As Indians, we pride ourselves on being hardworking and excelling at things. Examples of such things are found globally, where many Indians have top job positions and high success rates. You see, our countrymen (and women, because we are proud feminists) are very good at doing the various jobs in the market, but we aren’t so good at getting into them. A major factor behind this is our ‘poorly constructed’ resumes (One of our successful NRI friends, Bimal Mirchandani, shared the process of searching for a job in the US in his interview series, and he revealed the same issue as well!).
Now that you are in the US (or will soon be there), we know you are looking for a job. So we’ll let you in on a secret – one of the biggest hurdles you will face while looking for a job in the US would be screening and accepting your resumes. This is because a resume is the first and the most important step for job hunting, and a lot of us Indians lose out on many good opportunities because of our generic (and lax) approach to making one.
Because we are so benevolent and want you to succeed in all your endeavors, we are here with some resume tips to help you solve this problem. These guidelines would definitely help you get your dream ‘Emily In Paris’ job! So get your resume copy out (we know you have one right now on your Canva) and see if it has all the points we will expand on in the blog.
Why Is It Important To Have A Good Resume?
When we say ‘good resume,’ we aren’t exactly talking about the various accomplishments and degrees that you will list on the resume. We are talking about the way your resume looks. (Okay, this might be getting too confusing for you, so allow us to explain and simplify this.)
You can get an educational degree from the best educational institutes, and you might have also interned at one of the premier organizations in the country. But this would mean nothing if your resume doesn’t clearly convey all this. So, it is important for your resume to stand out! (This is also why you should follow our resume tips!)
- Increases your chances of getting a (good) job – As cliche as it might sound, a ‘good resume,’ i.e., one that differentiates you from the crowd and defines why you, as a person, are a perfect fit for the organization you want to work in. So essentially, it makes it easier to get selected for the job you want.
- Helps in Networking – In the real world, you may not always get what you want. However, if you have a good resume, the recruiter might suggest you as a potential candidate for another job(s). This will help you network professionally, which is the equivalent of having a ‘Brahmastra’ nowadays.
- Showcasing your skills and accomplishments – As we already said, you can have the best skills, internships, and educational qualifications, but if they aren’t highlighted on your resume, they are useless. This is exactly why a good resume is a necessity. It helps highlight all these ‘superior traits,’ helping you come across as the best choice for your desired job!
- Personal Branding – Continuing the above point, a good resume can greatly help with ‘personal branding.’ This is exactly what it sounds like. ‘Personal Branding’ means ‘making a brand out of yourself’ or ‘presenting yourself as a brand,’ as the case may be.
Something to note is that ‘personal branding’ is a vast process. There are many aspects and components of it. However, having a ‘good resume’ is the best way to take the first step towards ‘making yourself a brand.’ And the added benefit is that this will also help you get the best jobs and interviews out there.
A ‘Resume’ and a ‘CV’ are two very different things!
While you may have often used the terms ‘resume’ and ‘CV’ interchangeably, they aren’t exactly the same thing. The difference between the two is a bit technical.
We’ll begin discussing the differences between a CV and a resume by sharing a fun fact. The word ‘resume’ originates in the French language, where it means ‘summary.’ Meanwhile, ‘CV’ or ‘Curriculum Vitae’ is Latin for ‘course of life.’
So, a resume is essentially a basic snapshot of you and the skills and qualities that make you suitable as an employee. A CV, on the other hand, is a detailed list of your academics, your professional qualifications, and other details. It gives an overall picture of you in every sphere of your life and tends to be at least 2-3 pages long!
Resume Tips to Help You Stand Out
Now, let’s get to the meat of the blog. You came here to know how to make your resume better, so we are here to deliver! Here are the most important resume tips, especially for college students. However, anyone can use these tips to land a good job, as they are guidelines for what your resume should look like and include.
The Right Resume Format
As with everything else in English (or any other language, for that matter), a resume also needs to have a proper format. While you can make your resume in any way you like, only the right and most professional-looking format will get you noticed by a recruiter or employer.
The correct format/formatting means what information is included and how. A very general way to go about this is as follows –
a) Keep it short and simple but eye-catching – As much as we wish this was just wordplay, it isn’t. The best way to ensure that your resume looks professional and well-made is to keep it simple and neat, i.e., clutter-free.
When we say keep it ‘short and simple,’ we don’t mean that you should include headings such as ‘Studied till’ or ‘Degrees Accomplished.’ Instead, you can write things like ‘Educational Qualifications’ or ‘Educational Background’.
‘Keep the resume only 1 or 2 pages long. The best resumes fit in 1 page. However, if you have too many things to write, 2 pages is the maximum limit.’
b) Keep the correct margin spacing in your resume – Keep the margin spacing such that the document looks neat and professional. The best way to do this is to keep a margin space of 1 inch throughout your resume.
However, if you require more space to write or need to make any other adjustments to the margin space, you can adjust it to anywhere between 0.5 and 0.75 inches!
c) Correct Alignment – (Settle down, Dungeons and Dragons fans! The same goes for you GOT and Star Wars fans. This isn’t about your factions!) The recommended alignment for a resume is the ‘left alignment’ or the ‘left-justified alignment.’
d) Font matters – While you might have used all kinds of funky fonts on your assignments back in the day, you can’t do the same with your resume. As you are now entering the professional world, one of the biggest ‘resume tips’ is that you need to use certain professional-looking fonts if you want recruiters to actually notice you.
The recommended fonts that you can use are –
- Cambria
- Arial
- Times New Roman
- Helvetica
- Calibri
- Avenir Next
- Georgia
Font style and size – Font style and size also matter a lot when you want to make your resume look professional. Every font can be written in two styles: sans serif and sans.
‘It is generally recommended to use Sans Serif due to its readability.’
Regarding font size, a size between 10 and 12 is the general preference for a good and neat resume. So, while you could select a bigger size for the headings and a smaller one for the matter under the headings, a heading of size ‘14 or 16’ and the matter under the heading of size ‘11 or 12’ is generally recommended.
(We also gave samples of the recommended font sizes, so be sure to match them if you can!)
e) Listing order – Everything from your professional experiences to academic qualifications must be in reverse chronological order. This makes it easier for the recruiter to decipher your resume quickly, hence increasing your chances of getting selected!
‘List your most recent experience like ‘your most recent job’ or ‘your most recent academic degree first’ and then mention the ‘job/degree you had before the current one’ and so on.’
f) Bold Sections – When dividing information about you into different sections, make sure the section heading is bold. For example, if you are writing your educational qualifications, then the section heading ‘educational qualifications’ needs to be in a ‘Bold Letter.’
Geez, that was a looooooonnnnnnnggggg ‘tip.’ But we are not done yet. Let’s move to some less long but equally important resume-making tips and guidelines.
Have an ATS-friendly Resume!
With the fast-growing pace of technology, AI has become an ‘entity’ in every field. The same is true with job search. In fact, AI is even being used to screen and select resumes. It is called an ATS or Applicant Tracking System.
Damn right, it is time to update your resume! Nowadays, before an HR even sees your resume, it is screened by an AI program or tool. So, if the AI can’t ‘read’ your resume, it won’t even reach HR.
But how does an AI ‘read’ the resume? The answer is quite simple – just like you put in ‘keywords’ in Google, and then it gives the results based on those keywords, the AI also reads your resume and searches for keywords from the job description. If your resume has the required keywords, it is selected. Otherwise, it is rejected.
So, you NEED to make your resume ATS-friendly. And there are various ways to go about it. But the basic steps remain the same and are as follows –
- Reading the job description – This will help you better understand the key role and responsibilities of the role.
- Understand and note down the keywords – While reading the job description, look at the keywords used to describe it and note those down.
- Use the keywords in your resume – If the job description suits you, take those keywords and try to use them organically in your resume.
- Submit your resume as a Word document – While PDFs and other document formats sound fun. But if you submit a resume, it is better to submit it as a ‘Word document’ rather than a PDF or a ‘Google document.’ This is because a ‘Word document’ is easier for an ATS to read, which increases the chances of you getting selected for the job!
Insider Tip – You can always use AI tools like Chatgpt, Gemini, or even Grammarly’s generative text feature to make your resume ATS-friendly! They use AI to screen your resume, so you should use AI to make it. Beat them at their own game!!
An example of an ATS resume and the prompt you can use to generate it is –
Chatgpt prompt for the post of a business development manager –
Chatgpt response for the resume –
Give Information On How To Reach Out To You, But Keep It Professional.
Good news! You have been selected for the job!! But how can the recruiter or HR reach out to you and tell you this fantastic news? The answer is your contact information.
So you need to mention your contact details on your resume. The things you need to mention here are –
- Your first and last name
- Your address/location (include your city and state)
- Your current phone number (include both telephone number and phone number, if possible)
- Your email address
Adding anything apart from these would be messy and ruin the professional appeal of your resume.
Begin With A Professional Summary
The first thing you should write in your resume, after the contact information, is a professional summary about yourself. This summary, often referred to as a ‘resume summary,’ is a statement about you and your professional goals.
‘A professional summary is one of the places where you can fit in the ATS keywords you found in the job description.’
Make sure that this summary is short and precise. The general length of the resume summary is 3 to 4 sentences. But if you really need a long summary, the maximum limit is 5 sentences. Anything more than that is a sure way to get yourself rejected, as recruiters are busy and don’t have much time to go through the entire thing.
How about we give you another example of a good professional summary? Let’s take the same example of the job vacancy for the position of Business Development Manager in an organisation where the job description is as follows –
Job Title: Business Developer
Location: Remote
Company: XYZ
About Us:
At XYZ, we are dedicated to transforming ideas into impactful realities. Founded in 1953, we specialize in cutting-edge technology and strategic consulting services that empower businesses to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. Our diverse team of experts collaborates with clients to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and unlock new growth opportunities. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for problem-solving, we aim to make a positive difference in the industries we serve.
Job Description:
We seek an experienced Business Development Manager with at least 3 years of experience in business development and a proven ability to drive growth and build strong client relationships to join our dynamic team.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities to drive revenue growth.
- Build and maintain relationships with potential and existing clients.
- Conduct market research and analyze industry trends to inform strategies.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions.
- Prepare and deliver compelling presentations and proposals.
Qualifications:
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in business development or a related field.
- Strong proficiency in English, both written and verbal.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets.
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- A supportive and collaborative work environment.
How to Apply:
If you’re passionate about driving business success and meet the qualifications, we’d love to hear from you! Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to recruiter.HR@XYZ.com or apply through LinkedIn.
In the description, you can see the keywords used are –
- Business Development
- Experience
- Cutting-edge technology
- Strategic consulting
- Growth
- Client relationships
- Revenue growth
- Market research
- Industry trends
- Collaboration
- Innovative solutions
- Presentations
- Proficiency in English
- Communication skills
- Negotiation skills
- Independent work
- Teamwork
- Sales targets
- Professional growth
- Supportive environment
Resume Summary
Results-oriented Business Development Manager with 4 years of experience in driving growth and client relationships. Skilled in using cutting-edge technology and strategic consulting to identify market opportunities and improve efficiency. Proven track record of delivering innovative solutions that align with business objectives.
As you can see, we took the keywords from the job description and tried to incorporate them as organically as possible!
Summary/List of Educational Qualifications
While mentioning your school and college degrees, you must ensure they are in the correct order with the right details. It is recommended that you mention such things in reverse chronological order.
‘The reverse chronological order means that you should mention your most recent educational degree first, followed by the one before it, and so on.’
To give you an example, if you just completed your Master of Science degree in psychological research, then the format of writing in the resume would be –
Educational Qualifications
University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Masters of Science in Psychological Research
Graduated in 2024
Grade ‘A’
University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
Bachelors of Science, Psychology
Graduated in 2023
GPA 8.5
As you can see, the basic format of writing your educational qualifications is –
- Name of the Institute
- Name of the educational degree
- Year of graduating
- Grade/marks/GPA/percentage obtained
Another thing you need to remember is to mention the details in bullet points (like we did in the example). This makes things precise and easier to read.
Summary Of Your ‘Professional/Work Experience’
If you are a working professional looking for a new job or just want to improve your resume, you must also mention your current job. Again, this part needs to be in the reverse chronological order.
Let’s take an example again. Let’s say you work as a social media manager in XYZ company, so your work summary would look like this –
Work Experience
Social Media Manager
XYZ Company
January 2021-current | Washington, DC
- Making POAs and scheduling social media content for the organization’s social media pages.
- Coordinating and managing a team of content creators
- Developing five ad campaigns for the company, which led to a 66% increase in customer rates.
- Creating a collaboration of my company with ‘12’ influencers to promote the latest launch of a new product.
Social Media Content Creator
ABC Company
November 2018-December 2020 | San Francisco, California
- Coming up with content ideas for all the social media pages of the company
- Making social media content for the organization’s social media pages.
- In-charge of managing the organization’s Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook pages.
In the above example, you can see a clear format that is followed.
- Name of your current/latest job position
- Name of the organization in which you held that position
- Time duration of that job role/position
- Job Location
- Your roles and responsibilities in the job – use ‘action words’ for this.
Mention all these points in a clear bullet-point format to convey the message clearly.
Mention Relevant Certifications and Other courses as well
If you have any certifications or courses you attended and completed that you think would help in the job role you are applying for, be sure to mention those as well.
These can be mentioned in the same format as the educational qualifications. Be sure to write them as bullet points and in reverse chronological order.
Mention The Relevant Skills And Experiences
As with certifications and courses, the skills and experiences you have that you feel would be relevant to the job you are applying for should be mentioned in bullet points and in as few words as possible. For example, someone applying for the job of a content writer can mention their skill set as –
Skills
- Writing speed – 60 wpm
- WordPress operations
- Research
- Editing
- Interlinking
- Fluency in English and Hindi
As you saw in the example, the main word describing the skill was used. Use four or five words at most to describe skills that need a longer description.
PROOFREAD!!
No. That is not a typo. The use of block letters was intentional so that you never forget to PROOFREAD your resume. This is one of the biggest resume tips we want to give you because even if you are a master of ‘mixing chemicals’ and can do the perfect titration, it won’t matter much if you write ‘great compuper skills’ in your skill set.
Key-Points To Remember
Before we leave, we wanted to give you a quick reminder about things to remember while writing your resume. Think of these as resume tips 2.0.
- Keep things short and sweet. Don’t make anything longer than 2 sentences!
- Mention all educational qualifications, job experiences, and even certifications in reverse chronological order.
- Mention only what is relevant. Keep additional information for the interview round.
- A resume summary is a must and needs to have at least one keyword from the job description.
Conclusion:
This is where our blog comes to an end, and what a loooooonnnnnggggg blog it was (we know cause we wrote it, and yes, we are breaking the 4th wall.). But we hope that you followed some, if not all, our resume tips (although we hope you followed everything because these tips can make your resume go from ‘resume’ to ‘RESUME’ and land you that CEO job you’ve been eyeing like forever.).
While you can find many formats for resumes online, be sure to get them verified by some industry professionals that you can find. In fact, you should also ask these people to critique your resume while you are at it so that you know where you are lagging behind and where you aren’t.
That’s all for now, folks. See you later, after you’ve broken a leg at the interview and gotten that job!
FAQs
How do I write an effective resume?
The very basic answer for this is to tailor your resume according to the job you are applying for. This means that while you can keep the basic resume outline the same, the keywords you use, the work background, and the experiences you mention should be relevant to the job you are applying for. And it goes without saying that you should also follow the guidelines we have mentioned in our blog.
How to use AI tools such as Chatpgpt and Gemini for resume-making?
Using AI tools like Chatpgpt and Gemini for resume-making is as easy as using them for anything else. The more detailed prompt you give these tools about your resume, the better your results will be. So, ensure you use the proper keywords for the job description for which you want to write your resume. Also, ensure that you include your personal details, such as educational qualifications, work experiences, and certifications, in detail and with the correct information. Ask the tools to ‘tailor the resume’ according to the ‘job description.’
