Resume Preparation Guidelines Interview question

Before even the interviewer meets you he will first meet your resume. Interviewer looking at your resume is almost a 20% interview happening with out you knowing it. I was always a bad guy when it comes to resume preparation. But when I looked at my friend’s resume they where gorgeous. Now that I am writing series of book on interviews I thought this will be a good point to put in. You can happily skip it if you are confident about your resume. There is no hard and fast rule that you have to follow the same pattern but just see if these all check list are attended.

Use plain text when you are sending resumes through email. For instance you sent your resume using Microsoft word and what if the interviewer is using Linux he will never be able to read your resume. You can not be sure both wise, you sent your resume in Word 2000 and the guy has Word 97.

Attach a covering letter it really impresses and makes you look traditionally formal. Yes, even if you are sending your CV through email send a covering letter. Check list of content you should have in your resume:-

• Start with an objective or summary, for instance, “Working as a Senior Database administrator for more than 4 years. Implemented quality web based application. Follow the industry’s best practices and adhered and implemented processes, which enhanced the quality of technical delivery. Pledge to deliver the best technical solutions to the industry.”
• Specify your Core strengths at the start of the resume by which the interviewer can make a quick decision are you eligible for the position. For example :-

1. Looked after data mining and data warehousing department independently. Played a major role in query optimization.
2. Worked extensively in database design and ER diagram implementation.
3. Well versed with CMMI process and followed it extensively in projects.
4. Looking forward to work on project manager or senior manager position. This is also a good position to specify your objective or position which makes it clear to the interviewer that should he call you for an interview. For instance, if you are looking for senior positions specify it explicitly ‘looking for this job profile’. Any kind of certification like MCP, MCSD etc you can make it visible in this section.60

• Once you have specified briefly your goals and what you have done its time to specify what type of technology you have worked with. For instance RDBMS, TOOLS, Languages, Web servers, process (Six sigma, CMMI).
• After that you can make a run through of your experience company wise that is what company you have worked with, year / month joining and year / month left. This will give an overview to the interviewer what type of companies you have associated your self. Now its time to mention all your projects you have worked till now. Best is to start in descending order that is from your current project and go backwards. For every project try to put these things :-

• Project Name / Client name (It’s sometimes unethical to mention clients name; I leave it to the readers).
• Number of team members.
• Time span of the project.
• Tools, language, RDBMS and technology used to complete the project.
• Brief summary of the project. Senior people who have huge experience will tend to increase there CV with putting in summary for all project. Best for them is to just put description of the first three projects in descending manner and rest they can say verbally during interview. I have seen CV above 15 pages… I doubt who can read it.
• Finally comes your education and personal details.
• Trying for onsite, do not forget to mention your passport number.
• Some guys tend to make there CV large and huge. I think an optimal size should be not more than 4 to 5 pages.
• Do not mention your salary in CV. You can talk about it during interview with HR or the interviewer.
• When you are writing your summary for project make it effective by using verbs like managed a team of 5 members, architected the project from start to finish etc. It brings huge weight.
• This is essential very essential take 4 to 5 Xerox copies of your resume you will need it now and then.
• Just in case take at least 2 passport photos with you. You can escape it but many times you will need it.
• Carry all your current office documents specially your salary slips and joining letter.