India effectively runs two resume cultures in parallel. The traditional format includes a photo, date of birth, sometimes father's name, education with board names and percentages or CGPA, and the famous declaration line — "I hereby declare that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge" — signed with place and date. The global format, used for MNCs, product companies, and any role abroad, strips all personal details and follows US conventions. Choosing the wrong one for the employer is the most common mistake Indian job seekers make.
Quick facts: the India resume
| Length | 1–3 pages |
|---|---|
| Photo | Optional (omit for global roles) |
| Personal details | Traditional, omit for MNCs |
| Tone | Respectful, thorough |
| Language | English |
| ATS screening | Standard at MNCs and IT services |
The rules India recruiters expect
- 1–3 pages depending on experience; detail is acceptable
- Photo is optional — traditional to include, modern to omit for global roles
- DOB, gender, marital status, father's name appear in traditional formats only
- For global or tech roles, omit personal details and follow US style
- Career Objective or Summary at the top
- Traditional format ends with a Declaration plus signature, date, and place
- Education with percentages or CGPA, board/university, and year
- Languages known, extra-curricular activities, and hobbies are standard sections
Mistakes that get India applications rejected
Traditional format to a global company
Sending DOB, photo, and father's name to a US-style MNC reads as unaware of their hiring norms — and their ATS ignores it anyway.
US format to a traditional employer
Some PSUs and traditional firms still expect the declaration and full education details; omitting them looks incomplete.
Unexplained percentage scales
"78%" means different things on different boards. State board/university and scale (CGPA 8.6/10).
Objective instead of achievements
For experienced candidates, a generic objective wastes the top of page one. Lead with quantified results.
Skip the manual reformatting. Upload your current CV, pick India, and AlterCV rewrites it in the exact local format — rules above included — with a live ATS score.
Applying to other countries too?
Every market has different rules — that's the whole point of AlterCV. Related guides: United Arab Emirates CV format · Singapore resume format · United States resume format — or browse all 15 country formats.