Resume Making Workshop: IIT Kharagpur

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Resume Making Workshop
IIT Kharagpur
16
th
September, 2013
2
Agenda
A. What is a Resume?
B. 5 Steps to Make a Resume
C. Customization
D. Sample Resumes
E. Doubts and Misconceptions
F. In a Nutshell
3
The resume is your first interaction with a potential employer. It is a marketing tool and an
introduction to you and your experiences. There is a need for effectively presenting yourself in
text form to the interviewer
Product
Brochure
Consumers
Student Resume Interviewer
Purpose of a resume: Get shortlisted for a Personal Interview
4
Decide which messages are most important to your audience, and communicate these messages
succinctly and clearly in a visually appealing format
Basic Details
Academic Achievements
Positions of Responsibility
Project Information
Extra Curricular Activities
Awards
Ensure delivery of
Relevance to position applied for
Skill sets
Attitude and aspirations
Organizational capabilities
High quality of
Content
Size and arrangement
Appropriate language
Formatting
Information conveyed in 120 seconds!
5
Agenda
- Understand Yourself
- List and Pick
- Arrange
- Polish
- Review
C. Customization
D. Sample Resumes
F. In a Nutshell
6
5 Steps to Make a Resume
B1. Understand Yourself
Analyze yourself thoroughly to determine what would work best for you
Analyze Yourself
What are my skill sets?
What kind of a job do I want?
What matters to me in the long-term?
Your resume should reflect a consistent personality throughout Decide what aspects of
your personality you want to reflect
UNDERSTAND ARRANGE POLISH REVIEW
LIST AND
PICK
7
Gather information from all possible sources to decide the right job profile for you
Discuss With Seniors
Read up
company
websites
Attend
PPTs
Ensure Reliability
Cross check information
Dont rely on subjective opinions
Approach the right sources
Be Proactive
Clarify doubts with the firm
Decide for yourself
Avoid herd-mentality
Keep thinking
Know Past Experience
Understand mistakes made
Get first-hand details
Know various options
8
Bring out skills and impacts of each activity, not an itinerary of tasks; the following matrix can
help you understand how to include impact while framing the content
Helps achieve a balance without repeating the same skills unnecessarily
Helps understand the relevance of including each activity
Activity What did I do? (The itinerary)
What skills are reflected?
(Final content)
Hostel Debating
Secretary
Conducted intra hostel events for the
first time
Trained hostel team for events with
help of seniors who passed out
Conducted practice sessions
Won the trophy
Responsibility, enthusiasm to start
new trends, pick new talent
Target high quality level, improve
existing scene, network with alumni
for benefit
Dedication, meticulousness
Achieving desired goal, high level of
excellence
Activity 2
Task 1
Task 2
Skill sets 1
Skill sets 2
9
B2. Listing and Ranking Achievements
Make an exhaustive list of achievements, rank them by magnitude and group them section wise;
minor achievements add value in sections where the resume is weak
A
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1. LIST 2. RANK 3. PICK
Coordinator Organizer Core Group Member
UROP Technical Event Winner GS Cult GS
AA Best Dandiya Dancer GS Sports Dept.
GSec MI OC Insti Secy Dept Association GSec
ECell OC Hostel GSec Cult Co Debate
Winner Hostel Sys Ad Techfest OC
SPICMACAY Volunteer Techfest Participant
9+CPI Insti Placement Nominee Inter IIT Gold
Medalist Olympiad All India Finalist PT
Nominee Insti Cultural Colors Soc Secy Lit
Secy Semester Topper Contingent Leaders
PAF Script In charge Dance Choreographer
Sports Team Captain National Debate Winner
Warden Nominee Insti Music Secy Student
Mentor Hostel Fest OC Department DR1
MI/Techfest/E Cell OC GS Cult GSAA GS
Sports Department DR1 National Debate
Winner 9+CPI Insti Cultural Colors Dept.
GSec Hostel GSec Core Group Member
Insti Secy Insti Placement Nominee
Semester Topper Sports Team Captain Insti
Music Secy UROP Cult Co. Inter IIT Gold
Medalist Student Mentor Coordinator Technical
Event Winner Dept Association GSec Debate Winner
Hostel Sys Ad PT Nominee Contingent Leaders Dance
Choreographer Warden Nominee Hostel Fest OC
Olympiad All India Finalist Organizer Best Dandiya
Dancer SPICMACAY Volunteer Techfest participant PAF
Script In charge
Department DR1
9+CPI
Semester Topper
UROP
Olympiad All India Finalist
MI/Techfest/ECell OC
GS Cult/AA/Sports
Dept./Hostel GSec
Core Group Member
Insti Secy
Insti Placement Manager
Cult Co
Student Mentor
Coordinator
Contingent Leaders
Organizer
PAF Script Incharge
Insti Cultural Color
Sports Team Captain
Inter IIT Gold Medalist
Debate Winner

LIST AND
PICK
(The ranking is for the purpose of explanation only)
10
B2. Picking Relevant Achievements
Recruiters look for spikes and not average performances. Instead of listing each and every
activity, only list the spikes in your achievements
Recommended Number of Points 2-Page 1-Page
Academic Achievements 2-3 2-3
Summer Internships/ Practical Training Major Ones 1-2
Positions of Responsibility 2-4 2-3
Extra-curricular Activities 2-4 1-2
Seminar/ BTP/ DDP/ Course Projects 1-2 (if substantial) 0-1
4
2
3
1
High average No
spike
Preferred Candidate
Lower average but
high spikes
11
B2. Customizing by Job Profiles
Certain sections in the resume could be varied according to the profile of job you are interested in
Analytical abilities
Communication skills and Team work
Academic performance
Spikes in any field
Consulting
Department/ Specialization
Communication skills
I-Banking (Front-end)
Working in teams
Grasp of technical concepts
FMCG/Oil
Problem/ puzzle solving skills
Working in stressful situations
I-Banking (Back-end)
Knowledge of concepts
Programming languages known
Tech
Programming languages known
I T
KEY FOCUS AREAS
12
B3. Arrangement: 1-page Resume
Create a good first impression by putting major achievements first. Once you capture the readers
interest, you can guide the thought-process in your favor
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Often, first level of shortlisting is done in a scan time of 20 seconds per resume
OR
Make a good first
impression
Place attention-
capturing items
earlier
Leverage the
flexibility allowed in
placing sections
Within a sentence,
deliver impact in
the first half
Major achievements
earlier
. rather than later in
the page
LIST AND
PICK
13
B3. Language
The way you write determines how effectively your skills and achievements are conveyed to the
reader. Focus heavily on this section
Use active voice
Grammar check
Grammar
Start with action verbs
Write short sentences
Avoid repetition
Length of Sentences
Avoid slang
Keep it simple
Vocabulary
Show task-completion
Be Consistent
Tense
Be Consistent
Check for errors
Punctuation
Avoid short forms
Check for errors
Spellings
Common Action Verbs
Achieved
Conceptualized
Demonstrated
Executed
Identified
Implemented
Motivated
Organized
Pioneered
Revamped
Revived
Revolutionized
Spearheaded
Started
Undertook
Volunteered
(More in Appendix)
14
B3. Language
Improve the quality of the resume by adhering to professional standards of style and content
Avoid stilted or confusing language. Ask
yourself, "Would I talk like that? or How
would I explain this?
Dont use first person I or any pronouns
Avoid self-flattering terms such as "highly
skilled, outstanding, or excellent."
Be honest and accurate, but not overly
modest
Use a conservative font, such as Arial,
Verdana or Times New Roman
Cite numbers to convey size/ scale of
project, budget, etc.
Only include courses that are relevant to
the job you seek
Give examples that demonstrate
personality traits such as leadership,
confidence, and independence
Exclude data relevant to salary
expectations and religious or political
affiliations
STYLE CONTENT
15
B4. Polish
Pay attention to basic formatting details to improve readability and overall appearance
Conceptualized and conducted the first ever Entrepreneurship
Summitin India. It was attended by over 1500 students and
had over 50 corporate speakers. Also laid the foundation for
Impressario! , The International B-Plan Competition organized
by E-Cell, to be opened for WP entries
Enabled the expansion of Impressario.., a previously IIT
Kharagpur centric event to a Pan IIT level.Conceptualized and
initiated the development of a Entrepreneurship Awareness
Drive spanning across 15 cities of India
Conceptualized and conducted the first ever Entrepreneurship
Summitin India having over 50 corporate speakers and over
1500 student participants
Founded !, The International B-Plan Competition organized by
E-Cell, to be opened for WP entries
Successfully expanded Impressario.., a previously IIT
Kharagpur-centric event to a Pan IIT level
Conceptualized and initiated a Entrepreneurship Awareness
Drive spanning across 15 cities of India
Poor bullet spacing
and Alignment
No space after
punctuation mark
Text not
justified
Inadequate line
spacing
Lengthy
points
Common Formatting Highlights
Appropriate punctuation
Spacing and margins of lines and bullets
Justify text
Bold/italics
Font sizes and types
LIST AND
PICK
16
B4. Polish: Language
The way you write determines how effectively your skills and achievements are conveyed to the
reader. Focus heavily on this section
Use active voice
Grammar check
Grammar
Start with action verbs
Dont be verbose
Avoid repetition
Length of Sentences
Avoid slang
Keep it simple
Vocabulary
Show task-completion
Be Consistent
Tense
Use where necessary
Check for errors
Punctuation
Avoid short forms
Check for errors
Spellings
Common Action Verbs
Achieved
Conceptualized
Demonstrated
Executed
Identified
Implemented
Motivated
Organized
Pioneered
Revamped
Revived
Revolutionized
Spearheaded
Started
Undertook
Volunteered
(More in Appendix)
LIST AND
PICK
17
B4. Polish: Language (contd.)
Improve the quality of the resume by adhering to professional standards of style and content
Avoid stilted or confusing language. Ask
yourself, "Would I talk like that? or How
would I explain this?
Dont use first person I or any pronouns
Avoid self-flattering terms such as "highly
skilled, outstanding, or excellent."
Be honest and accurate, but not overly
modest
Use a conservative font, such as Arial,
Verdana or Times New Roman
Cite numbers to convey size/ scale of
project, budget, etc.
Only include courses that are relevant to
the job you seek
Give examples that demonstrate
personality traits such as leadership,
confidence, and independence
Exclude data relevant to salary
expectations and religious or political
affiliations
STYLE CONTENT
LIST AND
PICK
18
As you iterate, you get better at conveying the right information effectively and in a concise manner
Focus on highlighting the impact, not the activity
Ideation and Innovation Center Design: The objective was to prepare a conceptual framework for
designing and detailing a benchmark ideation and innovation center for ITC Limited.
Embarked upon a voluntary PR exercise to visit benchmark innovation centers and interact with key
personnel to supplement theory with actual observations. Located bottlenecks in existing pilot
setup, estimated upgradation required to meet existing and future demands of Product
Development team.
Prepared a comprehensive model for the innovation center to be implemented in 3 phases,
including infrastructure, equipment, human resources and ideation models.
Applied concept of dynamic similitude to integrate manufacturing processes of all cigarette
factories of ITC to achieve better consistency, repeatability, efficiency and flexibility. This was not
part of the initial project goals.
ITC LIMITED - BANGALORE TOBACCO FACTORY May-July 2006
"Ideation and Innovation Center Design": Prepared a comprehensive model for an ideation and
innovation center including infrastructure, equipment and human resources
Voluntarily visited benchmark innovation centers (John Welch Center, Philips Innovation Campus)
and interacted with key personnel to supplement theory with real world information
Studied innovation models of leading companies (IDEO, P&G, GE, Philips, etc) & customized key
methodologies to suit the product development strategy of ITC
Additionally demonstrated application of dynamic similitude to reduce turnaround time of sample
manufacturing by 2/3rd while also enhancing consistency and repeatability
Compare
Length of content
Clarity of output
Impact while
reading slowly and
for a quick scan
Overall look and
feel
INITIAL VERSION (2-PAGE)
FINAL VERSION (2-PAGE)
LIST AND
PICK
19
The 1-page resume demands an additional level of wordsmith-ing and formatting
Focus on highlighting the impact, not the activity
"Ideation and Innovation Center Design": Prepared a comprehensive model for an ideation and
innovation center including infrastructure, equipment and human resources
Voluntarily visited benchmark innovation centers (John Welch Center, Philips Innovation
Campus) and interacted with key personnel to supplement theory with real world information
Studied innovation models of leading companies (IDEO, P&G, GE, Philips, etc) & customized key
methodologies to suit the product development strategy of ITC
Additionally demonstrated application of dynamic similitude to reduce turnaround time of
sample manufacturing by 2/3rd while also enhancing consistency and repeatability
Prepared a comprehensive model for an ideation and innovation center including infrastructure,
equipment and human resources
Voluntarily visited John Welch Center and Philips Innovation Campus to customize key
methodologies for ITC product development
Additionally applied dynamic similitude to achieve 2/3rd reduction of turnaround time of sample
manufacturing
Compare
Level of detail`
Length of sentences
Structure of
sentences
Overall look and
feel
LIST AND
PICK
20
B4. Overall Look: Readability
Recruiters generally use printouts to shortlist; a resume should be readable, presentable at an
arms length and should print well on A4
Proofread a printout
Overall look is as important as content
Font size should be sufficiently big
Minimize bold/italics
Have ample line spacing and indentation
Leave lots of white spaces for clarity and cleanliness
=
LIST AND
PICK
21
B4. Overall Look: Column View
The appearance of your resume will reflect on your professionalism and your candidacy in general
2-Column Resume
Shorter Sentences, Cleaner look
Choose this if you have lesser
points and more in-depth content
Ideal for your 2 page resume
1-Column Resume
Allows for more content on a single page
Choose this if you have many things to write
Tends to become cluttered with too many
headings so try to organize things better
LIST AND
PICK
22
B4. Overall Look: 2 page resume
The IIT Bombay 2-page resume format is flexible, top one fourth page is fixed
Section 3
Personal
Information
Education
Details
Section 1
Section 4
Order, naming, content and size of remaining sections at candidates discretion
Section 2
LIST AND
PICK
24
B5. Review
Getting the resume reviewed is necessary to understand how an average reader reacts on reading it

Who should review your resume?
Seniors in firms that you would like to apply for
Friends capable of judging your resume well
Family members working in the corporate world
Someone unfamiliar with your background to review for
clarity and effectiveness
Getting the right feedback
Feel of the resume: Post-review discussion to understand
what personality and skills it reflects
Can it be shortened? Is it repetitive?
Does it draw attention to the desired points?
The Bottom line
YOU have to be comfortable with what your resume says about you
Be true in the resume and be prepared with a few examples to validate your claims
Know your resume thoroughly; you should be able to speak at length about any point in it
LIST AND
PICK
25
Agenda
What is a Resume?
Sections of a Resume
1-Page
Doubts and Queries
Sample Resumes
In a Nutshell
26
C1. Sections of a Resume: 1-Page
Positions of
Responsibility
Personal
Information
Education
Details
Work exp./
Internship
Extra-curricular
Activities
SIZE
Lesser space allocated per section
Compulsory details lesser
CONTENT
Sentences more concise and pointed
Content less detailed
REMARKS
Retain all information but cut down on
space utilized
Leave lots of white spaces for cleanliness
MAJOR DIFFERENCES
(VIS--VIS 2-PAGE FORMAT)
Naming, content and size of remaining sections at candidates discretion
Academic Projects
27
C2. Sections of a Resume : For Post Graduates
A sample post graduate resume
Personal
Information
Education
Details
Scholastic
Achievements
Areas of Interest
Key Academic
Projects
Seminar/ Course
Projects
Skill Set
Positions of
Responsibility
Extra Curricular
Activities
28
C. Customization
- Sections in a Resume
- Customizing by Job Profiles
- Profiles offered by Opera Solutions
- Differentiating Resume by Profile
D. Sample Resumes
F. In a Nutshell
Agenda
29
Academic Details
Content
CPI
Department and
Specialization
School grades

Remarks
CPI of highest impact
Department /
Specialization will be
noticed
High scores at school
level will not help
justify a low CPI
Have a clear idea about what quality and expertise you want to convey from each section.
Decide the content accordingly
Work Experience
Content
Company/ Social/
University Internships
Start-up Ventures
Long-term projects

Remarks
High impact section
Quality and nature of
work (not number of
internships) is
important
Diversity in projects and
PPOs are given high
weightage
Academic Projects
Content
PhD/ MTP/ DDP/ BTP
highlights
Seminars / Conferences
/ Papers published
Relevant course
projects

Remarks
Medium / High Impact
section depending on
profile
Publications have
maximum impact

It is not necessary to include all sections. Pick and choose your strengths relevant to the job profile
Leadership
Content
Positions held in various
teams
Initiatives, scale of
events , improvements,
Advisory positions held

Remarks
High Impact Section
Reflects responsibility
and managerial skills
Also indicates
communication and
interpersonal skills

C1. Sections in a Resume
30
Have a clear idea about what quality and expertise you want to convey from each section.
Decide the content accordingly
Awards
Content
ROH, Citations, Colours,
Special Mentions
Prestigious scholarships
Competitions won

Remarks
High Impact Section
Reflects dedication
Also indicates
communication and
interpersonal skills
Activities
Content
Awards at national and
inter-collegiate level
Inter-hostel
achievements
Contribution to team
events

Remarks
Moderate to high
impact section
(depending on what is
chosen to be included)
Reflects well-rounded
personality and
dedication

Course Work
Content
Minors / Honours
Profile specific courses
AP grades in relevant
courses

Remarks
profile

Technical Skillset
Content
Programming languages
Multiple software
proficiency
External examinations
cleared

Remarks
profile

It is not necessary to include all sections. Pick and choose your strengths relevant to the job profile
C1. Sections in a Resume (contd.)
31
Certain sections in the resume could be varied according to the profile of job you are interested in
Communication skills and Team work
Spikes in any field
Consulting
Department/ Specialization
I-Banking (Front-end)
Working in teams
Grasp of technical concepts
FMCG/Oil
Problem/ puzzle solving skills
Knowledge of Algorithms ,
probability and statistics
I-Banking (Analytics)
Relevant programming languages
Tech
Comfort with coding
Knowledge of various
Programming languages
Software/ IT
KEY FOCUS AREAS
C2. Customizing by Job Profile
32
Break down complex business problems and define deliverables
Communicate with clients / senior management within organization
Collaborate with analytics, software and client teams
Solutions Analyst

Analytics Specialist

Software Specialist

Opera offers 3 kinds of roles : Solutions Analyst, Analytics Specialist and Software Specialist
Build, train, optimize and benchmark analytical models
Lay out analytical approach roadmap by understanding business context
Collaborate with solutions, software and client teams
Work on proprietary software platform of Opera
Conceptualize and develop end-to-end modules for clients
Build custom prototype solutions
C3. Profiles offered by Opera Solutions
33
Weightage given to different sections of a resume vary according to the profile applied for.
Following are key sections found in a typical Solutions Analyst resume
Work Experience
Show that you can deliver results within strict timelines
Emphasize diversity of areas across which you have worked
Quantifiable achievements have greater value
Mention if you have PPO from a reputed firm
Leadership Positions
Extracurricular Activities
Highlight the size of a team you were leading
Mention the scale of your initiatives
Benchmark your achievements against those of previous years
Try to showcase a different skill-set in each sub-point

Emphasize the scale of the event or activity
Mention the awards received and describe the criteria for the award
Enlist the breadth of activities in which you participated
Talk about your interests and how you have pursued them
C4. Differentiating Resume by Profile: Solutions Analyst
34
Following are key sections found in a typical Analytics Specialist resume

Internships
Highlight the mathematical modeling component of your work
Quantify the impact of the project
Emphasize if you have an experience of working with a statistical tool

Academic Projects
Relevant Courses
Focus on projects related to Optimization, Machine Learning,
Algorithms, Probability and Statistics, Control Theory, etc.
Mention publications and their general acceptance rate
Projects with practical significance are given higher weightage

Mention if you have a minor in CS/ EE/ Mathematics/ Economics
Proficiency in various programming languages should be mentioned
Showcase your mathematical bend of mind and logical abilities

C4. Differentiating Resume by Profile: Analytics Specialist
35
Following are key sections found in a typical Software Specialist resume.

Internships
Show that you can deliver results within prescribed deadlines
Highlight your ability to quickly understand and modify the source
code of a new software platform
Mention if you have PPO from a reputed firm / PhD offer from top
tier university
Relevant Projects
Skillset
Indicate projects involving UI development, Server-side development
Highlight electives relevant to software development
Mention coding / hacking competitions that you have won
Emphasize relevant publications

Mention programming languages you are proficient in
Enlist software platforms that you have worked on
Talk about positions of responsibility related to software
development or maintenance
C4. Differentiating Resume by Profile: Software Specialist
36
Agenda
C. Customization
D. Sample Resumes
- Resume Refinement
- Common Mistakes
- Comic Relief for the Interviewer
F. In a Nutshell
37
D1. Resume Refinement
Concise and crisp content can be developed in a resume through multiple iterations
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Categorize activities to enhance ease of reading
D1. Resume Refinement (Contd.)
39
Dos
Include the title, advisors name and project
duration
Describe goals, brief approach and deliverables
Focus on outcomes
Highlight publications if any
About technical projects and seminars
Dont s
Do not put your thesis abstract as it is to
describe your project
Tone down: Not all your recruiters have
expertise in your area of work
40
About technical projects and seminar
Succinctly
describe
project goal
and
deliverables Describe tools used
and highlight
expertise achieved
Choose between
listing diverse
projects or focused
projects
41
How to portray additional learning : Minors, Honors & Additional Courses
Courses / Topics covered
Why mention Minors & Honors
Voluntarily chose to pursue courses
over the prescribed syllabus for extra
credit
Shows enthusiasm towards a subject
and a basic understanding of the
same
Valuable to recruiters looking for
people driven by their interests, and
with the ability to manage high
workloads
Additional Learning Degree
Projects / Other
Initiatives undertaken for
Minor / Honor
For 2-page resume, Expand
on projects
42
D2. Common Mistakes
NCFM is not a
great achievement
What is a
Scholar Card?
What is it
awarded for?
No output
Highly technical
Doesnt reflect skills
43
D2. Common Mistakes (Contd.)
Space wasted
Content cramped
Sub-bulleted content
should have smaller font
size
Use bullets to
separate points
Fit single words in
previous line
?
?
?
?
44
D3. Comic Relief for the Interviewer
Some common word-benders. Dont try it, you wont get away with it!
CG?
Oh! Coordie!
Another coordie in disguise
A rare feat indeed!
45
D3. Comic Relief for the Interviewer (Contd.)
Which instrument?
No comments
Jai Hind!
Height of narcissism!
????
46
Agenda
C. Customization
D. Sample Resumes
- Common Misconceptions
- FAQs
F. In a Nutshell
47
E1. Common Misconceptions
Stay clear of common misconceptions and clarify with reliable sources
WHAT YOU THOUGHT
Recruiters dont know which
activities on campus are really
worthwhile
Mediocre PT/project work can be
exaggerated to make it impressive
NCFM Pass is a certification of deep
knowledge of finance!
I must mention all events I
participated in to show enthusiasm
WHAT IS TRUE
Most firms have IIT Kharagpur alumni
who are up-to-date with campus
trends
Recruiters know what to ask you to
figure it out
NCFM is like being an Organizer,
helps you learn but doesnt help you
get a job
Participation => Did not win; put only
achievements
48
Q. Which course projects should I include?
Those that reflect achievements or innovation more than expected
Those involving a major concept that you would like to discuss in the
interview
Q. How technical should the language/ terminology be?
Avoid technical details as the recruiter might not be familiar with it, focus on
time/ cost saved and other outputs
Avoid IIT KGP-specific terms or events that the recruiter might not be familiar with
E2. FAQs
In this section we tackle certain questions that IIT KGP students have been asking us in recent
times
Q. How do I justify a low CPI?
Grades are important, but are not everything. Prove that time was spent in other
worthwhile activities which developed adequate intellectual and social skills
Q. Should I add major achievements at school level?
Important and major school achievements are just as relevant, as it shows
continuity
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49
Q. How detailed should descriptions of projects/achievements be?
Enough to reflect skills and results, avoid unnecessary details that dilute
focus
?
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Q. How do I know which skill/ achievement/ project can be removed?
Remove it and see how much difference it makes and if the skill reflected
can be effectively brought out using some other item
Avoid repeating achievements in the same field (e.g. seminar and BTP in the
same topic, coordinator and CG/ Manager in the same fest)
Q. How do I balance between exaggeration and understatement?
Get it reviewed by friends who are unaware of your background.
Remember that you must be able to carry off the image that your
resume portrays
Q. Should I include activities to prove that I didnt waste time?
Show maximum output, not activities. Focus on excellence, not
just enthusiasm
E2. FAQs (Contd.)
50
Agenda
C. Customization
D. Sample Resumes
F. In a Nutshell
51
F. In a Nutshell
Prioritize best achievements and skills
Keep the content concise and contextual
Keep the language fluid and easy
Refine continuously and regressively
Be consistent and true to yourself
This resume is going to be the basis for not just this first job, but your entire career
52
Appendix: Action Verbs
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/guide/actionverbs.html
Communication Skills Management Skills Teaching Skills Research Skills Detail Skills
Addressed
Arbitrated
Arranged
Authored
Co-authored
Collaborated
Corresponded
Developed
Directed
Drafted
Enlisted
Formulated
Influenced
Interpreted
Lectured
Mediated
Moderated
Negotiated
Persuaded
Promoted
Proposed
Publicized
Reconciled
Recruited
Spoke
Translated
Wrote
Administered
Analyzed
Assigned
Consolidated
Contracted
Coordinated
Delegated
Developed
Directed
Evaluated
Executed
Organized
Planned
Prioritized
Produced
Recommended
Reorganized
Reviewed
Scheduled
Supervised
Adapted
Advised
Clarified
Coached
Communicated
Conducted
Developed
Enabled
Encouraged
Evaluated
Explained
Facilitated
Guided
Informed
Instructed
Lectured
Stimulated
Taught
Trained
Clarified
Collected
Critiqued
Diagnosed
Evaluated
Examined
Extracted
Identified
Inspected
Interpreted
Interviewed
Investigated
Organized
Reviewed
Summarized
Surveyed
Systemized
Approved
Arranged
Classified
Collected
Compiled
Executed
Generated
Implemented
Inspected
Monitored
Operated
Prepared
Processed
Specified
Systematized
Validated
53
Appendix: Action Verbs
Stronger Verbs for
Accomplishments
Helping Skills Creative Skills Technical Skills Financial Skills
Accelerated
Achieved
Attained
Completed
Convinced
Discovered
Doubled
Effected
Eliminated
Founded
Improved
Initiated
Innovated
Introduced
Invented
Launched
Originated
Overcame
Pioneered
Reduced
Resolved
Revitalized
Spearheaded
Strengthened
Transformed
Upgraded

Assessed
Assisted
Clarified
Coached
Counseled
Demonstrated
Diagnosed
Educated
Facilitated
Familiarized
Guided
Inspired
Motivated
Participated
Provided
Referred
Rehabilitated
Represented
Reinforced
Supported
Taught
Trained
Verified
Acted
Conceptualized
Created
Customized
Designed
Developed
Directed
Established
Fashioned
Illustrated
Instituted
Integrated
Performed
Planned
Proved
Revised
Revitalized
Set up
Shaped
Streamlined
Structured
Assembled
Built
Calculated
Computed
Designed
Devised
Engineered
Fabricated
Maintained
Operated
Pinpointed
Programmed
Remodeled
Repaired
Solved
Operated
Programmed
Remodeled
Administered
Allocated
Analyzed
Appraised
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Computed
Developed
Managed
Planned
Projected
Researched
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/guide/actionverbs.html
54
Helplines
For any queries and clarifications, feel free to contact us at:
Sinchan Mukherjee sinchan.mukherjee@operasolutions.com
Akanksha Shrivastava akanksha.shrivastava@operasolutions.com

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