Resume Impressions

Updated on: Monday, February 13, 2012

If first impressions are important in an interview, the impression your resume creates are no less important.

In order to ensure that, take care of the elements mentioned below:

Your Story - Understand the position , level in hierarchy, department and industry culture. Map your contributions with what the company is looking for. Customise your resume when required. Are they looking for a strong technical expert or someone with strong people skills? Talk to current employees and read up about the company. For each company you have worked with, every designation held and every academic institution attended, the executive wants to see three things:

a. What goes into the resume must be relevant to the job you have applied for. Mention your contributions, projects undertaken and the extracurricular activities in school or college , for example, 'Achieved 100% target all through.'

b. Describe the constraints and the complexity involved in the project or in your contribution (example: Achieved 100% target or raised sales by 10% despite the downturn during which client company cut purchases by 20% and in the presence of leading competitors).

c. The above details not only convey your potential to the interviewer, but also help focus interview questions on how you made it happen.

Make the subheads speak for themselves so that the executive glancing rapidly through it does not miss them. Avoid monotonous subheads. Make your resume speak the industry language with no spelling or grammar mistakes. Don't use fancy fonts and boxes. The resume must be clear and precise. Follow the industry pattern in design. Don't use bold fonts too often. Start with the latest and biggest contribution within each profile.

[The writer is Director, First Impression Consulting Pvt Ltd; Master Image Consultant - MFIPI (UK), Federation of Image Professionals International]

At a glance

Map your contributions with what the company is looking for What goes into the resume must be relevant to the job you have applied for Make your resume speak the industry language. Talk to current employees and read up about the company Follow the industry pattern in design Make subheads speak for themselves Start with the latest and biggest contribution within each profile

Times of India

Resume Impressions

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