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“Review My Resume, Please!” — Bringing in Impact in the Resume! - Part 1

  • May 20, 2025
  • Resume Review

Alok Shrivastava is a seasoned career mentor who has conducted hundreds of resume evaluations for management professionals. In this blog, we bring to you a real conversation between Alok and an MBA student who reached out for a resume review online. The interaction is raw, honest, and packed with insights that anyone looking for a resume check can benefit from.

Resume Review Session Begins

Alok: Alright, got your resume in front of me. Just one second… okay, I see Manipal University Jaipur, and your last role was with a Fortune 500 client?

Student: Yes, the client was Fortune 500. I worked as a System Admin.

Alok: Got it. So when you say Fortune 500, is that referring to the client you supported?

Student: Yes, correct.

Alok: Understood. So what’s your key question around your resume? Are you looking for a cv review in general or do you have any specific areas you’re worried about?

Digging Deeper Into the Details

Student: Actually, one thing that’s not mentioned is a live marketing project I worked on during my MBA. Apart from that, everything is included.

Alok: If you’ve done a live project—especially one related to marketing—it definitely needs to be on your resume. That adds real-world relevance. Let’s look at the top three points on your current work experience. This first point where you mention “boosting overall efficiency by 18%” is very broad.

Student: Yeah, I kept it brief because I didn’t want it to turn into a long sentence.

Alok: I get that, but right now it lacks the story. Can you give me one detailed example?

Student: Sure. At KBIS, I used to train people and handle backend issues they had on calls. Sometimes I’d even join calls to resolve the issue directly. Also, there were VDI issues—virtual desktop infrastructure problems during COVID—because many companies were shifting to remote work.

Turning Generic Into Impactful

Alok: Now we’re talking. That COVID context is crucial. Your resume should say something like:
 “Resolved over 50 system transition issues during the shift to work-from-home for a Fortune 500 client, ensuring business continuity at the onset of COVID-19.”

That shows impact. Otherwise, it just sounds like regular tech support.

Student: Okay, I hadn’t thought of framing it that way.

Alok: That’s why we do these resume checks! Think of the business or environmental situation. COVID-19 was massive. You were the person keeping systems up and running in the middle of chaos—highlight that. It’s not just what you did, but when and why it mattered.

The Power of Naming (or Hinting at) the Brand

Alok: Also, what kind of Fortune 500 company was it? Manufacturing? Retail?

Student: It was Walmart.

Alok: That’s even better! If you can name it—great. If not, say “world’s largest retail chain.” It makes your profile stand out in any resume evaluation.

Alok: You also need to highlight how you managed stakeholders. You said you trained 12–14 people. Add something like:
 “Mentored 12+ team members across geographies and resolved client-side technical issues for stakeholders from 3 different regions.”

This shows collaboration and leadership.

Make Your Projects and Skills Clearer

Alok: You’ve mentioned website development. What kind of websites were these?

Student: Mostly CRM systems—customer-facing ones.

Alok: Then say that! The keyword “CRM” is valuable. Instead of listing a “library management system,” highlight something like:
 “Developed customer-facing CRM websites to streamline user queries and service requests.”

Out With the Old, In With the Recent

Alok: Your resume also has very old certifications—some from 2019—and a few outdated project mentions.

Student: Yeah, I haven’t had time to do new certifications. MBA life is hectic.

Alok: I understand, but old points make the resume look stale. Even a recent online course—say on generative AI—adds freshness. It shows you’re evolving.

Student: So you’d recommend removing older things?

Alok: Absolutely. Things like an 8-year-old volunteering stint don’t add value now. Highlight what’s relevant and recent.

The Live Project Dilemma

Alok: What about your MBA live project?

Student: It was a marketing one in January. Should I add it?

Alok: 100% yes. People often wait to complete projects, but if it’s substantial, include it. You can say “Ongoing” or “Jan 2025–Present.” Live projects showcase current skill application.

Certifications: Keep or Toss?

Student: I’ve added some certifications because they’re mandated.

Alok: Are you sure? If they aren’t adding value or aligned with your career goals, even mandated ones can sometimes be omitted. Talk to your placement team.

Student: Okay, I’ll check. Some are quite old and technical—like a blockchain course from 2018.

Alok: Then definitely remove. Blockchain isn’t hot anymore. But if you said you recently did a course on AI or digital marketing—now that would catch attention in a resume review by a recruiter.

Work Experience Is the Core

Alok: If you say your three years of work experience is your strength, then beef it up. Right now, your experience reads like a job description.

Instead, tell me:

  • What business impact did you create?

  • How many people did you support?

What outcomes improved because of your work?

Student: Understood. I’ll go back and add those specifics.

Parting Advice

Alok: Also, don’t forget the human element. Do you have any extracurriculars—even recent small ones?

Student: Not really during MBA.

Alok: That’s okay. But think about anything you’ve done—content creation, LinkedIn posts, mentoring peers. If not, don’t worry. Just don’t crowd your resume with outdated points to make up for it.

Student: Got it. Thank you so much for this resume check.

Alok: My pleasure! This is just the first step. Keep iterating based on feedback and relevance. Good luck!

Key Takeaways from Alok’s Resume Review Online

  1. Context matters: Situate your achievements within business or environmental contexts (e.g., COVID-19).

     

  2. Specifics beat generalities: Avoid vague claims like “improved efficiency” without details.

     

  3. Recency is power: Old certifications and projects can hurt more than help.

     

  4. Impact is everything: Every point should answer, “So what?”

     

  5. Brand names help: Mention company or at least industry profile when possible.

     

  6. Think from the recruiter’s lens: What would impress them in 6 seconds?

     

Need a resume evaluation like this? Whether you’re a student or a working professional, don’t wait. Get a resume review online with mentors who understand both business and hiring.

 Stay tuned for Part 2, where Alok dives deeper into prioritizing resume sections, trimming fat, and crafting a compelling career story.

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