How to make a good resume - Part 3 - How to make points in projects?

I had this question coming quite a number of times, so here I am.

This point structure is basically for projects and internships.

Project Title, Organization (Jan2007-Feb2009)

1. Aim of the project, what was the unique feature of the project - first of a kind, collaboration etc
2. What exactly did you do - its always good to keep 1/2 technical terms in this point. How did you do it ?
3. Achievement - What did you get - cost savings, saved time, awarded, recognised etc etc
4. Any other additional point.

Some DO's and DONT's

1. For a 1 page resume, no point should usually have 3 subpoints

2. For a 2 page resume - usually 5 is the upper limit.

3. FAQ: Do i have to write it in a manner in which a lay person can understand(but this way project looks too vague)
or should i use some technical language(but the most of the terms will not be understood unless i include explanation)
Ans: Take the middle path. A lay person should be able to understand what was the aim of your project and what were your achievements(in terms of numbers). However a technical person should also in addition understand the methodology you followed, as in how you did it.

4. A project description should never be filled with just numbers - at the end of the day everybody knows that you are a student, and cannot do miracles :P

Finally to sum up,
Be technical, be simple, be clear, and do not over-exaggerate.

The Mantra of Life

This is a beautiful speech by Steve Jobs - titled: Stay Hungry Stay Foolish.

Truth be told - I listen to this every other day, and I cherish it as the mool mantra of life.

Some snippets:
1. You can't connect the dots looking forward, but it's quite obvious looking backward.
2. Believe that the dots will connect in the future, and follow your heart, even if it takes you off the well treaded path.
3. Do great work, and the only work that is great is what you love to do. So find what you actually love - and till then don't settle.
4. Sometimes life will hit you on the head with a brick, don't loose faith.
5. Live each day as if it's your last. Every morning look into the mirror and think, if today is your last day, would you still be doing what you are doing now.
If the answer is NO for too many days, that means you need to change something.
6. Your time is limited. Don't waste it living anyone else's life. Let not the noise of other's opinions drown your inner voice.
7. Follow your heart and intuition. Everything else is secondary !

How to make a good resume - Part 2 - Use of Bold and Italics

I was just reviewing a resume sent to me, when I noticed the inappropriate use of Bold and Italics.

Some Do's and Dont's

1. Bold: Do not put everything in bold. It looks atrocious. Ideally the key achievement and the verb form should be in bold. The main purpose of using Bold is that if the recruiter sees your resume in 30 sec - he just goes through all the bold stuff and that puts across the most important things about you.

2. Italics: Italics is not supposed to be used AT ALL. Use it only when you write something in a different language , say tabla, Saarang

3. ALL CAPS: THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST HORRID WAY OF HIGHLIGHTING THINGS. I WOULD PERSONALLY NEVER READ ANYTHING THAT IS WRITTEN IN ALL CAPS.
A statutory warning: ALL CAPS is considered to be rude in the written world.
However if you can think of no other way of highlighting, then go ahead - but use very sparingly.

4. Underline: Haven't seen too many people use it - but no harm as such. Use sparingly nevertheless.

Hope that helped - Cheers !

How to make a good resume - Part 1 - How to start ?

Disclaimer 1: Please do not be misled by the title ... It's just to get more random people who search such strings on google visit my blog. :P
It might sound desperate - but I want the counter ticking :)

Dedication: This blog is dedicated to all my friends who are just about to graduate from all the IIT's - specifically IIT Delhi.

Disclaimer 2: Most of what I write is general stuff - but yes there would be an IIT Delhi perspective to nearly all points.

The motivation behind this blog:
1. A lot of people have asked me answers to this question
2. I learned a lot during the IIT Placement time - and I am more than glad to share it.
3. I want my site visit counter ticking. :D

Disclaimer 3: Before you start reading anything below this line, please be warned that all what I write is from my experience, and there may be people who might say something totally contrary to what I would be suggesting. So in case you are interested, read think and do what you think is write. DO NOT FOLLOW BLINDLY.

Enough disclaimers - To start on ...

How to start making your resume?
Take a sheet of paper - or a doc file - and start thinking of whatever you have done, achieved right from class 8/9. Rack ur brains hard - think of EVERYTHING. Any sports, any camp, any debates, any award, any random project you did while you were in 2/3rd year ...

Once you have done this, organize all the data into a doc file and try and fit everything into subheadings like acads, internships, projects, extra curricular activities, Positions of responsibilities ...


What is the bottom line of a resume?

I quote one of my seniors, I think KGP " Each word, each phrase , each point in ur resume should add value to your profile."
This is the mantra I had always kept in mind when I was making my resume. Will give 1 simple example to illustrate this mantra:
for example if you have done a project in IIT - Say Mini Project. Do not waste your time telling the recruiter what the project is all about. Instead tell him what you achieved in the project, what was your learning, what was your contribution. The focus should be on YOU.

Just to let all IIT students know, for most companies for the first round of CV shortlisting a recruiter spends an average of 45 sec on 1 resume !


What do you need to make a good resume?

1. Time
2. Dedication - You need to be committed to the thing - coz resume making is a very long, tedious and at time frustrating job. You will have to go through several revisions till you are finally satisfied.
3. Seniors/Friends/Relatives/Teachers: Make a list of people who can review and give valuable feed on your resume. Depending on how well you know the person and how busy the person is you can send them some/all/none of your resume drafts.
CAUTION: Read Disclaimer 3 when you do this.

How do you show your devotion for a particular task in you resume - in IITD lingo - how do you highlight a spike ?

Companies generally tend to see a sustained interest in a particular field/activity. In terms of acads, if for example all of your projects&internships in your resume are in Industrial Engineering - that shows you have a sustained interest in it.
In terms of other activities, if you have played a sport right from school level to say state level - thats a big advantage.
Having said that, it does not mean that people who have done a lot of different things in a short span of time are at a loss - they would just emphasise on diversity.

I think I have covered most of the basics - please post your questions and I shall be more than happy to answer them.
In any case I shall also be posting another article on some further tips.

All the best !!!

Sach ka Saamna

The rules are thus…
RULE 1
You can only say Guilty or Innocent
RULE 2
You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone messages you and asks!

Ever kissed someone of the same sex?

INNOCENT. Never .. sounds so gross

Asked someone to marry you?

GUILTY. Many a times playfully .. thankfully not meaning even once

Ever told a lie?

Hopelessly GUILTY. Bad question - Should be the opposite - Ever told a truth ?

Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back?

GUILTY. Yes yes.. for one long period.

Kissed a picture?

GUILTY.

Slept in until 5 PM?

GUILTY.

Danced on a table in a bar?

INNOCENT. Waiting for a chance to commit the guilt.

Fallen asleep at work/school?

GUILTY for school, GUILTY for work. School was fine, but I have just realised that it's easier at work.

Been suspended from school?

INNOCENT. Have been at the verge of 1 many a times in class 11 & 12.. but unfortunately ...

Worked at a fast food restaurant?

INNOCENT. Always wanted to - my parents were dread against the idea. Had even thought of working in a call centre for a month of vacations - never actually materialized.

Stolen from a store?

GUILTY. Latest was when me and my MRT girl(friend ???) went in to Haigen Daas - Ate a huge sundae and walked out without paying. Realised it when we were just about to take a cab - but then decided against going back - taking the logic that it's their "poor customer service" - and Singapore has too many people for him to remember our faces anyways.

Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose?

GUILTY. Have actually spit it out on people in front of me also.

Caught a snowflake on your tongue?

INNOCENT. Never struck me.

Kissed in the rain?

Partly GUILTY. Kissed after being drenched in the rain.

Sat on a roof top?

GUILTY. IIT Delhi convo sloping roof - with our legs hanging in the air.

Sang in the shower?

GUILTY.

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on?

INNOCENT. Have always wished this would happen - but never actually happened.

Made a girlfriend/boyfriend cry?

GUILTY.

Shot a gun?

INNOCENT

Donated Blood?

GUILTY. I am a scared chicken.

Eaten alligator meat?

INNOCENT. WTF !!!

Still love someone you shouldn’t?

Thankfully INNOCENT now.

Liked someone, but will never tell who?

GUILTY. Dil ke baat hamesha muhn par lao .. nahi to chidiya ud jaeygey .... Though in my case waise bhi udd hi jatey hai :D

Been too honest?

GUILTY. Too many times - specially with people I love. Have realised it the hard way - that complete honesty is not the best policy. Refer to:

http://undercurrents-of-the-soul.blogspot.com/2009/05/friends.html

Kissed someone you shouldn’t?

INNOCENT. Unfortunately.

Ruined a surprise?

GUILTY. Believe in too much frankness.

Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn’t walk afterwards?

GUILTY. Again happens all the time - has even left a mark on me .. read Junior Kothari.

Erased someone in your friends list?

GUILTY. Deleted my gf when we used to fight - realised it was too kiddish

Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)?

GUILTY. Sealed lips.

Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said?

GUILTY. Thankfully !!!

Had communication with your ex?

GUILTY. And i won't like to call that being guilty. :)

Got totally drunk on the night before exam?

GUILTY. Have walked in drunk into an exam. Some stupid value education presentation - Cheers to Prateek Arora for that :)

Friends

A very good old friend just said ...

If I start telling everyone everything frankly about them, I would be left with no friends.

I was left quite speechless at this very interesting observation.

Would you want a friend with whom you cannot be frank about the your true opinion of him/her ???

Girls

The most random creatures on Earth.
The most beautiful creatures on Earth.
Creatures you cannot live with for long.
Creatures you cannot live without either.
Creatures who don't know what they want.
Creatures who expect everything what they can't give.
Creatures who would scowl when they are being called creatures.

Lastly,
The only Creatures who can create creatures and non-creatures.

...

There are rarely times when you thing of a week - looking ahead for planning for commitments and there comes only 1 answer:

NOTHING

It's a state of affairs which we all imagine at different times of our lives - some of us still fantasize about it.

However now that I am in the middle of a infinite sea of nothingness; there is this 1 truth that comes in front of me...

Life is an infinite pursuit of infinitely many desirable goals.

1 goal leads us to the next and the next one to yet another one. What happens when you run out of goals - Life becomes this sea of emptiness. A sea on whose coast one is all alone ...

Blogging Again ...

After quite some thought, this is what I have arrived at .

Blogging = idling away

Proof:
1. The 3 times I had this blogging urge: US summer intern, NZ summer intern, Last Semester IIT
2. The things we write can only be thought and written when you have absolutely nothing to do.


Hence here I start again on this journey - when I have literally ZERO academic load, and a lot to think about and hence a lot to write about.