Resume Format That Gets Jobs: A Practical Guide for Commerce Students

1. Choose the Right Resume Format (No, Not the One Your Friend Used)

There are 3 types of resume formats:

• Chronological (Most common, for experienced candidates)
• Functional (Skill-focused, not great for freshers)
• Hybrid/Combination (Best for students & freshers)

Use the Hybrid Format:

This allows you to highlight your skills, internships, certifications, and then present your academic background.

Sections to Include (in this order):

• Name & Contact Info
• Career Summary (1 paragraph, not an Objective)
• Skills (Relevant tools + soft skills)
• Projects / Internships / Freelance Work
• Certifications / Courses
• Education
• Achievements
• LinkedIn/Portfolio link

2. Start With a Career Summary (Not a Generic Objective)

Don’t write:

“To work in a dynamic organisation where I can utilise my skills…”

Instead, write a career summary focused on what you bring to the table.

Example:

“Commerce graduate with hands-on internship experience in GST return filing and Tally. Proficient in MS Excel and financial reporting. Completed 6-week course in Advanced Accounting. Seeking entry-level finance/accounting roles.”

3. Focus on Skills That Matter for Commerce Jobs

Don’t write 10 random skills. Instead, include:

Hard Skills:

• Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, MIS reporting)
• Tally / Zoho Books
• GST, TDS basics
• Financial Statements Analysis
• Audit documentation
• Microsoft Word / PowerPoint

Soft Skills (Pick 2–3, max):

• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Problem-solving

Hack: Match skills to the job description. Use those keywords.

4. Showcase Internships, Freelance Work or Live Projects

Even 2-week internships matter if shown properly.

Format Example:

Accounts Intern | Gupta & Co. | Jaipur | Jan 2024 – Mar 2024

• Prepared GST returns for small business clients
• Managed data entry in Tally ERP9
• Created Excel-based MIS reports

If you don’t have internships, include:

• College projects (with data)
• Mock audits or tax filings
• Freelance work (even for relatives or NGOs)

5. Add Certifications That Prove Practical Skills

Hiring managers love students who take initiative.

Include certificates like:

• GST Practical Course
• Excel for Finance
• Financial Modeling
• ACCA Knowledge Papers
• Introduction to Power BI

Don’t list courses you didn’t complete or can’t talk about in interviews.

6. Format Matters: Keep It Clean, Sharp, and One Page

Use this format:

• Font: Calibri / Arial, size 11 or 12
• Headings in bold
• Bullet points only (avoid long paragraphs)
• 1 page only (unless you have 2+ internships)

Avoid these mistakes:

• Using coloured fonts
• Adding a photo or personal details like DOB
• Writing “Resume” at the top

Export as PDF, always. Name it: YourName_Resume.pdf

7. Add a LinkedIn or Portfolio Link

This is 2025. If you don’t exist online, you’re invisible.

Include a line like:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourname
or
Portfolio: sites.google.com/view/yourname

Show projects, dashboards, or even a short video introduction.