How to Make a Good Resume?
- 1. SUIT UP Dr A.N. Brijesh Nair & Deepa Madathil
- 2. My Disclaimer • Not a professional resume/SOP writer • I am talking from my experience – Applying for jobs – Interviewing March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 2
- 3. My Disclaimer • These rules – Not applicable • To Mass Recruiters March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 3
- 4. Outline • Resume – Journey of a resume – Writing a resume – Do’s and Don’ts • Interviews – Do’s and Don’ts • SOP – Definition – How to write it • Questions March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 4
- 5. How many of you know the differences between…… March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 5
- 6. Resumes March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 6
- 7. Biodata March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 7
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- 9. Resumes March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 9
- 10. Word “Resume” originated from • French Word – Summary March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 10
- 11. If “Resume” is “Summary” • Ideally – 1 page – Cannot exceed 2 pages • Resume – Summary • Employment • Education Relevant to the job • Other skills March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 11
- 12. Resume • Never list out – All your qualifications/education • But – Only those relevant to job advertised March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 12
- 13. Resume • Written in third person – To be objective and formal • Use bulleted points • Starts with – Summary of Qualifications/Objective • Reverse chronological order – Focus on the most recent one March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 13
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- 15. Curriculum Vitae originated from • Latin Word – Course of Life March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 15
- 16. Curriculum Vitae (C.V) • C.V – More detailed than Resume – Usually 2 to 3 pages • Can be even longer – List every • Skill • Job Chronological Order • Degree • Professional Affiliations March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 16
- 17. Curriculum Vitae (C.V) • C.V – General Talent – Not the specific skill March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 17
- 18. Biodata March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 18
- 19. Bio-Data • Short form for – Biographical data March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 19
- 20. Typical Biodata • Personal particulars – Date of Birth – Religion – Sex – Race – Nationality – Residence – Marital Status March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 20
- 21. Typical Bio-data • Chronological listing of – Education – Experience • Can be more than 10 pages • Example of a bio-data March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 21
- 22. So what do you have to make? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 22
- 23. So what do you have to make? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 23
- 24. So what do you have to make? • Resume?? • Bio-data?? • Curriculum Vitae?? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 24
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- 26. Majority of the time • Resume… March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 26
- 27. So you send your resume for… • Job • Internship • To professors – To get scholarships • To do MS March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 27
- 28. You apply via… • Email • Snail Mail • Job sites like – www.monster.com – www.naukri.com March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 28
- 29. It is good to understand what happens to your resume after you send that March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 29
- 30. Assume… • Opening in VIT University March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 30
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- 32. Journey of a Resume March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 32
- 33. Journey of a Resume • Assume 100 people applied – For the post of • Assistant Professor • One opening – Now HR dept • Hands over the resume – To Director of SMBS March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 33
- 34. Journey of a Resume • Director of School – busy person – Glance through each resume • Maximum for a minute • Short lists 10 from that • Others go to dust-bin – Comes back later • Goes in detail – Through the 10 short listed resumes • Selects five – To call for final interview March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 34
- 35. Journey of a Resume • What happened here? – Ninety resumes were not even read properly – Rejected – Why? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 35
- 36. Journey of a Resume • It failed to create “that” first impression March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 36
- 37. Journey of a Resume • It is very necessary to – Create that first impression • If you need to be selected for Interview • How can you do that – Making your resume • Short and sweet • Being very specific March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 37
- 38. What happens when you send your resume to the professor abroad for MS admission? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 38
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- 40. Assume a situation • You are a final year student in VIT University • One fine day you are getting a mail in your inbox March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 40
- 41. You are getting a mail… March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 41
- 42. You are getting a mail… March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 42
- 43. After reading this what will be your reaction?? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 43
- 44. Your reaction? $%&@ You! March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 44
- 45. Now a professor gets a mail March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 45
- 46. Professor Opens the mail March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 46
- 47. What will he do? $%&@ You! March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 47
- 48. What will he do? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 48
- 49. What do you understand? • From job selection process in VIT • Emails I showed you March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 49
- 50. More than 95% of the time, your resumes are not even read before it is rejected March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 50
- 51. Your resume should… • Withstand filtering March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 51
- 52. Resume • Short and sweet • Being very specific March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 52
- 53. Resumes – Do’s and Don’ts • For a B.Tech Student – One page ideal – Worst case • 2 pages – Font • Arial – Heading 12 pt – Text 10-11pt – Minimize the white space • Ideally “ZERO” white space March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 53
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- 61. The new resume March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 61
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- 65. Another Example March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 65
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- 69. The transformation March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 69
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- 71. Food for thought March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 71
- 72. What is this? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 72
- 73. A roadside book store… March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 73
- 74. How do you select a book… • Attracted by – Author – Cover – Best seller March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 74
- 75. So you should • Make yourself well known • Make your work well known • As a fresher both are not possible • What is possible – Make your resume colorful March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 75
- 76. How can you make it colorful? • Adding all relevant stuff March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 76
- 77. Sections in Resume March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 77
- 78. Name and Address Your email id Your Name • Give your permanent address • Font – Name • Arial 14 pt – Others • Arial 10 pt March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 78
- 79. Objective • Should exactly match the job profile • Objective should be – Unique for the job • Maximum 2 lines March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 79
- 80. Education • Latest degree first • Format – Degree-specialization-School-CGPA-Month & Date of Graduation March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 80
- 81. Academic Projects • All relevant projects you did in class – Last one first March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 81
- 82. Publications • Last publication first • Include ONLY publications – Relevant for the job March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 82
- 83. Skills • The various skills you possess – In bulleted points – Group similar skills together March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 83
- 84. Honors • The various outstanding achievements – Relevant to position applied March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 84
- 85. Relevant Courses • Relevant courses – Good for internship March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 85
- 86. Additional Qualifications • Any other qualification you have – That makes you a better candidate March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 86
- 87. Reference • Optional – You can always write • “Reference will be provided on request” March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 87
- 88. Internships • If applying for industry job/internship – This should come after “Education” March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 88
- 89. Professional Experience • If you already have a job March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 89
- 90. Professional Affiliations • The professional bodies you are affiliated to March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 90
- 91. So titles… • Name and address • Objective • Education • Professional Experience • Academic Projects • Internships • Publications • Skills • Honors • Relevant Courses • Additional Qualifications • References March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 91
- 92. Some thoughts on Resume • Professional Experience • Academic Projects • Internships Cannot develop these skills overnight • Publications • Skills • Honors March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 92
- 93. Some thoughts on Resume • Every month you do something – Update your resume March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 93
- 94. Some thoughts on Resume • No two jobs can have same resume March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 94
- 95. Some thoughts on Resume • Never copy even a single line of your resume • My professor – Shown me copied resumes March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 95
- 96. Some thoughts on Resume • Before you send the resume – Make your resume – Correct it – Show it to your friends – Correct it again – Show it to someone who understands the job profile – Again correct it March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 96
- 97. Suppose you are applying for this job March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 97
- 98. All titles should match these key words • Name and address • Objective • Education • Professional Experience • Academic Projects • Internships • Publications • Skills • Honors • Relevant Courses • Additional Qualifications • References March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 98
- 99. Uploading your resume in Web March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 99
- 100. You upload your resume • www.naukri.com • www.monster.com March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 100
- 101. How is this different from other ways of applying? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 101
- 102. After you upload your resume • Most of the time – It is not for a specific job – You register in that site • Upload your resume – Companies contact these websites • Specifying key words – “Structural Engineer”, “Network Engineer” • Search engine picks up – All resumes that match the key word March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 102
- 103. If you are uploading your resume • To a internet site – It should be rich in technical terms – so that it comes up in internal search March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 103
- 104. Let us move on March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 104
- 105. Interviews March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 105
- 106. Now you are called for interview March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 106
- 107. Types of interview • HR Interview – Group Discussion – One to one interview • Technical March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 107
- 108. Interviews – some get through some won’t March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 108
- 109. Some HR interview questions March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 109
- 110. Interviews • These questions look very easy • Answers are not easy • If you haven’t prepared – You easily contradict yourself – Flow of words won’t be there March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 110
- 111. Some HR interview questions March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 111
- 112. Interviews • Be prepared for such questions • Lot of books out there – Do’s and don’t’s • HR Interview – Read at least one of them • Make your own stories • Connect that story – To all the questions March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 112
- 113. Interview • While going for an interview – Read all that is available • About that company • At the end of the interview – Ask one question (already prepared) • That proves your knowledge about the company – It can really help March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 113
- 114. Interview • Once you are done with the interview – Send a “THANK YOU” mail – It makes a lot of difference March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 114
- 115. Statement of Purpose (SOP) March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 115
- 116. Why did you join VIT for doing engineering? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 116
- 117. Why did you join VIT University? • Has to “some how” do engineering • Pressure from – Parents – Friends • You have been told from childhood – Your are worth only if you do engineering • Majority of us – Never had any life changing event • That made us to decide “I am going to do engineering” March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 117
- 118. It is different in US • No one is forced to do any courses • You join college/select the subject based – On your own interest – Example of my friend • BS in Arts (movie making) • MS in Engineering – Learning the working principle of cameras March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 118
- 119. What is SOP? • It should answer 3 questions – What motivated you to do what you are doing now? – What are you doing now? – Why you want to do what you want to do for your graduate studies? March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 119
- 120. Taking example of my friend • What motivated you to do what you are doing now? – A camera I got as gift • I took around taking photos/videos • Arouse interest in me to know more about – Lighting – Shades • So took up Bachelors in Arts (specializing in movie making) March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 120
- 121. Taking example of my friend • What are you doing now? – Making movies using what I learned in school – Types of movies I make – Challenges I face March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 121
- 122. Taking example of my friend • Why you want to do what you want to do for your graduate studies? – I am making so many movies – Feels like I don’t have control over the cameras – Need to learn more about the working of camera – Decided to do MS March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 122
- 123. More about SOP • For an American – Making a story is easy – A typical American in B.Tech class • For an Indian student – Most of the time • You may have to make up the story – To answer the 3 questions March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 123
- 124. Importance of SOP • SoP is the only part of your application packet over which you have full control! • Chance to talk directly to the admissions committee • Make yourself stand out from among a multitude of similarly qualified candidates • Convince the committee that you have the spark, the thirst for knowledge that could add value to your class March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 124
- 125. SOP • Should be – 400 to 600 words – 3 to 4 paragraphs long March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 125
- 126. Teachers talking about SOP March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 126
- 127. Conclude • Resume – No two resumes can be same – Make resumes based on job requirement – Limit it to one page • Interviews – Prepare well • SOP – You chance to impress the admission panel – Answer three questions making up your own stories March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 127
- 128. More about jobs/resumes March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 128
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- 130. Feedback brijeshnairan@gmail.com Brijesh Nair brijeshnairan Scaling New Heights March 20, 2012 SUIT UP 130
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