American playwright August Wilson once famously said, “The simpler you say it, the more eloquent it is.” And so it is, when it comes to a CV or resume. A CV is the most important tool for job search as it provides you with a page or two to highlight your best and most relevant abilities and attributes. It not only allows recruiters to make hiring decisions and invite you to an interview, but also helps you grow in career.
But, making an impactful CV is not an easy task. What to write crisply or what to avoid, is not so easy to figure out. Actually, creating a good CV is an art. And that is why IAS officer Divya Mittal’s post giving advice on CV went instantly viral.
2013-batch IAS officer of UP cadre and current DM of Mirzapur, Divya Mittal’s regularly passes on tips and advices on how to progress in life. This time, the IIM Bengaluru and IIT Delhi alumnus has shared some important tips on how to create an impactful CV, to stand out. She also includes her own CV from IIM Bangalore days to give an example.
WHAT TO WRITE
In her first tweet, Divya gives suggestion on what to write in the CV or resume. She zeroes in on the most relevant sections of a CV.
“4-5 relevant sections
-Resume Summary (More on this later)
-Work-Ex
-Education
-Internships
-Achievements
-Projects
-Extra-Curriculars
-Anything else that makes u stand out.”
HOW TO WRITE
After suggesting what to write in the CV, her next tweet is on how to write it. She also gives examples.
“How to write in the CV-
– No need of complete sentence. Phrases work
– Begin each point with an action verb -> Skill you are trying to highlight
– Focus only on your most relevant skills and experience.
– Mention numbers and specifics to show tangible achievements.”
ABOUT WORK EXPERIENCE
In her next tweet, she discusses about how one should describe work experiences. “How to write about your workex:-
– Use Action words like Directed/Managed/Spearheaded instead of Duties included
– Convey stories – What was the Problem? What actions you took? What were the results? What skills did you use & develop?”
GET SHORTLISTED
Having said that, she moves on to relevant keywords that should help you get shortlisted.
“Very IMPORTANT to get shortlisted:-
– More than 90% companies now use software (called ATS) to shortlist
– Software checks keywords to match job description (JD)
– Hence, you need TO include relevant keywords in your CV and tailor each CV based on the specific job.”
SUMMARY
Now she comes to the resume summary. “Resume Summary:-
– Not required for freshers
– Not more than 3 sentences.
– Mention experience, top achievements
– What type of role you are looking at
– Helps in computerized shortlisting if you include relevant keywords.”
THE DOS
Then, she discusses the dos and don’ts. First she clarifies about the dos.
“Send file as firstname_lastname, not as cv/resume
– Send pdf file and not as a word file
– Include action words from Job Description
– Choose a neat template
– Fit most points in 1 line
– Length: 1 page for work-ex < 10 yrs, 2 pages max”
THE DONTS
Then she comes to the don’ts. “Don’t make bold claims that cannot be backed up
-Don’t just list job duties; focus on accomplishments
-Avoid personal pronouns (I/me/my)
-Unprofessional email ID like coolguy352
-No need for Photo/DOB
-Don’t bold too many words.”
MISTAKES
In her next tweet, she sheds light on common mistakes that one makes while making a resume.
“Typos/ grammatical errors
-More than 2 lines on any point
– Inconsistent font size/line spacing
– Being unethical like disclosing confidential info
– Verbose resume with length > 2 pages.”
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
After mistakes, she comes to the technical aspects. She writes: “Select a professional font, example- Arial/ Calibri/Garamond
– Readable size (10.5-12) for text
– Leave ample white-space so that it is soothing to read
– 1/2-1 inch margins on all sides
– Single spacing works best.”
SHARES HER OWN RESUME
Lastly, she shares her own CV from 2007, when she was applying for her first job.
And she concludes her thread with these words: “Resume is as much about presenting what you have done in an impactful way, as it is about doing a lot in life. Best of luck for the placements!”
