A recruiter with fifty applications for one opening does not read every resume carefully. They scan it, often on a phone, looking for a few things: is this person in the right area, with the right experience, at a salary we can afford? If the answers are hard to find, the resume goes to the "maybe later" pile, which usually means never. The good news is that you do not need a fancy template to get shortlisted. You need a resume that is clear, honest and easy to scan. Here is how to write one, section by section.
- Put your contact details, location and target role where a recruiter sees them in seconds.
- Show what you achieved in each job, not just your duties.
- Keep it simple, honest and in a single clean column.
What recruiters look for first
In the first quick scan, most recruiters in India check:
- Current role and company, and how long you have been there.
- Total experience and whether it matches the job.
- Location, because commute is a common reason candidates drop out.
- Key skills mentioned in the job post, such as Tally, Excel, AutoCAD, a language or a machine type.
- Education, especially for fresher roles.
Your resume should make each of these easy to find in the top half of the first page.
The sections, in order
- Header
Full name, mobile number, email and your area and city. A LinkedIn link if you keep it updated.
- Target role and summary
Two or three lines: who you are, your experience and the role you want.
- Skills
A short list of relevant skills, software and languages.
- Work experience
Latest job first, with dates, role, company and what you achieved.
- Education
Highest qualification first, with year and board or university.
- Extras
Certifications, training, languages, and achievements that matter for the job.
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Write a summary that says something
Skip the old-style "objective" that says you want a challenging position in a reputed organisation. Everyone writes that. Instead, write two or three specific lines. For example:
"Accounts executive with 4 years' experience in a Surat textile trading firm. Handle purchase and sales entries in Tally, GST return data and party follow-ups. Looking for a senior accountant role in Surat."
That tells a recruiter, in one glance, whether to keep reading.
Achievements, not just duties
The most common weakness in Indian resumes is a list of responsibilities copied from a job description. "Responsible for sales" tells the reader very little. Where you can, show what changed because of your work:
| Duty only | Duty with result | |
|---|---|---|
| Sales | Responsible for sales in assigned area | Opened 15 new retail accounts in Varachha in one year |
| Accounts | Maintained accounts in Tally | Brought party ledgers up to date and cut overdue payments by following up weekly |
| Operations | Handled dispatch | Managed daily dispatch for a team of 4 with no missed delivery dates in peak season |
Use real numbers only. If you are not sure of an exact figure, describe the result in words. An interviewer will ask about anything you write, and inflated numbers are easy to spot.
Format: simple beats fancy
- One column, clear headings. Two-column designs with icons and progress bars look nice but are harder to scan, and many job portals and AI tools read them badly.
- One or two pages. Freshers and people with a few years of experience can fit on one page.
- Readable font and size. A standard font around 10 to 12 points, with enough spacing.
- PDF for sending. It keeps the layout intact on any phone. Keep a DOCX copy too.
- A sensible file name such as "Priya-Shah-Accountant-Resume.pdf", not "resume final (2).pdf".
What to leave out
- Father's name, religion, caste or marital status (not needed for most jobs)
- Full home address (area and city are enough)
- Aadhaar, PAN or bank details
- A long list of hobbies
- Skills you cannot actually use
- A photo only if the job post asks for one
Personal documents are shared later, at the offer or joining stage, with an employer you have verified. Never share them with someone who has only sent you a WhatsApp message about a job.
Tailor it to each job
You do not need a new resume for every application, but spend two minutes adjusting it. Change the target role line, move the most relevant skills to the top, and make sure the words used in the job post (for example "GST returns" or "field sales") appear in your resume where they are true. This helps both human recruiters and any software that screens applications.
Freshers: what to put when you have no experience
Focus on education, skills, projects, internships, part-time work and achievements. A college project, an internship of a few weeks, helping in a family shop or a typing certificate are all worth including. Read our guide to getting your first job in Surat for more.
Check it before you send it
Read it once on your phone. Check the mobile number twice; a wrong digit means no call. Ask a friend to check spellings. Make sure the dates have no unexplained gaps; if there is a gap, a short honest line such as "Career break for family reasons" is better than leaving it blank.
Apply with Job Vista
Once your resume is ready, you can apply to Job Vista openings in minutes with Easy Apply: upload your resume, check what our AI filled in, and submit. Applying for jobs, job placement and career guidance are always free. Job Vista never charges a fee to get you a job. CV writing is an optional paid service. If you would like professional help, our CV writing service is optional and paid, with the price shared before we start.
