding private market access within Wealth Management, but no major divisional restructuring has occurred.
What credentials does Morgan Stanley Wealth Management require?
MS Wealth Management typically requires Series 7 and Series 66 licenses for client-facing roles, and values CFP, CFA, or CIMA credentials. Your AUM and client profile (HNW, UHNW) should be prominently quantified in your CV.