Resume format for jobs in India
Most Indian employers expect a reverse-chronological resume: your latest work or education first, on one or two pages. Pick the version for where you are in your career.
Resume format for freshers
With no full-time experience, recruiters judge a fresher resume on education, projects, internships and skills.
See the format →Resume format for experienced professionals
Once you have a year or more of work, recruiters read your resume for one thing first: what you did in your latest roles and what changed because of it.
See the format →Biodata format for job
A biodata is the traditional Indian job application document: personal details first, then education and experience, ending with a signed declaration.
See the format →
Rules that apply to every resume
- One column, standard headings. Experience, Education, Skills. Tables, text boxes, icons and two-column designs often get scrambled by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Length: one page for freshers and up to about 5 years of experience; two pages beyond that.
- File: PDF unless the employer asks for Word, named “Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf”.
- No personal details for private-sector jobs: no photo, date of birth, religion or marital status. Those belong on a biodata.
- Use the job posting’s words for skills and tools, so both software and recruiters find them.
Resume, CV or biodata?
In India the words are often mixed up. A resume is a short summary of your skills and results, used for almost all private-sector jobs. A CV is a longer full record used in academia and research — though many recruiters say “CV” and mean a resume. A biodata leads with personal details and is still asked for by some government offices, schools and small businesses.
Not sure your resume reads well? Check it free against a job description, or see resume examples by role.