A Communo Initiative Presented by

Team Communo, BITS Pilani

in collaboration with, The Shortlist

A primer on
Profile Building and Resume Writing

Authored by

Akshita Agarwal

Founder, The Shortlist | IIM Ahmedabad | BITS Pilani

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 1

 Table of Contents

Introduction 3

1. Content: What to do to build yourprofile 4

Educational Background 5

Work Experience: Internships 6

Positions of Responsibility 7

Extracurricular Activities 8

2. Presentation on CV: Four Things To Keep In Mind 9

On Efficiency 9

On Perception 10

The “Right” Fit 10

All About Impact 11

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 2

Introduction

There are two things that matter most when it comes to building a great resume:

A. WHAT you’ve done: This includes every achievement, every internship, project,
activity that you’ve been a part of that is worth highlighting on your resume. This
implies including all activities on your resume that highlight your leadership
capabilities, communication skills, analytical ability, intellectual recognitions,
teamwork and collaboration spirit, social achievements etc.

B. HOW you’ve presented what you’ve done: This includes everything from
selecting the right format for your CV to writing and structuring the content in a way
that makes it easy for the recruiter to quickly distinguish your profile from the rest.

The WHAT is generally more important than the HOW but that doesn’t mean that the
HOW should be neglected. For instance, most of your peers’ profiles would be similar
WHAT-wise and in such a scenario, you’d need to max out on the HOW to gain a
competitive edge. Let’s delve deeper into each part.

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 3

1. Content: What to do to build your profile

You must work backwards when it comes to building your profile. For instance, if you are
looking to get a software developer position, you need about 70% of the activities that you
put on your resume showcase how you are the right fit for that position. This could mean
strong GPAs in technical subjects, software developer internships at technology
companies and/or startups, participating in coding competitions at institute level, national
and international levels, etc. The same applies to any core position that merits a display of
strong technical capabilities.

If you’ve decided that you want a non-core job or are still considering your options, it is
advisable to maintain a balanced approach in the activities that you partake in. This is for
the simple reason that if you apply for a non-core job, say consulting, a CV that is
balanced appeals more to the recruiter. Also, you can explore different things that can
eventually help you decide which field you’d like to pursue a career in.

Keep in mind that careers shape up over the longer term, so even if you feel that your
profile is weak now, you can drastically improve by doing little things that continually add
value. A balanced CV, therefore, could mean maintaining a good GPA, completing 2-3
internships or academic projects, 2-3 positions of responsibility and involvement in
extracurricular activities.

Now, let’s talk about the things that matter under each category and discuss tips on how
to improve upon them.

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 4

1.1. Educational Background

What matters: Without a doubt, CGPA matters the most here. Anything over 8 is
desirable, above 8.5 is great. If you’re between 7 and 8, the low GPA must be
compensated for by doing more internships and securing ranks in extracurricular
competitions - basically showing your excellence in fields other than GPA. If you’re below
7, you would need to work extra hard on bolstering the rest of your profile so that the dip
in GPA is balanced by the achievement highs in other sections. Remember, a low GPA is
only bad if it is not accompanied by a solid reason.

How to improve: First, take an honest look at your CGPA and try and assess what grades
would you need in each subject in each upcoming semester to cross the 8 threshold. Do
this exercise in an Excel spreadsheet. Then, ask yourself “Does crossing the 8 threshold
seem possible for you?” It is possible that if you’re on the low 6 side, you’d need to get 9
and above in each subject to cross 8 in the next two semesters. Completing the Excel
exercise will tell you how easy or difficult the target is going to be. If you believe that it’s
possible, I’d highly recommend boosting your cgpa. You can be strategic about it as well.
Instead of taking on electives that are difficult to score in, you could select a mix of
electives that allow you to increase your GPA with lesser effort than what another subject
might have required you to do. Try to increase your GPA to at least 7.5+ if not 8-8.5. You
will reap the benefits in the longer term!

Only and only if you are sure that absolutely nothing can improve your gpa, you should try
to add other elements to this section of your resume. Folks with decent GPAs can also
work on these:

● Adding certifications such as “Bloomberg Market Concepts”, “Lean Six Sigma

Green Belt”, etc.
● Adding grades of academic and research projects.
● Adding test scores such as GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, etc.
● Adding subject wise GPAs. For instance, even if your cumulative GPA is 7, if you
scored 9/10 or 10/10 in Fundamentals of Finance elective, you might want to
highlight that depending on the role that you’re applying for.

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 5

1.2. Work Experience: Internships

What matters: Three things matter - First, the number of internships as it gives an
indication of your zeal to have real-world experience as opposed to theoretical teachings;
Second, the place where you interned as it highlights the value of experience that you
would have received. For instance, an internship at a Fortune 500 company would tell the
recruiter not only that the selection process would’ve been rigorous (ergo, you must be a
good candidate) but also that you would have learned quite a lot. Similarly, an internship
at a growing startup indicates that you are a hustler; Third, the depth and quality of your
experience. A 2-month internship building analytical predictive models to grow revenues
for a startup is a much better experience than a 4-month internship with a mid-size brand
where you assisted someone else in desk research.

How to improve: Aim to have at least 3 internships under your belt. Aside from PS-1 and
PS-2, find an internship for the summer after your 3rd year. If you’re in 1st year, you have
a head start. For those in their pre-final or final year, find remote internships that you can
work on during the semester. If that doesn’t work, find a winter internship. Follow
websites such as Internshala.com. Alternatively, you can sign up for exchange
programs that take you outside of India. Apply to research internships in different
colleges, for instance, summer schools in IIM Ahmedabad or IIM Bangalore. You could
also apply to MITACS in Canada, DAAD in Germany, and others in different countries,
depending on your interests. You can also intern at non-profit organizations such as
Teach for India. You could intern at government outfits. For instance, NITI Aayog
recruits interns through their youth initiative. There’s no limit to the opportunities that exist
for you to get real-world experience. All you need is time to research and patience to find
an opportunity that suits you best.

Once you bag an internship, try to learn as much as you can during the tenure.
Understand how the business works (if it’s a research piece, understand the nuances).
Learn the technical skills as well as soft skills. Most importantly, do the job well. Towards
the end of your internship, always ask for a letter of recommendation. This adds
legitimacy to your performance. That’s a brownie point for your profile!

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 6

1.3. Positions of Responsibility

What matters: The quality of experience matters far more than the designation you hold.
Therefore, do not try to sound fancy in your designations. Recruiters do not care. What
gives you an edge here is the type of initiatives that you led and the impact that you
created. At least 2-3 positions with good depth in each position should suffice. If you’re a
member of the SU, EC, CRC or hold a position in your respective club/department, it’s a
definite plus. In case you don’t, there’s no reason to worry. Just follow the below tactics.

How to improve:Start looking for opportunities online. Try to find organizations that are
looking for students to open a chapter of their organization on the campus. For instance,
apply to become HULT Prize campus director, or Enactus chapter founder, shARE
chapter founder or other similar organizations. There are plenty of organizations that can
match your interest! You could volunteer for global non-profit organizations, the most
famous one being AIESEC international. You could sign up as an expert at Chegg. You
could volunteer to translate TED videos.

There are multiple volunteering opportunities that you can tap into to create a whole host
of positions of responsibility without joining any clubs/departments on campus. If nothing
else works, think about starting your own club or interest group on campus. You could
work on your startup idea and create a pilot around that. If not, sign up as a volunteer
digital marketer for startups. Follow startups on LinkedIn to see if they have a remote
volunteering opportunity for you. Don’t limit yourself to the campus!

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 7

1.4. Extracurricular Activities

What matters: Your passion! What is it that you do when you’re free? Do you have any
particular hobbies? If yes, what can you do to show that particular hobby? Anything and
everything under the sun can be included here. Do you write blogs? Are you a trained
Kathak dancer? How many languages can you speak? Have you won specific
competitions that are in-line with your hobbies? It’s time to show who you are outside of
work.

How to improve: Take part in competitions that align with your hobbies. You could include
case competitions, national/international level Olympiads, national/international
conferences. Follow websites such as Opportunity Desk
(http://www.opportunitydesk.org/) - they list down every opportunity around the world
that you can take part in including conferences, competitions, exchange programs,
awards, volunteering stints, MUNs, even internships! You are bound to find multiple
avenues that are aligned with your hobbies and perhaps stumble upon new opportunities
that you’d love to try!

You can also apply for well-known student conferences such as HPAIR by Harvard
University, World Business Dialogue, St. Gallen’s Symposium, etc. to boost this
section of your CV.

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 8

2. Presentation on CV: Four Things To Keep In Mind

A resume is a tool that helps recruiters select candidates for various positions at
organizations. While it may not be the best tool, it still serves the purpose efficiently.
That’s the primary reason why recruiters ask for your resume as a first step in their
selection process. Therefore, in order to get your resume shortlisted, you need to make it
EASY for the recruiter to notice you. How do you achieve that? Below are four things to
follow that will help you write a great resume.

2.1. On Efficiency
Build a good resume that efficiently allows the recruiter to select you.

A good resume is one which presents all your achievements and experiences in a neat
and categorized format. Unless you have more than 7-8 years of work experience, it’s
recommended not to go beyond a one-page resume. The real estate on one page is more
than enough to capture all your highlights. Few other points to note:

- Instead of writing prose, use bullets.

- Keep bullets crisp, preferably within one line.

- Categorize, Categorize, Categorize: Add your achievements in 3-4 sections,

academic, work experience/internships, positions of responsibility, and
extracurricular activities. This quickly allows the recruiter to jump into a relevant
section and scan out the details. Even within the category, add sub-category
wherever important. For instance, highlight sub-categories such as ‘achievements’
or ‘projects’ or ‘responsibilities’ under the larger category of Internships.

- Add a timeline: It’s almost always necessary to add the month/year alongside your
resume bullets so as to help the recruiter draw out a timeline of your professional
career. It also shows consistency in your achievements.

- Mention your contact details in the header/footer of the resume depending on the
format you follow.
Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 9
 - Run your resume through a spell check: many candidates overlook this tiny but
crucial aspect. A spelling mistake on your resume shows that you are not serious
about the position you’re applying to.

2.2 On Perception

Remember YOU HAVE CONTROL over how the recruiter perceives you

Let’s step into the shoes of a recruiter for a moment. Imagine his/her typical day. (S)he
goes through tens of CVs in a day and has to make a quick judgment on which candidate
to select for further rounds. After all, recruitment is only one part of his/her job description.
Naturally, this time constraint does not allow him/her the liberty to absorb everything that
you have mentioned on your CV. (S)He still follows through and tries to capture your
personality through the bullet points YOU have written to assess if you fit the job.

This means you need to create a resume that ACCURATELY captures your skills and
achievements. You cannot rely on borrowing phrases from your job description profile to
fill out your resume. You need to go the extra mile to collate examples where you
demonstrated these different skills. Simply stating “you were responsible for ensuring x, y,
z” does not make you accountable for it. Instead, the recruiter wants to see the things you
achieved by ensuring x, y, and z. That sets your personality apart from others who have
applied for the same job.

2.3 The “Right” Fit

Show overlap between your skills and requirements of the job

It goes without question that a serious job seeker would apply to sectors and industries
where he/she has some demonstrated ability. This demonstrated ability could be your
degree, work experience or internships, non-work projects, positions of responsibility,
etc. Since the recruiter doesn’t know you personally, all the resumes that (s)he receives
are on an equal footing for him/her. It is only when (s)he starts to sieve through the CVs
that (s)he classifies certain CVs as good. It is critical to understand the basis for such a
Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 10
 classification. After all, a recruiter views a CV from an objective standpoint. (S)he
primarily looks at the skills required for the role the organization is recruiting for and tries
to find elements that demonstrate those skills in candidates’ resumes. Therefore, the
takeaway for you should be two-fold:

Firstly, you can not only work backwards to building a CV that fits the role you seek but
also highlight your current achievements in a way that emphasizes the overlap between
your skills and the role requirements. Secondly, you must always learn about the role in-
depth before you apply for it. The logic: Unless you are aware of what skills the recruiter is
trying to find in your CV, how will you highlight them! Talk to the HR, attend pre-placement
talks, talk to seniors who are current employees or alums who worked at the firm earlier to
learn as much as possible about the role.

2.4 All About Impact

Highlight the IMPACT of what you did rather than simply DESCRIBE it

When it comes to a good resume, it is immensely important that you highlight the IMPACT
of what you did rather than DESCRIBE it. There’s an enormous difference between the
two. Impact puts you in the driver’s seat. It takes a dull bullet point in your CV and gives it
a much-needed makeover from your vantage point. It shows the recruiter that you
achieved something ACTIVELY. On the other hand, a description puts the limelight on
external circumstances. It portrays the same bullet point as a PASSIVE statement on the
lines of something-happened-somewhere. Why would the recruiter care about your project
description? Ultimately, (s)he is looking for YOUR SKILLS which are only revealed once
you don an IMPACT-ORIENTED hat.

Consider these CV points:

Candidate A:

1. Created mobile-compatible interactive dashboards using QlikSense mashups

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 11

 2. Responsible for handling campaign for the employees that led to increased
revenues for the department

Candidate B:

1. Secured 2 new clients to generate 2 lac worth of business by creating mobile-

compatible interactive dashboards via QlikSense mashups
2. Campaigned for 100+ employees to achieve a 10% year-on-year increase in
revenues for the department

If you were the recruiter, which candidate would you select? Would it be candidate A who
has simply described his/her work or would it be candidate B who took the time out to
identify the impact that his/her work brought to the organization? Notice both candidates
have done the same work, And yet, candidate B seems more competent simply because
(s)he chose to highlight the impact instead of mere description.

It’s important to think like candidate B when it comes to resume writing. Don’t assume that
your recruiter would know what a great job you’ve done. You need to write it explicitly.
Think about the impact of every activity that you’ve been a part of and highlight that on
your resume. That is what will get you the shortlist.

Few tips to get you started on highlighting the impact the right way:

- Quantify your achievement. Instead of ambiguous statements such as “managed

students” or “lead a team”, use “managed 30 students” or “lead a team of 15”.

- Begin your bullet points with an active verb instead of using cliche terminologies
such as “Responsible for”. For a list of action verbs, refer tothis article. Full link:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-
awesome

- Benchmark your accomplishments. Instead of saying “Generated revenues of INR

2 lacs”, say “Generated INR 2 lacs in revenues, an increase of 10% year-on-year”.

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 12

 Benchmarking allows you to highlight the exact value-add that you brought to the
position of responsibility.

- If a monetary impact is not available, highlight impact in terms of time. For instance,
“Completed due diligence within 3 weeks (average 6 weeks)”. This resume point
highlights that on average, a person would take 6 weeks to complete a due
diligence project. However, you completed it in 3 weeks. And that tells the recruiter
that you are analytically sound and deliver results well within deadlines.

Copyright © The Shortlist & Communo 2019 | 13