By Lolita Mendonca and Agnelo Rodrigues

This session marked the fourth in the six-part Classroom to Career career guidance seminar series curated by Don Bosco Avsar at Don Bosco Provincial House, Matunga. The seminar focused on the important topic of “Writing a Strong Resume” and was conducted by eminent corporate consultant and trainer Vincent D’Silva.

The programme was attended by over 120 undergraduate college students, with more than 50% participants from the final year, reflecting strong interest among students preparing to transition from academics to the professional world.

Participants received in-depth training on how to effectively present themselves through their resumes. A key learning was understanding the difference between a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Resume—while a CV provides a detailed account of a candidate’s academic and professional journey, a resume offers a concise and impactful summary that gives recruiters a quick impression of what the candidate brings to the table.

The session covered the right and wrong ways of resume presentation, helping students understand what strengthens or weakens a resume. Students were also given hands-on exposure to crafting resumes using AI tools. Mr D’Silva explained how recruiters increasingly use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to shortlist candidates from a large volume of applications, and guided students on how to structure resumes that successfully pass ATS screening.

Students were also cautioned about the importance of authenticity in resume writing. The trainer highlighted that many organisations engage professional background verification agencies such as First Advantage to verify the accuracy and authenticity of information shared in resumes. Participants were strongly advised to ensure that all claims made in their resumes are truthful and can be substantiated.

In addition, students were introduced to the emerging trend of video resumes and trained on how to create an effective and professional video profile.

The seminar placed strong emphasis on impact-based resume writing. Mr D’Silva shared that hiring managers increasingly look beyond mere participation and focus on the value and outcomes a candidate brings. Students were encouraged to move beyond listing activities and instead articulate what they learned, the skills they developed, and the contributions they made through their college experiences.

Quote Highlight:
“Hiring managers look for impact. It’s not enough to list what you did in college—what truly matters is what you learned, how the experience shaped you, and the value you contributed.”

— Mr Vincent D’Silva, Corporate Consultant & Trainer

The session was designed to be inclusive, particularly benefiting students who may not yet have work experience or internships. Practical guidance was provided on how academic projects, college activities, and events could be converted into meaningful resume content.

Another important highlight was the emphasis on building a strong LinkedIn profile. Mr D’Silva walked students through each element of an effective LinkedIn profile, guiding them step by step on how to align their resumes with their online professional presence.

To reinforce learning, the trainer shared multiple examples of strong and weak resumes, enabling participants to clearly identify best practices. Students were encouraged to pursue internships, part-time roles, and additional courses to enhance their profiles and strengthen their resumes over time.

Participants were urged to start building their resumes early, even if they were not in their final year. These resumes could also be used to apply for internships and part-time opportunities, which in turn would further strengthen their employability.

Overall, the session equipped students with practical, actionable skills, ethical awareness, and confidence to begin crafting strong, impactful resumes, making it a highly valuable learning experience for all participants.