How to Make an Indian Resume: The Format to Land Jobs in India

An Indian resume is a document used to apply for jobs in India. It’s not too different from a US resume, as both aim to present a candidate’s skills, experiences, and achievements in a way that aligns with the company’s job description. However, some Indian resumes may include personal details if stated as mandatory to a potential employer. The standard Indian resume is in reverse chronological order and begins with contact information, followed by a summary or objective. The work experience and education section goes next, with the skills section coming last. 

Companies in India are no longer just looking at degrees — they’re chasing candidates with the right technical skills and experience. But here’s the silver lining: while you can’t control the economy, you can control how you present yourself.

It all starts with your resume. Instead of seeing it as a tool to sell yourself, the trick is tailoring it to what the company wants.

This guide walks you through: 

• What to include and avoid in an Indian resume.
• What the standard Indian resume format looks like.
• The best ways to frame your skills and experiences to impress future employers. 

The Ideal Indian Resume Example

Before diving into the details, here’s an Indian resume sample to help you visualize what to include and why. It’s all about showing professionalism while proving you’re the perfect fit for the role. 

Can’t get beyond your name and email? Try our free Rezi AI Resume Builder. Just enter your details and our technology will generate a professional resume in seconds.

What to Include in an Indian Resume

Here’s what to include in an Indian resume:

• Specific skills, experiences, and achievements that match the job description
• Numbers to clarify the significance of certain tasks and accomplishments 
• Strong action verbs that make it clear how you made an impact
• Resume keywords to bypass hiring software that recruiters use to assess job applications

Imagine having all the right qualifications, only to miss out because your resume font was too difficult to read. Or discounted as unprofessional because you attached a photo? Little details like these can make or break your chances, especially when you’re up against equally qualified candidates.

Don’t let small mistakes cost you big opportunities. Knowing what works (and what doesn’t) can be the edge you need. 

Here’s a summary of Indian resume must-haves with the most common pitfalls:

How to Format an Indian Resume

This is how to format an Indian resume:

• Structure: Organize sections into the following order: header with contact details, summary or objective, experience, education, skills, and optional sections like projects or volunteer work. You can place your education above your work history if you’re a recent graduate. 
• Reverse chronology: List work history and education in reverse chronological order. Include headings to divide your sections and bullet points to describe your work experiences and achievements.
• Length: Stick to a one-page resume if you’ve got less than ten years of experience. For seasoned professionals (10+ years), you can spill onto the second page if everything is relevant to the job. 
• Font: Use professional resume fonts like Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, or Didot for a creative touch. Keep font sizes 10 to 12 for your content and 14 to 16 for the headers. 
• Layout: Keep a 1-inch margin on all sides and use single or 1.15-line spacing. Leave ample white space between sections to avoid a cluttered look.
• Design: Stick to black-and-white formats with no fancy designs, use resume bullet points for readability, and maintain consistent formatting for dates and locations. In India, it’s common to use DD-MM-YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY for dates. 
• File format: Unless stated otherwise in the job description, save your resume as a PDF to ensure formatting remains intact.
• Tech-friendly: If you’re in a technical field, consider using a LaTeX resume for a professional design, which gives you full control over the formatting. If you decide to use this, just make sure to submit your resume as a PDF.

Recruiters often spend seconds scanning a resume and don’t have time to search for all your highlights if they’re lost in walls of text and flamboyant formatting. Want to grab their attention? Make their job easy. A simple, clean layout helps your strengths shine without distractions.

Learn more about the best ways to frame your skills and experience: The Best Resume Format

How to Create an Indian Resume Step-by-Step

In short:

Start with your contact details: name, location, phone number, email address, and relevant links or social media profiles. Next, either write a summary section if you’re experienced or an objective section if you have little to no professional work history. Then, complete your work experience section by listing previous jobs, companies, and dates of employment, followed by bullet points clarifying duties and accomplishments. Your educational qualifications come after, with the skills section to finish. Additional sections can be included after the work experience or skills section. 

According to The Wire, India’s workforce is rapidly growing, yet reports estimate that the 7% GDP growth rate will only create around 8–9 million jobs over the next decade — not enough to support the large number of job seekers. For young professionals, this often means tough competition for roles that offer financial stability and make the most of their talents.

Employers are leaning towards candidates with proven skills — so use this trend to your advantage. Create your resume to control the narrative and frame your experiences and skills to prove to employers that you have what they need. 

Here’s a complete breakdown of how to create an Indian resume. 

1. Start with your contact details

This is one of the easiest yet most important parts of your resume. Start with your full name, phone number, professional email address, location (city, country), and a link to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio (assuming it’s polished and up-to-date).

Gone are the days of the biodata format (unless we’re talking matchmaking). Including personal details like your full address, date of birth, photo, or parents’ names is outdated and can invite bias. Leave this information out unless the job description explicitly asks for it — and even then, only share what you’re comfortable with.

Bold your name and use a slightly larger font size (14–16 points). You can organize your details in a stack or single line if you’re short on space.

Here’s how to display your contact details on an Indian resume:

Sunita Amin
📞 +91 98765 43210 | 📧 [email protected] | 🌐 linkedin.com/in/sunitaamin

2. Write a career summary or objective

If your resume is pushing the two-page limit, the summary or objective is one of the first things you can cut. Recruiters are way more interested in your work experience. But if you’ve got the space to spare, these first few lines for a summary or objective section can be a solid way to introduce yourself and grab the reader’s attention by revealing why you’re a great fit for the role. 

How to write a career summary section for an Indian resume

A resume summary is a short, 2–3 sentence section at the top of your resume that reveals your most relevant skills, professional achievements, and experience. It’s ideal for experienced professionals who want to emphasize their track record.

Here’s an example Indian resume summary:

Marketing professional with over five years of experience in digital strategy and brand management. Skilled in driving user engagement through creative campaigns and increasing customer retention. 

And I get it, selling yourself in a few words isn’t easy. Try our Rezi AI Resume Summary Generator to get a summary tailored to your role and the job description in seconds. 

How to write a career objectives section for an Indian resume

A resume objective is more future-oriented, focusing on your career goals and aspirations. This is great for recent graduates or those changing career paths, as it shows your enthusiasm and what you hope to achieve in the role. Think of it as answering, “Why are you here, and what do you want to do, and how would these interests benefit the company?”

Here’s an example of a resume objective:

Recent graduate in Computer Science with a strong foundation in AI and machine learning. Passionate about solving real-world problems through innovative technologies and eager to contribute to Next Wave’s mission of driving digital transformation.

3. Include work experience in reverse chronological order

Including work experience in reverse chronological order gives recruiters a guided tour of your professional journey — starting with the freshest and most relevant stops. It’s the go-to format in India (and across the world) because it instantly highlights your latest role and gives a clear view of your career growth.

Here’s what to put in your work experience section: 

• Job title: Bold it so it stands out — your role will draw the recruiter into reading more. 
• Company name, location, and dates: Keep these details in plain text, directly below the job title. Use a consistent format, e.g., “Feb 2021–Present” or “02/2021–Present.”
• Duties and achievements: Use bullet points to outline your responsibilities and how you used your skills to deliver results. Action verbs like “led,” “streamlined,” or “developed” can also emphasize contributions.

Focus on what you achieved, not just what you did. If you bake cakes every week but they’re always undercooked or bland, that’s not exactly impressive. 

Recruiters don’t just want to know what you worked on; they want to see the value you brought. Each bullet point should reflect what you did, how you did it, and the result achieved. 

You can use this tried-and-tested formula to structure each bullet point: 

• Situation: What was the context or challenge?
• Action: What did you do?
• Outcome: What measurable result did you achieve? 

Stick to experiences relevant to the role and leave out anything that doesn’t add real value. Whenever possible, include numbers to quantify your results, like “boosted user engagement by 30%” or “saved ₹2 lakhs through process improvements.” Numbers emphasize the impact of your tasks and achievements. 

Here’s a condensed work experience section for an Indian resume: 

Junior Software Engineer
TechNova Solutions, Bengaluru, India
April 2022–Present
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• Contributed to the development of a scalable microservices architecture for a client-facing application.
• Optimized existing backend processes, improving API response times by 25%.
• Collaborated with other team members to integrate new features, using Agile methodologies and completing sprints ahead of schedule.

Software Developer
‍CodeCraft Technologies, Pune, India 
May 2018–March 2022
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• Built and deployed interactive web applications using React.js and Node.js, increasing user engagement metrics by 20%.
• Assisted in debugging and resolving technical issues in production, ensuring timely delivery of client projects.
• Participated in bi-weekly knowledge-sharing sessions to improve team understanding of emerging technologies.

Discover more about framing your job history: How to Write a Resume Work Experience Section

4. List academic qualifications in the education section

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the highest degree you’ve earned. For example, if you have a PhD, that goes first, followed by your Master’s, and then your Bachelor’s degree. Include the degree name, institution, and location.

Applying for an Indian job in the US? Use this conversion calculator to note your GPA and the CGPA equivalent in your resume. 

How much detail you add depends on your career stage. If you’re new to the workforce or fresh out of college, you can include extra details, such as the following: 

• Grades
• Ranks
• Distinctions
• Coursework 

You can also include relevant certifications like PMP and Lean Six Sigma, or add them to a separate section if you have more than a few under your belt. Awards and honors can also show your academic excellence.

But remember: keep it relevant to the job or industry. If you’re applying for an IT role, mentioning that you were the lead in your high school play wouldn’t be as impressive as being the organizer of your college robotics club. Now that’s interesting — it shows passion and skills beyond the classroom.

Do you have 2–3+ years of work experience? Cut the details and focus on the degree name, institution, and overall grade if it’s impressive. And as a general rule, avoid including high school details unless you have no other higher qualifications to list.

Here’s an example education section for your Indian resume:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore | 2020–2022
• Graduated with Distinction, GPA: 3.8/4.0
• Recipient of the Academic Excellence Award (Top 5%).

Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science 
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi | 2016–2020
• CGPA: 9.1/10
• Final Year Project: Developed an AI-based chatbot for e-commerce platforms.

Not sure how far back to go? Learn more: How to List Your Education Section On a Resume

5. Consider adding further resume sections 

It’s tempting to add a bunch of bells and whistles to your resume to give you that unique edge. But this can backfire if you’re not focusing on sections that genuinely show off your strengths and relevant credentials. 

Recruiters are scanning resumes, not reading novels. You don’t want your stint as a children’s party performer to take attention away from your relevant work history. 

Additional sections should add depth and personality to your application while keeping it professional. 

Here are some extra sections that can add more substance to your resume: 

• Certifications and training: List any professional resume certifications in your education section or under a dedicated “Certifications” or “Courses” section. 
• Projects: For noteworthy projects on a resume, state your role, the project’s scope, and describe the results. Stick to the action-result format (e.g., “Designed a chatbot that reduced customer query response time by 40%”). 
• Volunteer experience: Volunteering shows you’re proactive, socially conscious, and willing to go that extra mile. You can include volunteer experience in your work history or in its own separate section. 
• Awards and recognition: Academic awards, professional accolades, or special recognition can have a dedicated section to show recruiters you’ve been acknowledged for your efforts.
• Languages: Showing multiple languages on a resume is always a big plus. Add a “Languages” section, but only include those you’re fluent in.
• Interests: Personal interests can humanize your resume. Stick to hobbies that highlight desirable traits, like teamwork or creativity (e.g., “captain of a local football team” or “amateur painter with exhibitions”). This section typically works best for those with no experience. The stronger alternative is to showcase your interests through relevant extracurricular activities. 

Here are examples of how some of these additional sections are written on a resume:

Certifications and Training
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM) | Scrum Alliance, 2023
• Digital Marketing Specialization | Coursera, 2022

Volunteer Experience
• Organized fundraising events for NGO XYZ, raising ₹2.5 lakhs to support underprivileged students.

Languages
• Fluent in English, Hindi, and Tamil

6. Include key soft and hard skills 

The skills section of an Indian resume is all about striking the perfect balance between showing what you’re good at and keeping it relevant to the job. 

Be clear about your proficiency level with each skill. Employers don’t want someone who’s almost an expert. Keep it simple with an honest, easy-to-read list of your capabilities.

Focus on hard skills — teachable, measurable abilities like coding, data analysis, or digital marketing. But don’t just throw in every tool or software you’ve ever touched. Listing “MS” or “email” nowadays is like saying you can breathe. Be specific and only include tools or skills explicitly required for the role or unique to your expertise.

And if you can’t back your skills up, don’t list it. Employers care about what you’ve done with those skills, not just that you’ve dabbled in them.

The same goes for soft skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving, or communication. Sure, they’re important, but just listing them doesn’t prove much. Instead, weave these into your work experience. For example, if you’re a “team player,” mention how you collaborated with other departments or led a team to succeed. Actions speak louder than resume buzzwords.

Check out these in-demand skills for the Indian job market:

Get the full rundown of the most popular resume skills: The Best Skills to Put on a Resume

7. Align your resume to the job description

One of the biggest resume-writing mistakes is sending the same bland, one-size-fits-all version to every company. Now, I’m not saying you need to start from scratch every time. A few smart tweaks could be all that you need to land that interview.

Tailoring your resume means customizing it for each job you apply for, focusing on the skills, experiences, and qualifications the employer wants. It’s not about rewriting the whole thing — just adjusting your highlights to match the job description.

Why do you need to tailor your resume? 

Many Indian companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes. These systems look for resume keywords from the job description. For example, if the job ad says “agile methodologies,” weave that exact term in your resume. If you skip the keywords, your resume may never reach a recruiter’s desk.

The trick? Read the job description carefully and spot the must-haves — phrases like “data analysis,” “project management,” or “customer engagement.” These are your cheat codes for grabbing attention. Just stay honest. If it’s not a true fit, forcing it won’t help either of you.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to read through the entire job description more than once, try using Rezi AI Keyword Targeting. It automatically scans job ads and identifies the important keywords and phrases for you.

Another reason to tailor your resume is to impress recruiters. They know what they’re looking for when scanning resumes, so help them quickly check off those boxes by showing you meet the requirements and have the right skills. 

Bonus tip: applying for a job in a specific region? Mentioning regional skills, like fluency in a local language or market insights, can give you an edge. For example, if it’s a sales job in Maharashtra, noting your Marathi fluency could be the cherry on top.

Find out more: How to Tailor a Resume

What the Typical Hiring Process Looks Like in India

Here’s a summary of what the hiring process looks like in India:

• Finding job opportunities that are a good fit
• Submitting your job application
• Screening and shortlisting
• Interviews
• Background checks
• Job offer negotiation

Buckle up — the competition is fierce. According to the All-India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE), there are a whopping 43.3 million students in higher education, all eyeing the same opportunities. 

And when it comes to government jobs, the numbers are even more staggering. 

Case in point: in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, just 15 openings for peons, drivers, and watchmen attracted nearly 11,000 applications — all university graduates.

Simply having a degree and mass-applying isn’t enough anymore. On top of tailoring and refining your resume, it’s essential to understand the Indian job market and the hiring process. The better you understand the game, the higher your chances of standing out from the crowd.

1. Finding opportunities 

Good job postings in India can rack up thousands of applications within days, so you’ll need to act fast. Most companies advertise jobs on online portals like Naukri, Foundit, Glassdoor, and Indeed, or directly on company websites and social media platforms like LinkedIn. 

And then there’s the power of networking and referrals to open doors. Reach out to friends, family, and old colleagues — personal recommendations can put your resume at the top of a large pile.

2. Submitting your application

Once you’ve spotted a job that aligns with your skills, you’ll typically apply online. Be ready for your resume to pass through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which scans for keywords matching the job description. If you’re missing those keywords, your resume might never reach a human recruiter. So double-check that your resume highlights the right skills and experience.

3. Screening and shortlisting 

After submitting your application and getting past digital gatekeepers, recruiters usually screen candidates. This can include evaluating your resume for relevant qualifications, experience, and even current salary. 

In India, recruiters may expect candidates to share their current and expected salary early on. Be transparent, but know your worth and market rates, so you’re prepared to negotiate later.

4. Interview process 

Interviews in India often involve multiple rounds. The first stage might be a phone or video screening to confirm your qualifications and gauge if you’re a good cultural fit. After that, you can expect one or more in-depth face-to-face interviews.

Depending on the job, you might need to complete technical assessments like coding challenges, case studies, or skill simulations. For roles in IT, marketing, or consulting, these tests help employers ensure you’ve got the chops to succeed.

Pre-interview nerves? Use Rezi AI Interview to practice popular questions tailored to your industry, with detailed feedback reports. 

5. Background checks

If the interviews go well, the company may conduct background checks before making an offer. These checks typically cover your educational qualifications, employment history, and sometimes criminal records. Have all of your professional documents and list of references prepared to avoid delays at this stage.

6. Receiving and negotiating the offer

When the company extends an offer, it’s time to negotiate. Indian employers often outline compensation, benefits, and terms upfront, but don’t be afraid to ask for better pay or perks if you feel the offer falls short. There is often no fixed baseline — it’s about demand and how well you’ve proven your value during the process.

7. If you’re a foreigner applying in India

If you’re an international candidate, you’ll need an Employment Visa (E-Visa) to work in India. The process involves proving your qualifications and aligning with the government’s job role guidelines. You’ll also need a PAN (Permanent Account Number) for tax purposes. There are provisions for social security and withdrawing contributions for foreign workers, so familiarize yourself with these details.

Summary

Here’s an overview of what to keep in mind when writing an Indian resume:

• Stick to a simple format with standard fonts like Arial or Calibri. Avoid graphics or fancy layouts to ensure your resume passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
• Customize your resume for every job application, focusing on skills and achievements that align with the role. 
• Study the job description and weave essential keywords into your resume to get past ATS software. 
• Use action verbs in your work experience section, like “managed,” “streamlined,” or “implemented”, to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. 
• Whenever possible, include numbers to quantify your achievements. For example, instead of saying “improved sales,” say “boosted sales by 25% within 6 months” to provide clear evidence of your contributions.
• Relevant certifications or technical courses add credibility to your profile. Include them to show your commitment to professional growth and staying updated in your field.
• Highlight technical abilities and tools that are directly relevant to the job. Don’t clutter your resume with basic software skills unless they’re explicitly mentioned in the job description.
• Limit your resume to one or two pages, focusing on your most recent and relevant roles. Avoid long-winded descriptions; each bullet point should be impactful and to the point.
• A single typo or grammatical mistake can make a negative impression. Review your resume or have someone else check it to ensure it’s free from error.

FAQs

What’s the best format for an Indian resume?

The reverse-chronological format is the most popular for Indian resumes. It starts with your most recent role and works backward, making it easy for recruiters to see your current experience first. Keep things simple with clearly defined sections like contact details, a professional summary, work experience, skills, and education. 

Always make your resume ATS-friendly by avoiding graphics, fancy fonts, or colorful designs. Stick to clean fonts like Arial or Calibri and use a consistent structure to guide recruiters through your profile. 

How to write an Indian resume for freshers?

If you’re just starting out, focus on education, internships, projects, and skills. Begin with a concise resume objective to emphasize your career goals and what you bring to the table. Include relevant achievements, like academic awards or project outcomes, and tailor them to the job you’re applying for. Adding related coursework, certifications, or extracurricular activities that show your strengths can also help you stand out. 

What makes a good Indian resume?

A good Indian resume is tailored, professional, and results-driven. It highlights your key skills, quantifiable achievements, and relevant experience (or education for new graduates) while aligning with the job description. Keep the language concise yet impactful. Use action verbs and add metrics to show your value. Ensure readability with a simple layout and no unnecessary fluff, such as buzzwords or irrelevant personal details. Show employers you’re exactly what they’re looking for without making them hunt for it.

Is a resume or CV better in India?

In India, “resume” and “CV” are often used interchangeably, but for most jobs, a resume is your go-to. It’s concise and focuses on the essentials for the specific role you’re targeting. A CV is typically longer and suited for academia or research positions, where you detail every achievement, publication, or project. Unless you’re pursuing a niche academic path, stick with a resume.

Is 1–2 pages enough for an Indian resume?

Yes, 1–2 pages are perfect for an Indian resume. Recruiters rarely spend more than 30 seconds skimming through, so being concise works in your favor. Focus on your most recent and relevant experience or education, and don’t pad it with unnecessary details. For those without much work history, one page is ideal, while experienced professionals with substantial accomplishments can extend to two.

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