How to Write a CV in India: Format, Tips, and Examples (2025)

The Indian job market does not care about Western resume guides. What works in Silicon Valley will get you rejected in Bangalore.

Writing a CV in India requires navigating a bizarre mix of traditional expectations (like 10th and 12th board percentages) and modern ATS requirements. If you get this balance wrong, your CV goes straight to the trash before a human even glances at it. Here is exactly how to write a CV that works for both Indian conglomerates and MNCs.

CV vs. Resume: The Indian Context

In the US, a CV is an academic document. In India, "CV" and "Resume" are used interchangeably by recruiters. However, a CV typically implies a slightly longer, more detailed document (2 pages max for experienced professionals), while a resume is strictly one page. When an Indian recruiter asks for a CV, give them a standard, reverse-chronological resume.

The Standard Indian CV Format

Do not use Canva. Do not use multiple columns. Do not use graphics. Use a clean, single-column layout with standard fonts (Arial, Calibri).

1. Header: Name, Phone, Email, LinkedIn URL, City. Do not include your full home address.
2. Summary/Objective: 3 lines max. Tell them who you are and what you deliver.
3. Work Experience: Reverse-chronological order. Use bullet points, not paragraphs.
4. Education: Include 10th and 12th marks if you are a fresher. If you have 3+ years of experience, drop them.
5. Skills: A comma-separated list of hard skills tailored to the job description.
6. Certifications & Projects: Critical for IT, tech, and finance roles.

What Indian Recruiters Look For (That Western Guides Ignore)

Western guides tell you to drop your GPA and early education. Indian recruiters, especially at mass recruiters like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, often have strict cutoffs (e.g., 60% throughout).

• Freshers MUST include: 10th, 12th, and Degree percentages/CGPA, Board names, and passing years.
• Photos: Unless explicitly asked for (like in aviation or hospitality), DO NOT put your photo on your CV. It messes up ATS parsers.
• Personal Details: Drop the "Father's Name," "Religion," and "Marital Status" at the bottom. It is outdated and irrelevant.

Writing Work Experience That actually Sells

Stop listing your daily duties. "Responsible for managing database" tells the recruiter nothing. You need to show impact.

Use the formula: Action Verb + Task + Result.

Instead of: Handled client calls.
Write: "Managed 50+ client calls daily, maintaining a 98% customer satisfaction score and reducing escalation rate by 15%."

ATS Optimization for Naukri and LinkedIn

Most applications in India go through Naukri.com or LinkedIn. These platforms use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to rank you. If you don't have the exact keywords from the job description in your CV, your profile ranks at the bottom. Mirror the language of the job posting perfectly.

Don't Send a Broken CV

You can read all the guides in the world, but if your formatting breaks when a recruiter opens it, you lose.

Get your Indian CV scored by AI — JobTether's Resume Roast tells you exactly what's working and what's not.