If you want to buy the project management book mail [email protected] for more details or call any of our book shops MUMBAI-22078296/97/022-22070989, KOLKATA-22826518/19 HYDERABAD-24756967,24756400,BANGALORE-25587923, 25584641,AHMEDABAD-26421611,BHATINA(PUNJAB)-2237387,CHENNAI-28410796,28550491,DELHI/NEWDELHI-23254990/91,23325760,26415092,24691288.If you want to write to the author directly email at [email protected]

Guidelines to a Good Resume

Note: First impression the last impression.

Note: A sample resume is provided in the CD from project management perspective.

Even before the interviewer meets you, he/she will first meet your resume. An interviewer looking at your resume is almost 20% of the interview happening without you knowing it. I was always bad guy at preparing resumes. Now that I am writing a series of book on interviews, I thought that I should devote a section to resumes. You can skip this part if you are confident about your resume. There is no hard and fast rule that you have to follow, but just see if the following points hold true for your resume.

Use plain text when sending resumes through email. For instance, if you create your resume using Microsoft Word, what happens if the interviewer is using Linux? He will never be able to read your resume. And what if you create your resume in MS-Word 2000 and the interviewer has Word 97? Ouch!
Always attach a covering letter to your application. It looks traditionally formal and is really impressive. Attach a covering letter even if you are sending your CV through email.

Given below is a check-list of what you should have in your resume:

Start with an objective or summary, for example:
- Working as a project manager for more than 4 years. Did estimation independently using function points and COCOMO.
- Followed the industry’s best practices, and adhered and implemented processes that enhanced the quality of technical delivery.
- Pledge to deliver the best technical solutions to the industry.
Specify your core strengths at the top of the resume by which the interviewer can decide whether you are eligible for the position.

For example:

Looked after the day to day reporting of metrics from project management perspective.
Played a major role in CMMI implementation.
Worked extensively with external vendors.
Well versed with industry standard project management procedures.
Looking forward to work as a Senior Manager.

This is also a good position to specify your objective or position which makes it clear to the interviewer whether he should call you for an interview. For example, if you are looking for senior positions, specify it explicitly. Any kind of certification, such as, PMI, etc, should be made visible in this section.

Once you have briefly specified your goals and what you have done, it’s time to specify what type of project management activities you have worked with. For example metrics reporting, estimation, preparing project plan etc.
After that, you can run the interviewer through of your experience (what companies you have worked for, from what date to what date, etc.) This will give an overview of your experience to the interviewer. Now its time to mention all the projects you have worked on till now. This list should be in reverse chronological order, starting with your latest project.

For every project, try to put these things:-

Project Name/Client name (It’s sometimes unethical to mention client names; I leave it on the reader to decide.)
Team strength for each project.
Time taken for each project.
Tools, language, and technology used to complete each project.
Brief summary of the project. Senior people who have vast experience will tend to lengthen their CV by putting in summaries for all projects. Best for all is to just put in descriptions of the first three projects in reverse chronological order, and the rest can be put forth verbally during the interview. I have seen 15-page CVs, but I honestly doubt whether anyone reads them.
Finally comes your education and personal details.
If you are trying for onsite postings, do not forget to mention your passport number.
There are few who try to make their CVs as long as possible. I personally think that a CV should not be more than 4 to 5 pages long.
Do not mention your present salary in CV. You can talk about it during the HR-round of your interview.
When you are writing summaries of projects that you have handled, make it effective by using verbs, such as, managed a team of 5 members, architected the project from start to finish, etc.
Take 4 to 5 photocopies copies of your resume whenever you go for an interview. You may need them.
Just in case, take at least 2 passport-size photos with you. You may need them too.

Carry all your current office documents, especially your salary-slips and joining letter

Home

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws