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Online Seminar on Resume Writing & Interview Practice

Resume Writing & Interview Practice
Organized by: School of Data Analytics, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
Mode: Online Seminar
Date: 12 July 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Resource Person: Ms. Devika P. R., Analytical Co-ordinator, ISDC Connect, Kerala
Participants: Around 40+ students and faculty members

Introduction

The School of Data Analytics, Mahatma Gandhi University, organized a one-hour online seminar on “Resume Writing & Interview Practice” to equip students with the essential skills required for building professional resumes and performing confidently in job interviews.

The session began with Mr. Jibi Joseph, who welcomed the gathering and introduced the seminar. He warmly welcomed Prof. Dr. K. K. Jose, the faculty members, the resource person, and the students.

Following this, Prof. Dr. K. K. Jose addressed the participants and officially welcomed the resource person, Ms. Devika P. R., expressing gratitude for accepting the invitation to interact with the students.

Session Highlights

Ms. Devika P. R., an alumna of the School of Data Analytics, began the session by introducing herself and sharing her academic journey and professional experiences. She spoke about how the knowledge and opportunities she received from the School of Data Analytics helped shape her career. Her inspiring journey motivated students and highlighted the importance of continuous learning and career preparation.

She initiated the session by interacting with students and asking them about the various job roles that Data Analytics graduates can apply for. She discussed several career opportunities available in the industry and emphasized the importance of understanding job requirements before applying.

ATS-Friendly Resume Preparation

The major focus of the seminar was creating an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) friendly resume.

The resource person explained that a resume should be:

  • Simple, clean, and professional.
  • Tailored according to the specific job role.
  • Minimal in design, avoiding unnecessary aesthetic elements.
  • Focused on relevant information rather than decorative formatting.

She explained the ideal structure of a professional resume:

  • Professional Summary
  • Technical and Soft Skills
  • Work Experience and Internships
  • Educational Qualifications
  • Certifications and Achievements

She stressed that the Professional Summary should clearly describe who the candidate is, their career goals, and their strengths while aligning with the job role. Students were encouraged to use technology responsibly to improve and customize their summaries.

She advised students to highlight relevant skills, including technical competencies such as information retrieval and other domain-specific skills related to Data Analytics.

While discussing work experience, she mentioned that internships, projects, and certifications should be properly highlighted, as they demonstrate practical knowledge and industry exposure.

Resume Formatting Guidelines

The resource person shared several important resume formatting practices:

  • Use professional fonts.
  • Include relevant keywords matching the job description.
  • Avoid graphics, tables, charts, and excessive design elements.
  • Do not include a photograph in the resume to avoid any possibility of discrimination during the recruitment process.
  • Save the resume in PDF or Word format.
  • Name the resume file professionally using the candidate’s name followed by the job role.

She also recommended two online resume-building platforms:

  • Resume.io
  • MyPerfectResume

She encouraged students not to rush while preparing their resumes and mentioned that creating a strong, professional resume may take nearly one month of careful refinement.

Student Interaction

The seminar included an interactive session where students actively participated.

Ms. Gopika S. Nath interacted with the resource person and raised questions regarding job roles available in various companies. Ms. Devika provided valuable guidance regarding career opportunities and industry expectations.

LinkedIn Profile Building

The resource person emphasized the importance of maintaining a professional LinkedIn profile. She encouraged students to:

  • Build meaningful professional connections.
  • Stay active on the platform.
  • Connect with professionals working in their areas of interest.
  • Showcase projects, certifications, and achievements regularly.

She explained that LinkedIn plays a significant role in networking and career growth.

Interview Preparation Tips

The second half of the seminar focused on interview preparation.

Ms. Devika highlighted that confidence is one of the most important qualities during an interview.

She advised students to:

  • Prepare a concise and effective self-introduction.
  • Guide the interview towards their areas of strength by confidently discussing projects and topics they know well.
  • Present themselves confidently even when they are not experts in every topic.
  • Improve communication and presentation skills, as the way a candidate speaks significantly influences interview performance.
  • Continuously work on overcoming weaknesses through practice and self-improvement.

She also suggested that, whenever possible, candidates should politely ask interviewers for feedback after the interview. Understanding areas for improvement can help candidates perform better in future interviews.

The resource person also discussed professional etiquette, including:

  • Wearing appropriate office attire.
  • Maintaining proper posture while sitting.
  • Displaying positive body language.
  • Being aware of facial expressions and overall personality.

One of her key messages was:

“Every word written in your resume should have a story behind it.”

She explained that if a candidate mentions qualities such as adaptability, leadership, or teamwork, they should be prepared to support them with real-life examples or experiences during the interview.

Conclusion

Towards the end of the session, Ms. Devika informed students that they could contact her for further guidance and career-related support whenever required. She assured them of her willingness to help and mentor aspiring professionals.

The seminar concluded with an inspiring message encouraging students to remain positive, continuously improve themselves, seek guidance whenever needed, and never lose confidence during their career journey. She reminded everyone not to panic during interviews but to remain calm, confident, and focused on showcasing their strengths. Mr. Sujith P. S. (Faculty, Graduate School for SDA) delivered the vote of thanks and appreciated the resource person’s valuable efforts and insightful session.

The session was highly informative, interactive, and motivational. With the active participation of more than 40 students, the seminar successfully enhanced students’ understanding of professional resume writing, LinkedIn networking, and effective interview practices, preparing them to confidently face future placement opportunities.

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