Resume Review Insights: Structuring a Standout Resume for MBA Placements

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In the previous section, we honed in on customising the resume for the specific role. Now, we will delve into the essential structure needed to create a standout resume. 

GoCrackIt’s resume review sessions provide MBA students with expert advice to excel during placements. In a recent session, mentor Jitin Chawla reviewed a resume from an IIM Kozhikode student—a software engineer, targeting tech consulting or product management. This blog captures their discussion, offering actionable tips and insights from their conversation to enhance your CV review.

Mentor Profile

Jitin Chawla is a dynamic professional with an MBA (EPGP) from IIM Bangalore and a B.Tech from Kurukshetra University, bringing 8 years of experience in strategy project management, supply chain management, business process improvement, and digital transformation. Known for his problem-solving mindset, he currently serves as Associate Director at Acko (2023-present), driving strategic initiatives. Previously, Jitin was a Management Consultant at Accenture Strategy (2021-23), and an Area Engineer at Fluor Daniel (2013-20).

Sneak peek into the session

Career Summary: Make It Concise and Compelling

Jitin started with the career summary:

Jitin: Keep it short: ‘Software engineer with 44 months at [Big 4 firm], delivering solutions for India’s power sector.’ HR professionals often spend just a few seconds on each resume.

Student: Should I mention my MBA here?

Jitin: Yes, but briefly—try, ‘Software engineer transitioning to management via an MBA.’ It shows your direction without overloading it.

A strong summary grabs attention instantly. For your resume check, focus on brevity and your unique value—think of it as your elevator pitch on paper.

Professional Experience: Tailor for Impact

Next, they refined the professional experience section:

Jitin: Tailor it to your goals. For tech consulting, emphasize your dashboard project. For product management, add, ‘Developed dashboards for Grid India, enabling real-time insights for Tata Power.’

Student: How do I make it stand out?

Jitin: Quantify your impact—like, ‘Reduced system downtime by 30%, saving $50,000 annually.’ Numbers make it concrete.

Showcase business impact in your resume evaluation. Use metrics (e.g., percentages, time saved, revenue gained) to prove your worth and align achievements with your target role.

Supporting Sections: Prioritise Relevance

Supporting sections were next:

Jitin: Condense older internships to two lines. Highlight your MBA project, like, ‘Led a team of three to design a UV air purifier for HVAC systems during COVID-19.’

Student: What about my undergrad projects?

Jitin : Only keep them if they show leadership or relevant skills. Focus on what ties to your goals now.

Relevance is key. When asking, How do I review my resume? select experiences that reflect skills like problem-solving or industry knowledge, and trim the rest for conciseness.

Skills: Be Authentic and Strategic

The skills section sparked a discussion:

Student: How do I prove my Excel skills?

Jitin: If you’re not confident, remove it—or be ready to demonstrate it in an interview. Add skills you can validate, and join case competitions to build new ones.

Student: Like what?

Jitin: Problem-solving or analytics from IIM Kozhikode events—those are gold for consulting.

Authenticity builds credibility. In a resume review online, list skills you can back up, and use extracurriculars to bridge gaps in experience.

Structure: Organise for Clarity

Finally, Jitin addressed the structure:

Jitin: Aim for a one-pager: 15% summary, 50% experience, 10% internships, 5-10% education, 10% extracurriculars. Use clear headings and bullet points.

Student: Where do I put the awards?

Jitin: Lead each section with your strongest points—awards go under experience or extracurriculars, not first. Keep formatting consistent.

A clean layout enhances readability. Prioritise top achievements in each section and use bullet points for a polished, professional look.

Conclusion: Turn Your Resume into a Powerful Tool

This GoCrackIt resume review transformed the student’s resume into a compelling narrative. With a concise summary, tailored experience, relevant supporting sections, authentic skills, and clear structure, you can do the same. Apply these tips—quantify achievements, align with your goals, and keep it sharp—and let GoCrackIt guide you to your dream role!

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