🇮🇳How to Write a Resume for India

Quick facts: CVs in India

These are common practices; they vary by employer and industry. If a job ad asks for something specific, follow the ad.

What to include

What to leave off

• Father's name, religion or height — Outdated and unrelated to the job at most modern employers.
• An unnecessarily long resume — Keep it focused on the role.
• Skills you do not have — Technical interviews will test them, so list only what you know.
• An unprofessional email — Use an address based on your name.
• ID document numbers — Never put ID or passport numbers on a resume.

ATS and CVs in India

Large employers in India, especially IT services, BPO companies and banks, receive huge volumes of applications, so most use applicant tracking systems. Portals such as Naukri also let recruiters search their resume databases by keyword. If the right terms are missing or your file is hard to parse, you may simply never appear in results.

• Use a single-column template such as Executive, Modern or Timeline.
• Write technical skills by their standard names: Java, SQL, Power BI.
• Refresh your profile on job portals regularly, using the same keywords.
• Avoid tables and heavy graphics.
• Upload PDF or Word, depending on the portal.

Try the CV checker and the job-description matcher before you apply.

Portals also tend to surface recently updated profiles first, so regular updates help.

Check my CV for ATS →

CV example

Examples by job

Applying for jobs in India

India's job market is very large and competitive. The best-known portals are Naukri, LinkedIn and Indeed, alongside specialised sites. Employee referrals carry real weight, especially in tech, and many graduates are hired through campus placement.

• Notice period: often longer than in many countries, sometimes one to three months depending on the contract, and employers ask about it early.
• Process: many companies run an online test, then technical interviews and an HR round.
• Verification: some employers run background verification on degrees and previous employment, so keep everything accurate.
• Salary questions: current and expected salary come up often, so prepare a realistic answer.
• Work permits: if you are not an Indian citizen, check visa requirements with official Government of India sources and the employer.

See the software developer example and the fresh graduate example.

Employers often ask whether you are willing to relocate, so state your preferred cities clearly.

CV language

For corporate and office roles in India, resumes are written in English. Spelling is often closer to British (organisation), though American companies accept US spelling without issue; just be consistent. Hindi or a state language can be an advantage in sales and customer-facing roles, so list it under Languages.

Our builder outputs English resumes and translates details typed in Arabic automatically, which suits the Indian market. It also has optional fields for date of birth, nationality and marital status if an employer expects them.

CV or resume?

In India, resume and CV are used almost interchangeably, and you may also see biodata for traditional or government roles, which includes more personal information. For private companies and multinationals, a concise resume focused on skills and achievements works best. A long CV usually refers to academic and research applications.

If an employer specifically asks for a biodata, follow the exact format they request.

Cover letters in India

Cover letters are not always required in India, especially when you apply with one click on a job portal. For multinationals, senior roles or when emailing HR directly, a short letter can make a difference. Keep it to a page or less, polite and professional, and mention the role, your core skills and your notice period. Start with the cover letter generator.

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