The perfect resume

It’s time to update the resume. Ahead of placements, the Indian Institute of Management, Indore, shares one sample. And recruitment firm TMI Network shows another format more suitable for mid-level managers.

Also see Resumes of two candidates

Why these resumes work

Candidate A’s resume

• This resume stands out for its simplicity. The sentences are crisp and there are no superfluous words. As a result, there is less clutter and an HR executive can read the resume clearly, and actually run through it within five seconds. Note it is just one page.

• All achievements are listed under different heads. Specific words or phrases that are more important are marked in bold. All points are in reverse chronological order.

• The resume lists academics and extra-curricular activities in a balanced manner. It is well related to the job applied for—in this case, a first job as a management trainee.

Candidate B’s resume

• Fitting in 11 years of work experience on a page or two isn’t easy. However, this CV manages to do it without missing out on the essentials.

• The resume has the statistics to back the candidate’s claim. As a sales manager, the annual targets, by how much he surpassed them, prove his ability.

What not to do?

• Do not put anything in your resume that you can’t substantiate. For example, don’t list photography as a hobby if you don’t know the differences between cameras, says T. Sreedhar, managing director of recruitment firm TMI Network.

• Do not write everything about yourself in the CV. Instead, highlight achievements and skills that are fundamental to the role and underplay the others.

• Finally, don’t write your resume when you are in a hurry. Update it when your job is going well, rather than when you are looking for a new one.

Compiled by Aparna Kalra and Aruna Viswanatha

aparna.k@livemint.com