Writing an Indian Resume: Formatting Tips & Examples
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An Indian resume is your marketing tool to enter the world’s fifth-largest economy, according to worldwide banking firm Jeffries. You must write a resume to catch the employer’s attention and make you a desirable candidate among a workforce of 470 million strong.
We can guide you through creating or updating your resume for the Indian job market with templates, writing tips, and examples in different Indian resume formats.
Indian Resume Examples for Top Jobs
To start, explore these Indian resume examples:
Management Consultant
Agricultural Engineer
Marketing Officer
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Find the perfect resume for your industry and career in our resume examples. Get inspiration and learn more about how to create a resume that works for you.
What to Include in an Indian resume
The first step to writing a resume is choosing the right Indian resume format. The correct format will highlight your strongest, job-relevant skills according to your career level.
Choose a format based on your years of industry experience:
- A chronological resume is for candidates with 10+ years of experience.
- The functional resume or skills-based resume is for new candidates and recent graduates, or freshers, as the Indian job market calls new grads.
- The combination resume works for professionals with between three and nine years of experience.
You can then find a professional resume template to layout your qualifications and show personality through resume font and a hint of color.
The content of your Indian resume will include these five primary sections:
1. Resume header
Start with a bold resume header. It must include your name with a strong resume headline underneath and your contact information, including your phone number and a professional email address.
If you have any, you should also include your portfolio or professional website. For professional networking profiles, follow our guide on how to add LinkedIn to your resume.
Indian resumes often include a headshot. You can choose to add one to your resume header. This is completely optional and shouldn’t affect your prospects either way. If you do include one, choose a professional-looking photo.
2. Professional statement
The professional statement is your introduction to the employer. Use it as an elevator pitch that’ll convince them you’re a must-interview candidate.
If you have experience, use a career summary to present your years of experience, strongest skill and an important accomplishment. Remember to make it relevant to the position you’re seeking.
For example:
Results-driven professional with expertise in renewable energy and sustainability seeking to build a successful career in India. Managed a team of 10 sales representatives and achieved 20% sales growth in the first year. Skilled in optimizing operations and enhancing customer satisfaction. Committed to fostering collaborative relationships with colleagues and clients. Eager to contribute to the growth and success of an esteemed Indian organization.
Recent graduates, referred to as “freshers” in the Indian job market, and candidates with little experience should use a resume objective. An objective focuses on your current skills, even if you have no experience and goals for the role.
For example:
Highly motivated and results-driven professional seeking a challenging position in India to leverage expertise in agroengineering and contribute to the growth and success of an esteemed organization. Strong cross-cultural adaptability and a proven track record of delivering exceptional results in diverse environments. Committed to continuous learning and professional development to excel in the Indian market.
3. Your professional history
Your work experience shows not only your previous roles but also how you’ve successfully used your job-relevant skills. It’s your chance to highlight what you bring to the table.
Just like a U.S. resume, write a professional history section that includes your title, employer, location and dates of employment. For each role, include three bullet points with your work accomplishments. Use action verbs to make a stronger impact.
For example:
Manager, Marketing and Sales
ABC Company, New York, NY
January 2018 – Present
- Successfully led a team of 10 sales representatives in achieving a 25% increase in sales revenue within the first year of tenure.
- Developed and implemented targeted marketing strategies that increased brand awareness and customer engagement by 30%.
- Coordinated promotional events and campaigns, resulting in a 15% boost in customer retention and loyalty.
For freshers and candidates writing a resume with no experience, you can focus on academic experiences, internships and volunteer work. Create a targeted resume that includes those roles and accomplishments relevant to the role. For example, you can include working in the student newspaper if you’re applying for a writer position. If the experience is not relevant to the job, you can still include it under your education section or volunteer experience.
4. Skills
The Indian job market is competitive. Candidates must show they have top resume skills to catch the employer’s eye. Write a bulleted list with 6 to 12 skills. It should include hard skills, which are those you use to perform your job, and soft skills, which show how you perform your job and work with others.
While soft skills, like interpersonal skills, are highlighted through your work achievements, don’t deter from including them in your dedicated skills section.
5. Education
Include the name of your degree, the university and its campus location. Unlike a U.S. resume, you should include the years attended and your GPA if it’s above 3.4. You can also add optional information, such as relevant coursework, extracurriculars and academic achievements.
For example:
Education Master of Science in Product Management |
6. Bonus: Additional sections
Show how you can stand out from other candidates with similar qualifications by including any — or all!— of these additional sections
- Foreign languages with your level of proficiency — As a strong world economy, working in India comes with its fair share of foreign languages. Include any foreign language and your level of proficiency. For example, Native French Speaker, Proficient in Mandarin, and Conversational Spanish, among others.
- Awards—Distinctions and honors from employers, colleagues or professional organizations show that your contributions exceed the standards of your industry, setting you apart from other candidates.
- Memberships — Being a member of professional organizations shows your commitment to the craft and your extensive, reachable network.
- Volunteering — Including relevant experiences can help you stand out from the candidate pool and showcase your social commitment.
- Hobbies — Being a well-balanced candidate with extracurricular shows you give it your all when it matters. Plus, hobbies can provide insight into your personality, interests and skills.
Always tailor these sections to the employer’s culture and needs.
Adding Biodata to an Indian Resume
Biographical data, or biodata, is a section of your Indian resume containing personal information, like marital status, gender and age. An employer might request a biodata document or biodata resume. This means that they’d like to see a combination of the traditional resume with a section that includes the biodata.
While the practice is declining, government jobs, employers in smaller areas and traditional industries still require using a biodata resume. Always use the job advertisement as a guide. If an employer requests it, use a biodata resume.
What to Include in Your Biodata
- Date of Birth or Age: Include either one, not both.
- Gender: Add it only if required by the employer.
- Marital Status: Specify if you’re single, married, or any other status.
- Nationality: If requested by employer.
- Contact Information including phone number, email and address.
- Languages: Include languages and your proficiency level.
- Photo: A professional quality headshot, like a passport photo.
When to Use Biodata
- If the job advertisement clearly asks to include it in your Indian resume.
- When applying for a job in the Indian government, traditional industries or rural employers.
- If you’re seeking a role in or applying to academia.
When Not to Use Biodata
- If you’re a foreigner applying to work in India, avoid including any personal information. The exception to this is a foreigner applying for a role at a smaller, local company.
- If you’re an Indian national seeking an international role, do not include your biodata.
- If your career is in a modern industry, like technology or start-up.
- If the job advertisement asks for a resume without biodata.
How to Format the Biodata Section in an Indian Resume
There are two ways to format your biodata:
- Under your resume header. Include the additional information after your contact, for example:
Jay Gupta
123 Main Street, City, State, ZIP Code
(123) 456-7890
email@example.com
Date of Birth: January 1, 1990
Sex:Male
Nationality Indian
Marital Status: Single
Languages: English, Spanish
- Create a special section titled “Personal Info” or “Biodata”. You can include this section at the bottom of your resume or, if you're using a 2-column resume layout, use the smallest column.
Personal Information
Date of Birth: January 1, 1990
Sex:Male
Nationality: Indian
Marital Status: Single
Languages: English, Spanish
Always follow the instructions for each application. You can apply for two similar positions, where only one requires biodata.
Modify your U.S. Resume for the Indian Job Market
No need to start from scratch. Make your US resume suitable for the Indian competitive market with a few steps.
- If you are knowledgeable and have experience with it, use formal Indian English.
- Build a 2-page resume by including as much information as possible.
- Include your GPA, if above 3.5, under your education section alongside any awards, honors and relevant coursework.
- Customize your resume for the Indian job market by localizing it to the particular region and their national industry.
- Prepare a separate document, using the same style as your resume, to include resume references from your Indian professional network.
These changes can adapt your American resume to the Indian market. A candidate who shows respect and cultural understanding will not go unnoticed.
Modify your Indian Resume to the U.S. job Market
Seeking to start a career on American soil? A few changes to your Indian resume can help you get there.
- Use American English to tailor your resume to the role and avoid cultural references.
- Keep your resume length to one-page. If you're an experienced candidate, use a two-page resume.
- Do not include any personal information like marital status, birthdate, headshots or GPA.
- Add your work authorization status. You can include it right about your professional summary, work experience or in your additional sections.
U.S. resumes should highlight your job-relevant qualifications. Use the job description as your guide on what to include and, if requested, include a cover letter to expand your resume. Our Cover Letter Generator will help you write a letter for your industry and career goals.
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Tips to Write an Indian resume
- Choose a resume format according to your career stage.
- Use standard formatting for a professional resume: 1.5-inch margins, 10-12 font size for your content and 12-14 font size for your heading.
- Always customize your resume to the application. Use the job description as a guide to make the necessary changes and highlight your strongest qualities for the role.
- Use the resume keywords from the job description to catch the attention of the employer.
- Proofread and spell check your entire resume. Use American English if you do not have experience with Indian English.
- Complete your application with a cover letter. It’ll help you expand on your resume, highlight additional relevant qualifications and connect with the employer on your interest in establishing a career in India.
- Use our ATS Resume Checker to find any issues and get feedback to optimize your resume.
Resources for your Indian resume
Key Takeaways
- An Indian resume is an essential tool to start a career in the fifth-largest (and rapidly climbing!) economy in the world.
- Crafting an Indian resume means using formal language and a slightly longer format than its American counterpart.
- Choose an Indian resume format according to your years of experience.
- Write a robust education section if you’re a recent graduate or do not have a long work history.
- Job seekers with 10+ years of experience must write a thorough professional history.
- Including additional sections is a known strategy to catch the hiring manager’s attention. Always make these sections relevant to the role.
- Including personal information is an accepted custom for the Indian job market. However, it is left at the discretion of the candidate whether to include it or not.
- Use an ATS resume scanner to find any issues with your resume and improve it for your career opportunity in the Indian job market.
FAQ
Which resume format is used in India?
The Indian job market uses the same format as the American resume:
- Chronological resume for experienced candidates.
- Functional resume for recent graduates and those candidates switching careers.
- Combination resume for job seekers with a few years under their belt and no gaps in employment.
How does an Indian resume look?
An Indian resume template must be professional and easy on the eyes. It makes smart use of the white space and has a professional resume font for easy reading.
What is the best resume format for work experience in an Indian resume?
Your resume work experience should use a reverse-chronological format. That is, start with your current or last position and work backward. This will show the employer your growth in the industry and employer. Each role, even if you’ve held multiple roles within the same company, must include three bullet points with your resume accomplishments.
Should I include a photo in my Indian resume?
This is optional. While it is recommended not to include a photo in the US, it is common practice to include a headshot in the Indian market. If you’re not comfortable with this, there is no need to do so, and it should not affect your possibilities.
Always follow the instructions from the job description. If the employer requests an Indian resume with a headshot, failure to comply can result in not being considered for the role.
How many pages should a resume be in India?
Keep your Indian resume to no more than two pages. Remember, a resume is your marketing tool to get the interview. It should pique the interest of the hiring manager, not give them your entire professional history, just what matters for this role.
How we reviewed this article
Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- The Economic Times. Article. Bharatiya, Rajesh. Job hunting? Top skills in demand for GCCs in India for 2024
- Oxford English Dictionary. World Englishes. Indian English
- Forbes. Article. Laker, Benjamin. India Will Grow To Become The World’s Third-Largest Economy By 2027
- Statista. Report. Rathore, Manya. Employment in India – statistics & facts
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Writing an Indian Resume: Formatting Tips & Examples
Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
More Articles by Nilda Melissa Diaz, CPRWOur customers have been hired at:*Foot Note
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