This presentation covers some simple tips detailing the list of things one should avoid putting in their resume.

1. CV Mistakes
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2. Points to Remember
• Your CV is one among thousands that an HR representative
will see
• Most CVs get rejected due to blatant or silly errors found.
• CVs also get rejected if they are too long. The attention span
given to each CV is only a few seconds initially.
• Even one mistake found can cause the CV to get rejected
even if the experience is worthwhile
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3. Avoid Writing CV/Resume
• Do not write CV or Resume
• Everyone knows that is what it is
• Just write your name in bold.
• Font Arial and Size 20 will do
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4. Do not use All Caps
• All Caps are used to emphasize something important
• They are used only occasionally when something has to be
highlighted
• All Caps appear as if you are shouting. It is rude
• Use Caps only for abbreviations like HR or VP. Not Hr or Vp.
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5. Unnecessary Details
• Do not put your entire family history with parents’ names,
children names, spouse names.
• No one cares about them till you are hired. At the shortlisting
stage, they only care about your ability to work for the
company.
• Writing “Eligible” for marriage is a sure fire way to get rejected
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6. Racist/Gender/Caste Details
• Do not put your Caste, Religion, Height or Weight
• It shows that you have a regressive mentality
• The companies who will require these details are those in politics,
modelling, TV presentation, flight or cabin crew, receptionist and even
these companies look for only height and weight
• Writing your caste, faction and religion is a big mistake
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7. Neat contact information
• There is no need to put your entire temporary address, permanent
address, house phone number, cell number, emergency number
• Ideally, give one local address, one working telephone number on
which you can definitely be contacted and one email address that
sounds professional. Do NOT use an email address like
iloveyou@xyz.com. You will get rejected outright
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8. Typos
• Spelling mistakes in your CV shows that you are careless
• You should check the CV after completion atleast 2 times to ensure
that there are absolutely no spelling mistakes.
• If there are spelling mistakes, the employer can assume that you are
either overconfident or do not really care about getting things done
the right way.
• When you read your CV again, you will find more errors in it for
correction
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9. Poor formatting
• Keep in mind that your resume should be pleasing to read.
• Avoid long paragraphs
• Avoid haphazard layouts. It should be structured neatly
• Use Bold or Italics only to highlight key points
• Use bulleted points instead of sentences as it gives all the information
crisply
• Double check before posting
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10. No Abbreviations
• Do not assume that the interviewer knows everything.
• You might be comfortable with a certain area or field. The employer’s
representative may not be
• For example, if you write studied in IIT, it could be “Indian Institute of
Technology” or “Iyappa Institute of Technology”
• Similary, NIT could be “National Institute of Technology” or “Nagarjuna
Institute of Technology”
• State the entire name clearly to avoid any confusion
• It is ok to use domain specific appreviations like jpeg file instead of
“Joint Photographic Experts Group” where it is uniquely known
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11. No SMS language
• Using SMS language is sure way to get rejected immediately
• Never use words like “thru” for through or “m” of am or “ur” for your
• SMS language used shows that your are immature and not serious
about working
• NEVER use such language on professional material
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12. Irrelevant Achievements
• Companies like to see something that highlights your capability on
your CV.
• Do not write “Stood first in sack race in school”. That is not an
achievement
• Do not talk about your previous job responsibilities like “Good at
testing” if you are a tester. That is expected out of you and is not an
achievement
• Your achievements should be something that saved a situation or was
done by you when most others could not.
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13. Avoid Superlatives
• Avoid talking about yourself in superlatives like “I am the best at
testing” or “excellent at automated testing”
• The company will decide that if they hire you. So do not appear as if
you are bragging about yourself
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14. Job Irrelevance
• Remember that your CV should talk about why you are fit for the job
your are applying for
• The CV should not appear to be very different from the job. Otherwise
you will look totally irrelevant.
• For example, if you are applying for a marketing position, then be
specific in your CV. Do not put “Operations” and then still apply for
marketing.
• One resume format may not suit all the jobs that you are trying for
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15. How do you feel about working
nights and weekends?
Be honest here because even the employer knows that you
will not like to work night shifts. And since you are a
fresher, there is no strong excuse to deny working night
shifts. So you can answer
“Frankly, I would not like to work night shifts but if it is to
contribute to the company’s growth, I would be open to it
for a fixed period of time. I will also work weekends if there
is a deadline to meet”
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16. Avoid Jargon
• Using fancy large words in your CV makes you look hollow
• HR likes simple, straightforward points so that they can make a
decision quickly.
• Using fancy words may cause the HR to not understand you at all.
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17. No fancy keywords
• Try and avoid using words like these are they have been used for too
long.
• Dynamic
• Outstanding achiever
• Self-starter
• Effective
• Seasoned
• Excellent in communication, exceptional, hard working, result
oriented, result driven, motivated etc.
• Instead, use simple words such as capable, communication etc.
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18. Developed for MinQJobs by
Vidhyashankar Kannan
www.aquashankar.com
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