1. Never rush to make an instant resume. Make an objective self-assessment. List the plus and minus points. In other words, make an honest personal inventory. Decide the points to be covered in the CV, and then proceed.

2. Try to bring out the impression that you are a person who can deliver the goods efficiently.

3. Do not clutter up the page with too much matter. Elimination of unimportant details is as important as including the essentials.

4. Use good quality white bond paper.

5. Get the CV printed using a computer, or typed on an electronic typewriter.

6. Never write in your hand, unless the employer asks you to do so.

7. As far as possible limit so that the employer can quickly note the details.

8. Make the layout neat and easy to read. Use tables so that the employer can quickly note the details.

9. Do not use too many fonts (This will make your Resume look ugly).

1. List the qualifications in the reverse order, so that your highest qualification comes first. Your prospective employer is most interested in your highest qualification. This order is better than the routine chronological order.

2. List your experience also in the reverse order.

3. Make sure that there is no gap of years when you were doing nothing. At least there should be some training, apprenticeship, or social work to fill any blank period.

4. While mentioning your achievements, your membership in a college table-tennis team may be mentioned if you are a fresh graduate. But after 25 years of professional experience this may be irrelevant, since you will have many career achievements to be listed.

5. Do not keep a standard CV to be sent to all prospective employers. The emphasis will have to be different in tune with the nature of work expected from you.

6. Never send photocopies of your CV. Computers can give you any number of originals.

7. Remember that the CV of a person is a constantly growing phenomenon. It grows as you grow. So it will have to be updated periodically.

8. If you have long experience in jobs, emphasize what you have done during the most recent ten years.

9. Do not make any dishonest claims. Be careful when you mention a hobby; you should be able to answer an in-depth question on the subject during the interview. If you fail at that stage, it may create an impression that you are dishonest. It is certain that the CV will be before the interview board, when you are being tested.

10. Whatever you indicate in the CV should be as far as possible in tune with the job requirements.

11. You may give the names of two references who know you well, and who would honestly report in your favour if the company makes an enquiry about you. It is preferable to have persons of repute in your own profession as the referees. Do take the permission of the referees before you send their names.

12. Check and recheck your draft to confirm that there is no error in spelling. No one would like his name or the name of his company misspelt. If necessary, show your draft to a knowledgeable person to correct errors in language.

13. Write a simple but elegant cover letter.

Good Luck !