Resume format for India: what to include and what to leave out

The sections, in order

Most professionals do well with this order:

• Name and contact details: phone, email, city and a LinkedIn link.
• Summary: two or three lines about your strongest skills and results.
• Experience: newest first, with job title, company, city and dates.
• Education: degree, college, year and marks or CGPA.
• Skills: tools and abilities that match the job post.
• Projects and certifications: add these if they strengthen your case.

Photo, date of birth and declaration

Most private companies do not need a photo, date of birth, marital status or religion, and leaving them out keeps the focus on your work. Some sectors still expect a photo, such as aviation, hospitality and some government forms. Add it only when the job post or form asks.

The old closing line “I hereby declare that the above information is true” adds nothing in a private-sector resume and can be dropped.

How long should it be

One page is right for freshers and people with up to about 5 years of experience. Two pages are fine for longer careers, as long as the second page carries real content.

Layout choices that help

Small choices make a resume easier to read and safer for software.

• Use a normal font such as Arial, Calibri or Georgia at 10 to 12 points.
• Use standard headings like Experience and Education, not creative names.
• Keep dates in one format, such as Jun 2021 to Present.
• Save as PDF unless the employer asks for Word.
• Avoid text boxes, tables and images for important text.

Keep reading

• How to write a resume that gets shortlistedA step-by-step guide for Indian job seekers: what to include, what to leave out and how to order it.
• How to make your resume ATS-friendlyWhat applicant tracking systems do, how they read your resume and how to avoid common formatting mistakes.
• Resume for freshers: how to write one with no experienceHow to build a strong first resume from projects, internships, college work and skills.