Résumé Writing Skills

What your résumé should cover:

1. Your Details
2. Education Background: include, school and college.
3. Work Experiences: include internships, work experiences if any
4. Skills: you can mention your online research ability, your proficiency in a
foreign language or any Indian languages, computer skills, cross cultural
sensitivity and why, organizational skills, etc.
5. Credits: include all awards won; curricular and extra / co–curricular

What your résumé should leave out:

1. Details – a résumé should be brief and concise; leave details for the
interview
2. Personal life stories
3. Bad grammar – make sure you have your résumé checked by your peers
before submission
4. Vulgarity and abusive language
5. Hobbies – these can be included if you have won accolades / awards for
them otherwise let them be

Make Sure:

1. If you have no work experience, your résumé SHOULD NOT be more than
a single page
2. Grammar, spelling and punctuation are correct.
3. Do not attach / send photographs.
4. Carry extra copies of your résumé with you.

Sample HR Questions (and how to answer them)

Here are some extra questions that you need to be ready to answer if you want
to ace your interview.

1. Why do you want to work in this company?

Your Answer Should: Involve your experience with the company, if any. It
should be honest and also make the interviewer know that you have done
your research on the company.

2. What are your hobbies? (Also be prepared for - why you like a particular
hobby?)
Your Answer Should: Be true. It should reflect you as a person with
interests. Hobbies tell a lot about a person. So think carefully while
answering this one.
 3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Your Answer Should: Tell the truth yet not sound either boastful (while
mentioning strengths) or self critical (while mentioning weakness). Try not
to mention more than one weakness. If you go on and on about your many
flaws, the interviewer may think that you lack self esteem and are under
confident.

4. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Your Answer Should: Not be boastful and full of fluff. Do not use
terms like” I see myself as CEO of a prestigious company, etc.” It is safer
to stick to a practical answer. Something like “I see myself working in the
same area of expertise but at a more responsible position”, etc. will reflect
honesty and loyalty to a field of experience.

5. Tell us / me something that your résumé does not cover about you?
Your Answer Should: Emphasize on your extra curricular activities where
you have shown leadership abilities, team spirit and individual
responsibility. It should cover arenas that you have not mentioned in your
résumé It could be a personal interest that you pursue like a passion for
photography, etc. or it could be a foreign language that you are currently
learning. Along with that you should make it a point to talk about why you
were part of that activity.

Dressing for Success

Arthur Ashe once said, "Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he
is made, they greatly improve his appearance." And true are his words in the
corporate world. In order to make an impression you need to be able to deliver
goods but the right attitude and image play an important role when you finally do
deliver! It’s like icing on the cake!

Here are some things to be kept in mind while dressing for success:

• Your clothes SHOULD BE neat, ironed and clean

• Shoes should be in a good condition and clean. Men should polish their
shoes as often as possible
• Your hair should be neat and clean. Styling should be conservative.
• Women - Lots of make up should be avoided. Wear light pastel shades.
No make up look should be also avoided unless you have flawless
complexion. Wear lip gloss and kajal if you prefer the no make up look
• Nails should be clean, neat and should be of reasonable length. Avoid
very long nails.
• Skirts should be of conservative lengths and should not be too short.
Preferably stick to knee length skirts.
• Heels should be low. It’s all about being comfortable.
• Teeth should be clean. Your smile says a lot about you!
 • Carry tissue instead of a hanky. A tissue is cleaner and germ free as you
usually dispose it after one use.
• Men - Shirts should be tucked in!
• Women - Avoid wearing gajras as much as possible.
• Women – Bindis should be conservative; not too big!
• Sun glasses should not be worn indoors. It is NOT cool and fashionable
unless you work for a fashion house.
• Jewelry should be simple. Don’t come bedecked in diamonds and gold to
work / interview.

Finally, wear your best smile and have confidence in yourself. You do not need to
wear expensive designer clothes to make an impression. Clean, neat,
conservative and ironed are the keywords to be kept in mind.

Dressing Table

Dressing YES YES Dressing NO NO

Clean clothes, polished and clean shoes
Cut Nails
Combed hair and conservative hairstyle
Conservative colors
Smell good – take a shower / bath before
you go
High heels, sports shoes, slippers,
colorful socks
Jeans and other casual clothes
Body piercing, tattoos that are
visible
Bright vibrant colors
Sweaty, un - bathed, straight out of
bed look
Before the Interview:

Once you have cleared all the rounds you have to begin preparing for the big
interview. What do you need to keep in mind when getting ready for a one on one
interview session? Here are some pointers.

1. Be Prepared: In the words of Confucius, “No matter how busy you may
think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-
chosen ignorance.” Make sure you have researched the company
thoroughly before going for the interview. You should also know what the
job is all about. Go through the job description. Call the organization for
more details if required. You can tell them that you have been called for an
interview and would like to know more about the position. Research the
newspapers for relevant material on the organization and the kind of work
they are into. Research, Research and Research, until you are sure you
know the company and the job inside out.

2. Carry these with you: Make sure you have extra copies of your resume,
your cover letter and also originals of certificates of awards you have won.
Always ensure that the certificates are of either the first or second position
winning arenas. Having copies of important documents helps in case your
interviewer is not able to locate your resume or asks you to leave behind
an extra copy.

3. Do not carry these with you: Make up, unnecessary baggage, CD

players, etc. should be left at home or outside the interviewing area. If you
have a bag put them inside it. If you are traveling to a different city and
cannot help but carry your bags to the interview, then leave it outside the
interview room. This only acts like a distraction and you do not want the
interviewer’s attention to waver.

4. Switch off your mobile: One common mistake that occurs is that people
tend to take calls during interviews or fail to switch off their phone. This is
considered rude. Switch off you phone when you enter the interviewer’s
office, or put it in the silent mode. Whatever happens try not to take a call
during the thirty minutes you have in there.

5. Dress Appropriately: According to www.troydesign.com , “The best

dressed candidate is the one least noticed for his or her appearance.” Do
not wear informal clothing to an interview. It is very important to remember
that first impressions are DEFINETLY lasting impressions. It is best to
dress in formal attire for an interview. Men can resort to a suit or shirt, pant
and tie in conservative colors. Women can wear Indian attire or trousers
and a shirt or a business suit, as long as it is conservative and not
revealing. A conservative hairstyle is also something to keep in mind. Make
During an interview – Interview Skills and Etiquette

Your résumé reflects a lot on what you have achieved in your past but the final
decision is made when you actually meet your interviewer and are able to prove
what you have given him on paper is what you have to offer in real life too.
Interview etiquette unfortunately is not stressed upon in our country. Colleges and
schools too should develop activities that involve teaching students the right way
to act, communicate, dress and behave.

The first impression is a lasting one, so it is very important that when you walk out
after the interview, you leave with confidence that you have not only given it your
best but have been able to carry yourself with poise, confidence and in a well
mannered way. During my college days in the United States, we had career
building work shops and also seminars on Interviews. Such workshops helped us
a lot, especially when we were told about minor details that we as interviewees
may miss out but the interviewer pays attention to. Here are some tips to do well
in an interview:

Dress Smart – It is important to dress smartly for an interview. Wear

comfortable and conservative clothes. Indian western both are good for women
but ensure you don’t wear something too flashy or too modern. For men the
safest bet is a suit or a shirt, trousers and a tie.
Wear comfortable shoes. Women shouldn’t wear very high heels or shoes that
they cannot carry off or are uncomfortable in. the way you dress says a lot
about you so make sure you keep that in mind when picking up something from
your closet.

Greet the Interviewer – Make sure you greet the interviewer with a Sir / Madam.
If he/she tell you to refer to him/her by their name then do so. Do not call them by
their first name unless asked to do so. Referring to them as sir / madam looks
professional and can get you brownie points.
Depending upon your comfort level you can either shake hands or fold your
hands for a namaste. Usually people tend to shake hands. If you are shaking
hands then make sure you don’t hold the interviewer’s hand too tightly. Have a
firm grip and smile. A smile is very important; it shows you are relaxed and
confident.

Break the Ice – An ice breaker statement will put you at ease. You could talk to
the interviewer about how beautiful the office campus / building is or how nice
the city is (if you have come from out of town). This will make you more
comfortable and will make you look confident and will show your communication
skills.
For on campus interview you can ask the interviewer if this is his/her first visit to
the city; if they are having a good stay and if they have gone sight seeing, etc.
Refrain from personal remarks. It is safest to talk about the weather, the city or
the office building.

Answer Confidently – If you have done your homework on the job profile, the
company and yourself then you should be able to confidently answer the
questions posed to you. Make sure you look directly at the interviewer while
answering questions.

Take Time Before Answering – You can pause for five seconds before
answering. This way you don’t look like you have like you are reciting something
you have learnt. Also do not take up too much time while answering. Answer to
the point and be brief.