How to Format Biodata for Job Applications

I got interviews from companies like Amazon, SAP, Siemens, etc., and everyone talks about resumes with a STAR format and quantifying impact. But what about the resume details that actually make a difference? Based on what’s worked for me, I’m sharing a few overlooked (but practical) tips that can help you. Let’s dive in 👇 1. Use U.S. Letter Size & Thoughtful Formatting: 🧠 Why it matters: Many ATS systems and recruiters in the U.S. are used to U.S. letter format(8.5x11, not A4). A4 may cause layout issues, especially with margins and alignment on different systems. 🎯 How to do it: ▪️ Use 0.9–1.15 line spacing, and margins of 0.5 to 1 inch for a perfect balance. Helps your content breathe without looking bare. ▪️Design psychology: Cramped resumes feel overwhelming; too much white space feels empty. ▪️Some candidates try to trick ATS by adding keywords in white text, invisible to humans. It’s detectable, unethical, and can actually get you blacklisted. 2. Human-First, Then ATS-Friendly 🧠 Why it matters: You’re not interviewing with an algorithm. Recruiters, often not from your domain, are the first to read your resume. 🎯 How to do it: ▪️Use clean formatting, consistent font sizes (10.5–12 pt), and easy-to-skim sections. Make sure your sentences make sense to anyone and not just someone technical. ▪️AI can help refine your wording, but always proofread for clarity and tone. Include context when numbers alone aren’t clear: ❌ “Increased sales by xy%” sounds great but without context, it’s meaningless.  So, add scope + baseline if you can: ✅"Boosted monthly sales by xy% within xy months by introducing a GTM strategy across 2 digital channels." 3. Pass the 6-Second Scan with Story-Driven Bullets 🧠Why it matters: Recruiters skim resumes fast, often under 6 seconds, so your bullet points need to do more than just list tasks. (PS: Studies show recruiters scan resumes in an F-shaped pattern: left to right, top to bottom. The top third of your resume (the “hot zone”) gets the most attention.) 🎯 How to do it: ▪️Start each bullet with the intent or principle behind the action (e.g., “Customer Obsession,” “ETL Pipelines”). ▪️Avoid robotic phrasing like: ❌“Built a dashboard to track engagement metrics.” Instead, make it strategic: ✅Customer Obsession: Launched in-product surveys in Excel to surface user pain points, leading to a 22% increase in feature engagement. Hope this helps!  Please share what worked for you, or if you need a template. #ResumeTips #ProductManagement #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #InternationalStudents #TechCareers #EarlyCareer #LinkedInTips

Attn: job seekers! Stop sabotaging your résumé. You led a $200M business with global distribution, a 20-person team, and owned the entire fulfillment process and tech stack. But your résumé starts with: “I’m passionate about the customer experience.” Stop. That tells me nothing. As someone who’s reviewed thousands of résumés and hired hundreds of people across various functions, let me be blunt….. I scan your résumé for 3 things: -Scale -Scope -Clarity Not poetry. First, I go to “Experience.” Here’s what the experience section of a great résumé does: ✔️ Starts with a one-liner about the company that tells me:  What it is, what it does, and why it matters. Leader in X, $Z in annual revenue, PE/family/VC owned, 430 employees, etc. ✔️ Next, your role explained: Title, who you report to, team size (direct or indirect), budget, P&L responsibilities, regions covered. ✔️ Then 5-8 bullets-max-for your current role accomplishments, start each with a bold header that maps to the job description for the position you seek: - P&L Ownership,  -Team Leadership,  -Commercial Growth,  -Strategic Partnerships Don’t skimp on quantifying the details of your impact. This shows me your results. Be sure to add a section for your systems & technical skills like Salesforce (CRM), Net Suite (ERP), Power BI (Data Visualization) and more. Not sure what to include? Look up job descriptions for roles you want. Use ChatGPT or even Etsy (yes, Etsy!) to find templates that organize your information clearly. Better yet? Take a friend out for a drink, (preferably one with a good resume), and ask for an honest assessment and proofread. Because I see too many résumés that bury the headline. If you led the entire revenue-generating engine of a company, I need to see that fast. Don’t make me read a novel of 22 bullet points to figure it out (real example). Those 22 bullets also tell me that you won’t be able to succinctly report information if we hire you. Structure = clarity = credibility. Structure creates clarity. Clarity builds credibility. And in a world of 3-second résumé scans, that’s everything. Go get ‘em! What’s the best (or worst) résumé trend you’ve seen lately? #resumes #hiring #CEOleadership

Your resume gets 6 seconds.  But it's not about cramming more in. 🧠 It's about understanding what sticks in a hiring manager's mind: After reviewing thousands of resumes, I've noticed the memorable ones don't follow formatting rules—they follow psychological principles. Here's what actually captures attention: 1️⃣ The Promise, Not the History Your opening line shouldn't summarize your past—it should promise future value. Instead of 'Experienced marketing manager,' try 'Marketing leader who turns customer insights into 40% revenue growth.' The brain remembers outcomes, not titles. 2️⃣ The Thread That Connects Everything Randomly impressive achievements don't create callbacks. A coherent story does. Pick one theme—problem solver, growth driver, innovation catalyst—and weave it through every section. When everything connects, you become memorable. 3️⃣ The Unexpected Detail Generic descriptions blend together. Specific, unexpected details stick. Replace 'Improved team productivity' with 'Created 15-minute daily standup that replaced 3 hours of weekly meetings, saving 10 hours per person monthly.' 4️⃣ The Human Behind the Professional Strategic personality hints make you three-dimensional. A volunteer experience, a relevant certification pursued out of passion, or a side project shows drive beyond the 9-to-5. But keep it relevant—your marathon running only matters if you're applying to Nike. 5️⃣ The Language of Impact Weak: 'Responsible for social media' Strong: 'Grew LinkedIn following 400% by posting customer success stories' The difference? One describes a task. The other paints a picture of results. 6️⃣ The Strategic White Space Dense paragraphs repel readers. Strategic breaks guide the eye. Use white space like punctuation—it controls the reading rhythm and highlights what matters. 7️⃣ The Memorable Close End with forward momentum. Your last resume line should point toward their needs, not summarize your past. Make them visualize you solving their problems. The psychology is simple: • Brains remember stories, not lists • Specificity beats generality every time • Emotion (even subtle) creates connection • Coherence trumps comprehensiveness Your resume isn't read—it's scanned, absorbed, felt. Design for the brain, not the rulebook. Transform your resume into a story that sticks. Build yours with Teal → https://lnkd.in/gJSNk4FN #ResumePsychology #JobSearch #CareerStorytelling #ResumeWriting #HiringInsights #CareerAdvice ♻️ Reshare to help someone craft a memorable career story. 🔔 Follow me for more job search & resume tips.