The document provides guidance on preparing resumes, CVs, and biodatas for engineering students. It explains the differences between these documents and recommends including key information like name, contact details, education history, skills, work experience, and references. The document also offers tips for preparing for interviews such as researching the company, practicing common questions, dressing professionally, maintaining eye contact, and following up with a thank you letter.
Influencing policy (training slides from Fast Track Impact)
Resume, CV, Biodata preparation and interview preparation
1. Resume/CV/Biodata Preparation
and Interview preparation
for Engineering Students
A presentation By
Dr. Janak Valaki
Associate Professor,
Mechanical Engineering
Government Engineering College, Bhavnagar
janakvalaki@gmail.com, 09913715250
2. “You don’t hire for skills,
you hire for attitude.
You can always teach skills”
3. What is resume/CV/Biodata?
• A resume is a written compilation of your education, work experience,
credentials, and accomplishments that is used to apply for jobs.
• A resume is a one to two page formal document that lists a job
applicant's work experience, education and skills.
• A resume is designed to provide a detailed summary of an applicant's
qualifications for a particular job
4. Resume Vs. Biodata Vs. Curriculum Vitae
• Resume (Summary)
• Curriculum Vitae (Course of Life)
• Biodata (Biographical data)
5. Resume
• Resume is a French word meaning "summary", and true to the word
meaning, signifies a summary of one's employment, education, and other
skills, used in applying for a new position.
• A resume seldom exceeds one side of an A4 sheet, and at the most two sides.
• They do not list out all the education and qualifications, but only highlight
specific skills customized to target the job profile in question.
• A resume is usually broken into bullets and written in the third person to
appear objective and formal.
6. Resume
• A good resume starts with a brief Summary of Qualifications, followed
by Areas of Strength or Industry Expertise in keywords, followed by
Professional Experience in reverse chronological order.
• Focus is on the most recent experiences, and prior experiences
summarized.
• The content aims at providing the reader a balance of responsibilities
and accomplishments for each position.
• After Work experience come Professional Affiliations, Computer Skills,
and Education.
7. Curriculum Vitae
• C.V is a Latin word meaning "course of life".
• Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) is therefore a regular or particular course of
study pertaining to education and life.
• A C.V. is more detailed than a resume, usually 2 to 3 pages, but can
run even longer as per the requirement.
• A C.V. generally lists out every skills, jobs, degrees, and professional
affiliations the applicant has acquired, usually in chronological order.
• A C.V. displays general talent rather than specific skills for any specific
positions.
8. Biodata
• Bio Data the short form for Biographical Data, is the old-fashioned
terminology for Resume or C.V.
• The emphasis in a bio data is on personal particulars like date of birth,
religion, gender, race, nationality, residence, marital status, and the
like.
• Next comes a chronological listing of education and experience.
• The things normally found in a resume, that is specific skills for the
job in question comes last, and are seldom included.
• Bio-data also includes applications made in specified formats as
required by the company.
9. At a glance summary..
• A resume is ideally suited when applying for middle and senior level
positions, where experience and specific skills rather than education
is important.
• A C.V., on the other hand is the preferred option for fresh graduates,
people looking for a career change, and those applying for academic
positions.
• The term bio-data is mostly used in India while applying to
government jobs, or when applying for research grants and other
situations where one has to submit descriptive essays.
10. The ideal Resume / Bio Data / C.V. should have . . .
• Name and Contact details
• Objective
• Educational Qualification
• Professional qualification
• List of Soft skills
• Work Experience
• Salary expected
• Reference
11. Avoid in CV
• Having a resume that is too long
• Using fancy paper
• Using a fancy font
• Filling the resume with extraneous information
• Including outdated information
• Typos and misspellings
• Lying on your resume
• Attachments
• Saying too much
• Leaving out the cover letter
18. Your opportunity to shine
▸Your abilities, talents, interests, personality,
work experience, education, and motivation
Informs you about the employer
▸Employer needs, history, work environment,
business activities, and future plans
▸Requires skill and PREPARATION NOT LUCK
Purpose of the Interview
19. ▸Gather work samples, copies of resume, references and
place in a nice case or folder
▸Remember to bring a pen
▸Rehearse your answers
▸Write down your questions about the job or organization
▸Review your work history
▸Practice your answers to common interview questions
▸Be prepared for surprises
Preparing for the Interview
20. Prepare for the Interview
Research the company
• Check the website and ask around
Update your paperwork
• Most recent employment and education
• Bring several copies to the interview
Anticipate and practice interview questions
21. Commonly Asked Job Interview Questions
• Tell me something about yourself.
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• What are your future career plans?
• Why did you choose this particular field of work?
• Describe a past work situation where you
encountered a problem and describe how you
solved it.
22. Successful Interviewing Strategies
• Note name of interviewer so you can ask for him/her upon
arrival
• Consider traveling to interview site ahead of time
• Be courteous to everyone you encounter
• Paper to jot down names, information, and questions
• Black pen, ID, reference list, and work history information
for filling out an application
• Several clean copies of your personalized cover letter and
resume
• Portfolio with evidence of accomplishments
23. Dress for Interview Success
General Dress Guidelines:
• Clean and well-pressed clothes
• Clean-shaven or neatly trimmed hair
• Conceal piercings and tattoos
• Subtle fragrances only
• Clean nails
• Don’t smoke prior or chew gum during
• Turn off your cell phone
24. ▸Be on time
▸Be friendly
▸Show your enthusiasm
▸Be positive and honest
▸Maintain eye contact
▸Express yourself
▸Don’t criticize previous
employers
▸Be aware of body
language
▸Be a good listener
▸Emphasize your strengths
▸Be yourself
▸Avoid personal issues
▸Be confident
▸Discuss ways you can
contribute
During the Interview
25. ▸Sit on the front third of the seat
▸legs uncrossed, but closed
▸Hands folded in front
▸Sit up straight with head, neck, and chest
aligned with hips
▸Be careful of bad habits
▸Tapping your fingers
▸Biting your nails
▸Playing with your hair
▸Clicking your pen, etc.
Posture During the Interview
26. Participate in Your Interview
• Be honest and give complete answers
• Be positive about yourself and past experiences
• Avoid one or two word responses
• Give concrete examples
• Paraphrase the question to avoid misunderstanding
• Limit responses to 30 seconds
• Emphasize what you have to offer the company
27. Participate in Your Interview
• Respond positively to questions about weaknesses
• Use positive nonverbal communication
• Sit up and lean forward
• Make eye contact and smile
• Avoid crossed arms and legs
• Use head nods and attentive facial expressions
• Ask questions and show interest in the company
• Avoid questions about salary, benefits, and vacation
• Express thanks and find out when a decision will be
made
28. Interview Communication Skills
A good handshake
Pronounce the interviewer's name PROPERLY.
Get the interviewer to do a lot of the talking.
Maintain Good eye contact with your interviewer.
Smile. Look as if you are enjoying the conversation.
Have a Confident posture.
Mirror your interviewer's body language.
Keep all your answers positive.
Show ENTHUSIASM.
LISTEN carefully to the interviewer's question.
Ask the interviewer questions when the opportunity arises
29. Summary
Understand the interview process
Assemble and consider previous interview experience
Research the company
Rehearse your answers before the interview
Dress professionally and look the part
Arrive on Time
Assess the competition
Prepare for Behavioral Interview questions
Describe the situation, the tasks, the actions taken and the Result achieved
Maintain good eye contact and Smile
Listen carefully to the interviewers questions
Keep all your answers positive
Ask the interviewer questions
Deliver a firm Handshake and smile at the end of the interview
30. Follow-Up After Your Interview
Fewer than 10% of applicants send a thank you letter
• May be the most important letter you write
• Provides another contact with the employer
• Sets you apart from those who didn’t send one
• Should take place within 24 hours after the interview
Follow-Up Letter Should:
• State your appreciation
• Explain what you liked about the position
• Sound enthusiastic about working for the company
31. Common Interviewing Mistakes!
• Don’t prepare
• Dress inappropriately
• Poor communication skills
• Cell phone goes off
• Talk too much
• Don’t talk enough
• Fuzzy facts
• Give the wrong answer
• Badmouthing past employers
• Forget to follow up