What is a Resume?
A resume is a document that highlights the strengths, achievements and suitability of a potential candidate for a specific job role. It includes educational background, work experience and job-specific skills. A resume is an important document for those applying for any position irrespective of which field they belong to. Employers when manually accessing the resumes of the candidates, get an opportunity to understand the suitability of a candidate and shortlist only those resumes that seems fit for the advertised position. So, it is of prime importance that job applicants should take extra care in preparing their resumes in a professional manner.
Why is a Resume so Important?
Everyone understands that the candidate is more important than the resume. Then, you may wonder why does this document enjoy such a reputation? The answer is simple. The resume is a reflection of you. It shows who you are as a person based on what you have furnished. The time you have spent creating, aligning and making it presentable shows how organised you are. The information if presented in an honest way shows that you are genuine and trustworthy. The skills and proficiency that you may have presented shows how capable you are for a specific role. There is so much we can make out about a person from a resume. Resume simply speaks. Therefore, it is important to design it sound.
The Big Mistake
In India, the big mistake of having just a single template for every job is very common. This is a big mistake because, it spoils the very purpose of resume creation. Job aspirants must understand that jobs are never the same. Even when two different schools hire for an English teacher position, these two jobs will have their own roles and responsibilities in most cases very different from each other. So, it is highly recommended to create exclusive resume for each advertised position separately as this will definitely give the candidate a higher chance of getting shortlisted for the opportunity.
Showcase Professionalism
Many candidates end up creating resumes from their own perspective by furnishing information that is usually not relevant. It is always good to get some advice before working on it. We would love to see students being creative and independent but at every point they must ensure that the resume is professional. Watch this video: Resume Building Tips for Freshers: How to Stand Out? Start by reading articles and watching videos on resume building and related topics. See whether you can have access to the resumes of working professionals in the field of your interest. These steps can help you gather some fundamental ideas as you plan to create and develop your version.
It is important to be highly particular about the information presented in the resume. Resumes should always reflect the personality and the competencies of the candidates at the appropriate degree and fashion. This is where, the expertise becomes essential. We have been in this field for over a decade having successfully assisted hundreds of candidates in the resume building process and seeing them make it to their dream companies. That is how we know what information really counts. Feel free to leave your feedback and questions in the comments, we will be happy to answer your questions.
Author | Dr Rajesh Bojan