When I first started applying for placements, I had zero knowledge about building a resume. I didn't know what to include, what to omit, or how to format it. I used a Canva template — visually appealing, heavily frowned upon — and was bluntly told, "This won't work." Friends pointed me toward generic internet templates, but I still had no idea what actually worked. Turns out, there's something called ATS-friendly resumes, which this 20-year-old had never heard of.

I went through rejections, rewrote my resume several times, and eventually figured out a structured approach that got me interviews. Here's everything I wish someone had told me earlier.

Your Resume Is Not One and Done

Most students create a resume once, tweak it slightly, and assume it's finished. Every job is different — one generic resume won't work across the board. What landed you an interview for one role might be irrelevant for another.

What to do instead
  • Maintain a master resume with all your experiences, skills, and projects.
  • Customise each application by highlighting the most relevant skills for that specific role.
  • Remove anything that doesn't align with the job description.

Always Ask for a Peer Review

Even if you think your resume is perfect, you have blind spots. A mentor, industry professional, or even a friend can catch things you've stopped seeing.

"You are trying to do too much with your resume — it will lead to burnout. Instead of overanalysing everything, reach out to people who are currently in that role and ask them what they do in a day. When recruiters draft job descriptions, they include their wish list rather than what they actually expect you to do. The irony is that they will judge you based on the latter."

— Former Senior Manager, BCG

That conversation changed my entire application strategy. I realised I didn't fully understand what employers actually wanted me to do — and once I did, everything became much clearer.

Formatting Consistency Is Not a Minor Detail

During a coffee chat with a Columbia University graduate, I received one of the most impactful pieces of resume advice I've ever gotten:

"Your résumé formatting should be consistent from end to end. Bullet points should align perfectly — one line shouldn't be half the width of the page while another stretches across the full width."

— Columbia University Graduate

It seemed like a minor detail. But when I tested it, the difference was night and day. Misaligned text signals a lack of attention to detail — exactly the opposite of what you want a recruiter to think.

How to fix it
  • Ensure all bullet points extend to a similar visual endpoint for uniformity.
  • If a point is too short, expand it with a measurable impact or quantifiable result.
  • If a point overflows to the next line, reword it concisely without losing meaning.

The Six-Second Test

Recruiters spend around six seconds on a resume before deciding whether to move forward. They scan in an F-shape: top section first, then the first few words of each bullet point, then the left margin for job titles, company names, and dates. If your key achievements aren't visible in these zones, they get skipped.

How to pass it
  • Put your strongest, most relevant bullet points at the top of each section.
  • Start every bullet point with a strong action verb.
  • If something isn't clear at first glance, rewrite it until it is.

ATS Cannot Read Graphics, Tables, or Columns

Using graphics, tables, or multi-column layouts is one of the most common mistakes candidates make. ATS systems simply cannot parse these elements — your information may never reach a human recruiter.

ATS rules
  • Stick to a single-column format — two columns often break ATS parsing entirely.
  • Use standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
  • Never include your photo. It's unnecessary and can introduce bias.

ATS Keywords Matter More Than You Think

ATS scans for keywords and role-specific skills, then tags you as a fit or non-fit before a human ever sees your resume. If your resume lacks the right keywords, it may never reach the recruiter at all.

For example: Applying for a Research Analyst role? Your resume should include terms like Secondary Research, Market Research, Financial Analysis, and Competitive Benchmarking — pulled directly from the job description.

A common myth is that soft skills sections are unnecessary. For job applications, many ATS filters specifically search for soft skills. If the job description highlights collaboration, problem-solving, or leadership — make sure those terms appear in context within your experience section, not in an isolated "Skills" list.

Contact Information: What Recruiters Actually Need

Include
  • Phone number (with country code for international applications)
  • LinkedIn profile URL
  • Professional email address
  • City and country (optional but useful for location-based roles)
Remove
  • Full home address — they're emailing you, not mailing you an offer letter
  • Photo — no recruiter needs to see it
  • Date of birth — irrelevant for most roles

Ditch the Objective. Use a Summary Wisely.

Remove the "Objective" section entirely — it's outdated and redundant. Replace it with a Professional Summary, but only if you'll use it well.

A professional summary is your three-to-four sentence elevator pitch. Used well, it can increase your chances of landing an interview by 40%. It's especially useful for career pivoters — it lets you explain why a finance student is applying for a sales outreach role, for example.

Don't write "Dedicated professional eager to work at your company." The recruiter already knows you're eager — you applied.

Show, Don't Tell

Recruiters don't care what you claim to be. They care about what you've done that proves it.

❌ Before

"Demonstrated leadership skills in a team setting."

✓ After

"Led a team of five to develop a digital marketing campaign, increasing brand engagement by 60% in three months."

Every bullet point should answer three things: what you did, how you did it, and what the impact was. Forget the STAR format for resumes — it makes bullet points too long and unreadable. Keep it tight.

Check Your Resume on Your Phone

One of my most useful personal habits: review the final resume on your phone before sending it. Formatting errors, shifting fonts, misaligned text, and spacing issues are far easier to catch on a small screen than on a laptop. If it looks clean on your phone, it'll look clean everywhere.

LinkedIn Complements Your Resume

LinkedIn optimisation is consistently overlooked. Your profile gives recruiters a fuller picture of who you are — your knowledge, opinions, and acumen. If optimised well, it can get you an interview even before your resume does. Use it like a living document, not a static CV dump.

I want to save you from the second-hand embarrassment of claiming "attention to detail" on your resume while the alignment of your text tells another story.

— Arshia Gupta

These are the tips I live by. I learned them the hard way — through rejections, rewrites, and uncomfortable feedback — so that you don't have to.