I had promised to post threads on CVs and Interviews. Here is the one on CVs

CVs/Resumes is your entry ticket to a job. Companies and Recruiters get their first impression about you from your CV. 1/n

Rule # 1 - Always write your own CV

Outsourcing your CV to a Professional Third Party is quite common. And most Candidates dont even bother to read or understand what the Third Party has put in the CV.

I interviewed a young guy of 26 a few years ago. I had his CV. 2/n

The years mentioned in his CV about when he passed 12th, Polytechnic, Graduation, First Job just did not tally. I asked him simple questions like which years did he pass the above programs.

He just could not tell, & tried to bluff his way out saying how can anyone remember 3/n

I told him I passed my Xth in 1979, 12th in 1981, B Sc in 1984, MBA in 1987, Joined HPCL on Jan 9 1989, Started NIIT on 8th June 1994 and so on

On questioning deeply I found out he had not passed even Class XII 4/n

He had outsourced his CV writing to someone else, who used his imagination to add qualifications and experience.

This takes us to the next rule 5/n

Rule # 2 Never Ever Lie in your CV

Once an interviewer catches you on a lie, you are finished. Your credibility is lost forever.

Also it is completely unethical

Unfortunately blame for this trend of lying on CV or misrepresenting facts started with IT Boom. 6/n

It has come to such a stage that I dont believe a single CV these days.

I once caught an IT Guy lying in his CV. He showed no remorse, and told me that his Company (a leading one) asked him to doctor his CV when they were bidding for a project. 7/n

He was asked to incorporate the Project of a colleague who has resigned as his.

He asked me "If Companies can do that, Why cant I?" 8/n

Rule # 3 Highlight Achievements

I rarely see a CV where Achievements are highlighted. CVs are mostly drab, and about Roles and Responsibilities. That is fine. But what did you achieve in your previous jobs or academic career that makes you special? 9/n

More importantly, how did these Achievements benefit your Employer.

Indians are reluctant to calculate Achievements or anything in monetary terms. But you have to. 10/n

If you can say, "I was Quality in Charge. Because I was able to reduce the reject from 0.5% to 0.342% due to initiatives XYZ taken by me, my Company save 2.53 lakhs in 2020"

Or "The Normal Sales growth was 3.46%. My efforts ensure Sales grew at 6.31%, 11/n

resulting in an additional revenue of Rs 18.7 lakhs and an additional profit of Rs 3.73 lakhs"

Imagine the impact this will have on your Interviewer!

A small tip - There are many achievements in your professional and personal life. Make it a point to note it down 12/n

Interviewers like candidates who reflects in their CV how they have helped their previous companies grow.

Rule # 4 - Be Brief

Your CV should not be 2, at the most 3 pages

Do write elaborately only about your last job. Previous jobs can be dealt with briefly 13/n

One of the methods is to follow this path

Achievements - Skills - Current Job - Previous jobs in Chronological fashion from the latest - Academic Performance - Personal Data 14/n

Rule # 5 CV should be nicely formatted and tidy

Ensure you spell check, format, both sides aligned, use a nice professional font (at least 11/12 Font size)

Dont use multiple fonts (untidy), use only one spot color for headings (tidy), never use italics or underline 15/n

Rule # 6 Dont include unwanted things on CV

Dont write you have wife and 9 children, parents, siblings etc. No one cares.

Dont bother to give references in the CV. In any case you will never give references of those who will speak ill of you 16/n

Hence it is meaningless

Use third person to address yourself. Never use 'I' in a CV. 17/n

Rule # 7 Let CV be factual. Do not doctor it for a particular job

Companies know you may not be an ideal fit. So dontt try to project what you are not. It could lead to disappointment. Let Companies take you for what you are, and then mould you. Skills are transferable 18/n

Rule # 8 Have a write up in the Covering letter/mail or as an Annexure about how the prospective employer will benefit from recruiting you

The above is self explanatory. I have heard many a candidate say that "They want this job because they want to improve" 19/n

My reply is "Why should I pay you so that YOU can improve?"

I rarely see a candidate who comes prepared as to what the job entails and how he/she can contribute to my company

That is the operative word - 'Contribute' 20/n

You need to answer WIIIFM for the Company

What Is In It For Me

'Me' here indicating the Company

I presume I covered most of the key points.

Thank you for reading this n/n