Have an impressive resume

In an interview, you must have an impressive looking resume as that becomes the basis for the questions that you would be asked. If you are appearing for interviews in companies of different engineering disciplines, it would be good to have a separate set of resumes. For example, if you are getting interviewed for a Mechanical Engineering job, have a resume which highlights your activities in that area and if the application is for an IT job, have that highlighted. One resume for all may not fit well.

To understand what should be highlighted, you must know what your job is going to be like in that company. That comes from what is known as a “job description”.  The interviewer will not  give a written job description to you, but it is in your interest to understand that based on company profile, their business and taking help from your seniors who may be working there or similar company. A look at their website would be of use in this regard.

Accurate Description of job involves

·         Core responsibilities

·         Quantifiable performance measurements

·         Reporting structure

·         Experience and technical knowledge requirements

·         Personality strengths necessary for the position

·         Corporate culture

·         Description of working environment

·         Management style required

Points to remember in resume

·         Clearly printed correct telephone number, email id – may be two email ids.

·         Use one simple font – may be Ariel or Times Roman size 11.

·         Make the headings bold and underlined

·         Do not use italics and all capitals.

·         Put all contact details – name, address, email ids, telephone numbers at the top.

·         Objective – optional. If you write an objective, you must be able to justify why you have written that.

·         Educational qualifications with year of passing and percentages from 10^th onwards

·         Skills and special abilities that you possess, with examples

·         Project work done and your exact contribution.

·         Achievements in school and college. Highlight team leading or team membership

·         Hobbies and Extracurricular activities

Honesty is the best policy when it comes to resume writing. Do not tell half truths and lies. There is so much fraud going on in resumes and interviewer can catch you if you have been dishonest. Any hint of dishonesty will forever bar you from any job in that company.

I once interviewed and selected a candidate and recruited him in my department. He had a prior experience in three companies and he gave satisfactory answers to all questions and I selected him and he joined. However, as per the policy, when the company conducted actual verification of his experience by sending verification agents to his past companies, it was revealed that instead of 2 years that he had claimed, he had worked there for 1 year only. He wanted to cover the gap in his job profile by adding that extra one year, but when it was found out, he had to resign and lose his job. As freshers also, if you tell a lie regarding what project work you have done, or what your actual contribution was, it could lead to rejection during the interview. Be truthful.

I have found a website which gives good details of how to write a resume. Please visit the site:

http://www.chetanasinterview.com/articles/1/1/Resume-Writing-Tips-for-Freshers--Experienced/Page1.html

Also please visit me on Facebook and Linkedin. My id is cdrvijay123@yahoo.co.in