How to Create a Good Resume | MS Applications

Prepare an effective Resume (CV) to Study MS abroad.

A well-drafted and nicely structured resume speaks volumes about your personality. Although submitting a resume may not be a mandatory part of the application, it gives an opportunity to the student to highlight the past successes and accomplishments and effectively showcase their abilities. The resume gives a platform to an applicant to talk about the projects, courses, work experience, co-curricular and extracurricular activities. A Resume is much more than just a summary of what you have done so far; it is a meaningful representation of the knowledge, skills, and experience that you bring to the university for pursuing MS in abroad.

Important features of an Academic Resume:

1. Length 

The ideal length of a resume is one page and should not exceed two pages. You must take care to put the important information first and then creatively put all facts in the least possible words. The challenge is to only put pertinent information and do away with irrelevant information.

2. Fonts

Fonts should be readable but not very big. It is advisable to use the standard Times New Roman, or Arial and font size could vary from 11-12 points.

3. Language

It is desirable that you write your resume in a formal tone using simple business English. Avoid using slangs and jargons and always write the full form, no abbreviations.

4. Right text and space balancing

Make sure your resume does not look verbose. In a bid to accommodate more text in fewer pages, you may try to decrease the font size to 10. Please remember a proper text and spacing balance is very important. This not only makes your resume look tidy but also increases the legibility and clarity of your resume, making it appealing and easy to read.

5. Structure

Your resume must be structured meticulously and logically. Information should not be dispersed but should make sense and should be sequentially presented. One must be able form an overall impression by just having a fleeting look at your resume.

6. Formatting

• Your text should always be equidistant from left and right margins.
• Always use wide margins and a consistent format
• Neat typing and clear heading are indispensable in making a resume readable and appealing
• In order to highlight important information and swiftly guide the reader’s eye to important text, apply bold and italic typeface to that particular text.
• Always use sub-headings and bullets to bring out important information such as accomplishments.
• Avoid using flashy background, images on your resume, gaudy text with colored pages or decorative fonts
• Make sure to keep some white space between paragraphs and ensure that the margins are not very thin.

7. Purpose of your resume 

The purpose of your resume is to form an initial good impression that it would leave a lasting impact on the minds of the admission committee. Your resume must have an eye appeal and must kindle interest in the admission committee to know more about you. It must construct a positive image for you and make you come across as a person with a well-organized personality, having high integrity and high standards.

8. Content 

The content of your resume must always be customized according to the university and the course applied for. Just blindly sending a standard format with all your applications may look like an easy way out but may weaken the possibilities of your resume being noticed. Create a model resume and tailor it according to universities applied to. Always keep updating your resume as and when you acquire any new skillset or gain fresh experience.

9. List your achievements 

The resume serves as a form of a marketing package which is designed to convince the admission committee that you have the skills, knowledge and experience to excel in the course you are applying for. While talking about your achievements do not go over the top using technical jargons. Rather than using words such as meticulous, imaginative and hardworking try and quantify these qualities with examples of your work by including accomplishments which highlight your abilities.

10. Proof Reading 

The admission committee is going to glance at your resume and take less than ten seconds to size you up. Since first impressions are often the last impression, be on guard not to commit any grammatical errors. Proofreading your resume is as important as drafting it. Watch out for consistency, grammar and spellings before you send it out.

11. No false information 

Lying and putting in misleading information about your credentials and achievements should be strictly avoided at all costs. It is not only unethical but is also unlawful to furnish wrong information and facts

12. No unnecessary Personal information 

There is no need to mention your personal information in your resume like your weight, height, marital status and date of birth or a picture of yourself. They have got nothing to do with the admission committee’s decision of offering you admission.

Keeping the above pointers in mind while writing your resume for studying masters degree abroad, will certainly help you to draft a succinct and impressive resume to create a good first impression before the admission committee.

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