A Mumbai-based fresher recently landed his dream gig by turning his application into a 3D video. Taking cue, work coaches offer interns resumé tips to stand out
The resume is a chance at making a good first impression, say experts
A week ago, Mumbai-based Avkash Shah, a 21-year-old graphic designer looking to land an internship with his dream company CRED, decided to take an unconventional approach. Shah crafted his application as a snappy 3D video, inspired by previous work done by the firm’s design team, and posted it on LinkedIn. The 30-second video not only caught the attention of founder and head of design Kunal Shah and Harish Sivaramakrishnan respectively, who offered him the gig, it also went viral.
Rhea Punjabi
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The youngster shares that before applying, he studied approaches that candidates had used to apply to their dream companies. “One thing that stood out was how these applications served as a proof of concept. I decided to do the same by creating this video. I felt it’d emphasise the fact that I’ve been tracking the company closely, and demonstrate my skill-set,” he adds.
First impressions
Considering that thousands of freshers and interns are hustling to get the attention of employers amid a bleak hiring scenario, entrepreneur and business and WordPress coach Manmeet Kaur points out that the résumé is the first impression you create. “Every interviewer takes only a few seconds to skim through it, so it must be crisp,” she adds. Career growth coach Rhea Punjabi explains that it’s important to design the CV for the Job Description (JD): “Don’t create one résumé and share it across job roles. Make a master résumé with all your details. For each role, select the important, relevant information and make a new resume.”
Avkash Shah
While you’re drafting a CV, the coaches suggest:
>> Divide it into six sections — header, summary/objective, skills, work experience, education, additional information including certifications, awards, interests, etc.
>> If you don’t have work experience, talk about previous internships and live projects, or your life experience. Look at the qualities in the JD and mention experiences that are in sync with these expectations. Elaborate on your communication skills and how you can adapt to their environment.
>> It should be easy to scan. Don’t exceed two pages.
>> Add a list of references; this builds credibility.
>> Be familiar with your CV. Be honest. You might score an interview with the CV, but you might not land the job if your answers don’t align with the skills stated.
>> Proofread thoroughly.
Application rules
Kaur informs us that attaching a cover letter is always a good idea. “Be specific to the JD. Express how your abilities would add to their growth. Encourage them to read your CV. Try to avoid the usage of ‘I’, so you come across as a team player. Include your contact details and finish with a call to action — such as scheduling a meeting,” she recommends.
Manmeet Kaur
Punjabi notes that how you draft the email is also critical. In fact, it can act like a cover letter. “Keep it short. Express your interest in the role and highlight a few things about you and your experience. Mention how you’d be an asset to the team,” she shares. Avoid addressing the employer as “Dear sir/ma’am”; use their name. “The subject line should state the role and location you’re applying for. Add how you came across the opening. Sign off saying you’re eager to meet them for the interview,” she adds.
Be innovative
While everyone makes a resume, very few, like Shah, go beyond it. “The idea is not just to tell, but to show that you’re really capable. You can do so by creating short videos of yourself talking and explaining concepts, demonstrating projects, making a website and uploading all your work there, creating apps, networking on LinkedIn, and also ensuring that your LinkedIn profile is well-made,” advises Punjabi.
Tech help
>> Canva is a great graphic design tool. Create and optimise your CV, and make it ATS-friendly by using jobscan.co and rezi.ai.
>> Use www.qr-code-generator.com to add a QR code at the end of your resume, linking it to your LinkedIn profile.
>> Use Linktree or Taplink to create a micro landing page with all your relevant links.
>> Set up Google Alerts so you’re up to date with the happenings in the industry.
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