This document provides tips and guidance for writing an effective resume. It discusses the purpose of a resume, how recruiters review resumes, common mistakes to avoid, and strategies for optimizing key sections like the professional profile and experience highlights. Key areas covered include tailoring the resume to the job, focusing on relevant skills and achievements, using a clear format, and ensuring there are no errors or inconsistencies.
2. Resume The objective it serves
Can be used to control interview flow
Positions the candidate
Is the basis of the interview
Provides information
Door opener or closer
Your
Resume
Your
Pitch
3. Resume Is it doing your hard work
Experience
Fitment
Competencies
Presentation
Recruiters Mandate Candidate‘s Play
Achievements
Relevant Professional Background
Preferred Age, Education, Scores &
Years of Experience
Desired Competencies
A professional, lucid & error free look &
feel
The DoorOpeners The DoorClosers
Unrelated experience
Fitment Gaps
Non Leveragable Competencies
Unprofessional, difficult to comprehend
or just a bland pitch
Skills
5. Resume Common Errors
Typos Missing Dates JD Recreated
Spelling Mistakes Inconsistency Lengthy Introduction
Grammatical Errors Missing Data Irrelevant Data Upfront
Excessive Font Variation Abbreviations and
Jargon
Wrong Information
Large Block Text Missing Achievements Formatting
Too Lengthy Unsubstantiated
Achievements
Wrong Tense
Unflattering Photograph No Chronological Order Unsubstantiated
Competencies
Inappropriate Email Id Missing Mobile Number Layout Issue
Missing Skills/
Competencies
Irrelevant
Extracurriculars
Irrelevant Personal
Information
6. Resume Common Errors
Format Related:
Length: Total resume -Not more than 2 pages
Spacing: Listing versus crisp sentence
Fonts: No variation
Professional Profile:
Highlight relevant competency here but ensure that all of the competencies you
claim are accurate and backed up by education or work experience in your resume.
e.g.
Deep insight/ Extensive experience of working with public sector org.
Expertise in dealing with large scale & multi-dimensional projects
Dealt extensively with Utility companies / production based businesses
Motivated social services professional with eight years of experience
7. Area of Expertise/ Exposure:
Highlight more relevant one on the top
Should not be a long list-4 to 6 key ones
e.g. Brand Product Planning – Then new product introduction on top
e.g. Managed/ lead / steered large teams
e.g. Consulting- Bring forth client mgmt skills, analytical skills, industry understanding
Resume Redrafting
10. Resume Optimizing the sweet spot
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Business Enablement professional with extensive experience in IT
& ITES spanning the entire Customer Engagement Lifecycle
Facilitated multi country bids with Fortune 500 clients across
geographies in India, Africa and Middle East
Proven Background in tapping of prospects, requirement analysis
and conceptualizing strategic outsourcing engagements.
Significant exposure to working with senior leadership on key
strategic projects.
Experienced Team Manager, having led a team of 7 Managers
(direct reportees).
11. Resume Optimizing the sweet spot
OVERVIEWOF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
A professional with 10 years of experience in corporate strategy,
research pre-sales support and program management. Worked on and
managed multiple projects across businesses for identifying growth
opportunities through strategic partnerships and alliances. Strong
background in managing financial services operations delivery through
large virtual teams across geographies.
KEY COMPETENCIES
New Business Set-up: Business plan design, Defining solutions,
Team build-up
Corporate Strategy: Business & Financial planning, Growth strategy
formulation
ProgramManagement:, Governance structure, Project execution
Outsourcing /Offshoring: Sourcing strategy, Vendor selection,
12. Resume Responsibilities vs Attainments
Hindustan Levers Ltd. July 2002 - December2010
Designation: Sales Manager– Delhi NCR(includes Gurgaon and Noida)
March 2008 – December2010
Responsible for driving volume and value sales in Delhi NCR region with a
turnover of Rs 30 Cr
Responsible for entire ATL and BTL activities for the region – managing
vendors, overheads and execution
Responsible for channel sales with 400 + channel partners in the region
Handling team of 10 sales managers and 30+ sales force
Driving the personal care segment in a medium market share market for
Attainments
Successfully worked on a Channel Profitability Model in Delhi along with
establishing personal care product category targeted at Category C
13. Resume Responsibilities vs Attainments
Significant Assignments Handled
Scoping, process mapping and process transition for a leading US Property
and Casualty Insurance firm
Scoping for potential outsourcing opportunities for a healthcare insurance
provider
Achievements:
IBM Values Torchbearer Award for the year 2007 – presented on Annual
Day ‘08
Special Leadership Award for project managing the conceptualization,
design and planning of the IBM Daksh Leadership event Mosaic – 2008
GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Award for the Quarter ending Sep ’07 for client
project
Client VOC of 5 on 5 for end-to-end project transition
14. Resume Academic Qualifications
Year
Institution/
University
Degree /
Certificate
Performance
2002 IMT Ghaziabad PGDM 6.03/9.00*
2000 BIT S, Pilani B.E. (Mechanical) 75.33%
1995 Army Public
School, New Delhi
Senior Secondary
(AISSCE)
78%
Academic Qualifications
Pursuing Fulltime PGDM (Marketing, Operations) from IMT, Ghaziabad
BA (Sociology, History and English Literature) from Devi Ahilya
University, Indore in 2002.
Senior Secondary (AISSCE) with Non Medical from Xaviers School,
Indore in 1999.
15. Resume Extra Curricular
EXTRACURRICULARACTIVITIES
First runners-up – Marketing Strategy Proposal (HLL Campus Challenge
2012): Designed a comprehensive strategy for a new product market entry
Facilitated participation of over 600 visitors to the event, as leader of
hospitality team for the College Festival in 2012
As Captain, revitalized the Football team at EXL; led it to runners-up
position at the company’s Annual Sports Meet in 2008
Widely traveled; been to U.S.A., U.K., Germany, France, U.A.E. and Qatar
among other places
16. Resume Exercise
Objective
Writing a more effective resume
Time
10 minutes
Steps
Think of your aspirational job
List the top 3 required competencies
Write these competencies into your
resume in an effective manner
17. Resume Redrafting
TeamTeam
PlayerPlayer
Have worked closely with cross functional teams on
a high value project where meeting timelines was
critical to retaining the client.
Was recognized for putting forward suggestions
for cost saving, a few of which were later
incorporated
InitiativeInitiative
I have consistently been in the top 10 percentile
of my class through my student life.IntelligentIntelligent
18. Resume Redrafting
Have adapted successfully to platform changes in
my move across my last two companies
QuickQuick
LearnerLearner
HardHard
WorkerWorker
Consistently meet timelines on assigned projects
as it is critical to meet SLAs
HighHigh
EnergyEnergy
Enact in street plays with a weekend Theatre
Group
19. Resume Redrafting
InterpersonalInterpersonal
SkillsSkills
Had extensive interface with internal
customers and worked on a 24 hr complaint
resolution target
StrategicStrategic
ThinkingThinking
I was regularly involved in a brain storming
session on how to pitch for new accounts
DecisionDecision
MakingMaking
I was responsible for Team goal allocation on
several strict timeline projects