Tips For Engineering Resume Writing

In the last 15 years, I have interviewed 800+ Software Engineers across Google, Paytm, Amazon & various startups. Here are the most actionable tips I can give you on how to approach  solving coding problems in Interviews  (My DMs are always flooded with this particular question) 1. Use a Heap for K Elements      - When finding the top K largest or smallest elements, heaps are your best tool.      - They efficiently handle priority-based problems with O(log K) operations.      - Example: Find the 3 largest numbers in an array.   2. Binary Search or Two Pointers for Sorted Inputs      - Sorted arrays often point to Binary Search or Two Pointer techniques.      - These methods drastically reduce time complexity to O(log n) or O(n).      - Example: Find two numbers in a sorted array that add up to a target.   3. Backtracking    - Use Backtracking to explore all combinations or permutations.      - They’re great for generating subsets or solving puzzles.      - Example: Generate all possible subsets of a given set.   4. BFS or DFS for Trees and Graphs      - Trees and graphs are often solved using BFS for shortest paths or DFS for traversals.      - BFS is best for level-order traversal, while DFS is useful for exploring paths.      - Example: Find the shortest path in a graph.   5. Convert Recursion to Iteration with a Stack      - Recursive algorithms can be converted to iterative ones using a stack.      - This approach provides more control over memory and avoids stack overflow.      - Example: Iterative in-order traversal of a binary tree.   6. Optimize Arrays with HashMaps or Sorting      - Replace nested loops with HashMaps for O(n) solutions or sorting for O(n log n).      - HashMaps are perfect for lookups, while sorting simplifies comparisons.      - Example: Find duplicates in an array.   7. Use Dynamic Programming for Optimization Problems      - DP breaks problems into smaller overlapping sub-problems for optimization.      - It's often used for maximization, minimization, or counting paths.      - Example: Solve the 0/1 knapsack problem.   8. HashMap or Trie for Common Substrings      - Use HashMaps or Tries for substring searches and prefix matching.      - They efficiently handle string patterns and reduce redundant checks.      - Example: Find the longest common prefix among multiple strings.   9. Trie for String Search and Manipulation      - Tries store strings in a tree-like structure, enabling fast lookups.      - They’re ideal for autocomplete or spell-check features.      - Example: Implement an autocomplete system.   10. Fast and Slow Pointers for Linked Lists      - Use two pointers moving at different speeds to detect cycles or find midpoints.      - This approach avoids extra memory usage and works in O(n) time.      - Example: Detect if a linked list has a loop.   💡 Save this for your next interview prep!

🔍 The resume tip no one tells you Most resumes are built like job descriptions. They tell you what someone was assigned to do… but not what actually changed because they did it. Here’s the mindset shift: ❌ “Responsible for building a dashboard in React” ✅ “Built a React dashboard used by 300+ engineers, reducing bug triage time by 35%” Adding impact + scope + numbers doesn’t just sound better. It shows you think like an owner. 🧠 Here’s why this matters: According to a 2023 ResumeGo study, recruiters spend an average of 6.25 seconds scanning a resume. And resumes with quantified results had over 40% higher callback rates. Your resume is your pitch deck. Lead with outcomes, use verbs that punch. And if you can’t measure it, describe the before/after. Think: “What happened because I was there?” “What would not have happened if I hadn’t done it?” ✨ Bonus tip: Write your resume as you go. Keep a running doc of wins, metrics, experiments, and quotes from teammates or managers. You’ll thank yourself later.

After taking 75 Software Engineer interviews at Google in < 7 months, I’ve seen a range of mistakes all of us make in coding interviews. Here’s a compiled list to help you (and me) avoid these pitfalls in our future interviews! 1️⃣ Not Clarifying Requirements > Many candidates jump straight into coding. Often without fully understanding the problem. This can waste time and lead to errors. Tip: Always ask clarifying questions. To ensure you get the requirements. Confirm edge cases and input constraints early on. 2️⃣ Overcomplicating Solutions > In the heat of the moment, it is easy to overthink a problem. And this complicates the solution, both for you and your interviewer. Tip: Start with a brute-force approach (just explain it), then iterate towards optimization (code it up). Easy-to-understand solutions get bonus points. 3️⃣ Under-Communication > Interviews are not just about coding. They’re also about conveying your thought process. Silence takes away the only help you have during the interview—your interviewer. Tip: Think out loud! Explain your reasoning and approach as you code. This helps the interviewers understand you and even guide you if needed. 4️⃣ Ignoring Edge Cases > Many candidates create a working solution. But fail to consider edge cases. This can lead to catastrophic failures. Tip: After arriving at a solution, always discuss potential edge cases. Explain how your code handles them. This shows your thoroughness. 5️⃣ Neglecting to Optimize > Even if your solution works, failing to consider optimization can cost you points. Tip: After solving the problem, re-read your solution and discuss ways to improve time and space complexity. No micro-optimizations. Interviewers appreciate candidates who think about efficiency in big-oh notation. 6️⃣ Skipping Dry Runs > 80%+ candidates skip the dry run of their code, leading to overlooked mistakes. Tip: Walk through your code with sample inputs. This helps catch errors early and makes you look proactive. 7️⃣ Getting Flustered > Interviews are stressful. And it is easy to panic if you hit a roadblock. Tip: If you’re stuck, ask for a minute or 2 to gather your thoughts. Ask for hints if necessary—interviewers appreciate candidates who are willing to seek help. Those were my 2 cents on how to tackle coding interviews. But believe it or not, the best way to realize your interview mistakes would be to start taking interviews (even mock ones). After conducting so many interviews at Google, I realized how I often fell into the same traps as everyone. Like going completely silent or forgetting to do a dry run for the interviewer. Taking interviews altered my perspective, and now I advise everyone preparing for interviews to take a couple of them first. Total game changer! #codingInterviews #jobPrep #softwareEngineering #Google #interviewTips

6 Ways To Add Measurable Metrics To Craft A Job-Winning Resume: Want better results from your resume? You need to include measurable metrics. Here are 6 ways to do that (that anyone from any background can use): 1. Time How long did it take you to achieve something? Was that faster that usual or ahead of the timeline? If so, by how much? Ex: Reduced order fulfillment time by 50% YoY by implementing new tracking software 2. Scope What was the measurable scope of the project you worked on? How many people did you manage on this project? How many people use the product you work on? What was the budget for this project? Ex: Partnered with 3 cross-functional teams to ship new product feature to 17,500+ users 3. Efficiency Were you able to save budget? Save people time? Improve outcomes? Ex: Developed new ticket routing automation, increasing first-response efficiency by 45% and reducing customer wait time by 30%. 4. Productivity Were you able to reduce the hours invested in something? Did you squeeze more results out of the same timeframe? Ex: Overhauled financial modeling templates, improving productivity by 30% and enabling 20% more analyses per quarter 5. Comparison How did your results compare to the past? Did you do things faster? Better? Can you quantify and compare that to previous work? Ex: Implemented new scheduling philosophy, saving manager 3.5 hours of meetings per week (compared to last quarter) 6. What If None Of These Apply? If you're still not sure? Ask yourself two things: 1. What other teams / people leverage my work? 2 . Which of those teams / people have numbers tied to their roles Go find those people and ask them! For example, let's say you're a designer who made a brand new pitch deck for the sales team. Go talk to the sales team and: - Ask how many deals they've closed with your deck vs. the previous deck - Survey them and ask them to rate your deck compared to the previous deck You can always find a quantifiable way to measure your value if you're willing to get creative. 💡 Jennifer was unemployed for a year. We helped her revamp her resume with measurable metrics? She landed a PM role with a 10% raise in 16 weeks. 👉 Want help mapping this to your experience? Book a free call: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

Job hunting is tough we’ve all been there. Applications, interviews, rejections... it's a rollercoaster. But there’s one mistake I see freshers making over and over again: Using the same resume for every single job application. It’s tempting, I get it. You create one version of your resume, feel it’s your masterpiece, and send it out to every job opening. But let me tell you why this is a major red flag for recruiters. 📌 Why is this a problem? ▪️ In the tech world, job roles aren’t one size fits all. Even if two roles have the same title, the skills required can differ drastically depending on the company. ▪️ Example: A “Data Analyst” role at one company might focus heavily on SQL and Excel, while at another, they’re expecting Python and machine learning basics. ▪️ Even within the same role, some companies emphasize problem solving skills, while others prioritize specific domain expertise like marketing or e commerce. ▪️ Using a generic resume tells the recruiter, "I didn’t take the time to understand what you’re looking for." It’s a missed opportunity to show them that you’re exactly the right fit. ✏️ What should you do instead? Here’s how you can fix this: 🔆 Study the Job Description (JD): Think of the JD as a cheat sheet. It’s literally telling you what they want! Highlight the key skills, tools, and responsibilities mentioned. 🔆 Tailor Your Resume: Reorganize or reword your experience to match the JD. Use the same keywords the company uses. For example, if they mention “data visualization tools,” highlight your Power BI or Tableau experience instead of just saying “created dashboards.” 🔆 Add Relevant Projects or Skills: If the role mentions Python but your resume only shows SQL, consider adding a project where you used Python even if it’s just a personal one. 🔆 Optimize for ATS: Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to scan resumes. If your resume doesn’t match enough keywords from the JD, it might not even make it to a human recruiter. 🔆 Customize the Summary Section: If you include a summary or objective at the top of your resume, tweak it to align with the specific role. For example, mention the company’s name or emphasize the exact skills they’re looking for. 📌 Why It’s Worth the Effort I know tailoring your resume for every job feels like extra work. But this small effort can make a huge difference. It shows recruiters: ▪️ You’ve done your homework. ▪️ You care about this job, not just any job. ▪️ You’re proactive and detail oriented qualities every company values. ✏️ Final Thoughts Your resume isn’t just a document, it’s your first impression. Make it count. A generic resume might save you time, but a tailored resume can land you the job. 🔆What are your thoughts? Share in the comments. 🌐If you found this helpful, like and repost to reach others who might need it. ✳️Follow for more daily content!

Want to know how I helped my 4 students land interviews last week? By excelling at the art of resume alignment. Here's my exact process (save this for later. Let's make your resume naturally match job descriptions: 1. The Foundation Setup - Use JobScan or TargetMyResume for initial analysis - Create a "master resume" with ALL your experiences - Keep ATS-friendly formatting (no tables/graphics) 2. Strategic Keyword Integration - Copy job description into a word cloud generator - Identify top 15-20 recurring terms - Review your master resume for matching experiences 3. Natural Implementation Process - Start with your most relevant role - Weave keywords into achievement statements - Use exact phrases from job posting (when authentic) - Focus on action verbs that match required skills 4. Tools That Make It Easier - Grammarly for professional phrasing - Word cloud tools: WordClouds or WordArt - LinkedIn Skills Assessment (validate your keywords) - Google Doc's built-in thesaurus 5. The Reality Check Method - Read each bullet point out loud - Ask: "Would I say this in an interview?" - Remove any forced-sounding phrases - Keep industry-standard terminology only The key? Make every word count. Don't just stuff keywords - prove you've actually done what they're looking for. Remember: Your resume should read like a human wrote it, not like an AI generated it. Hope this helps you land more interviews in 2025. Save this post for your next application. P.S. What's your biggest resume challenge? Drop it below, and let's solve it together. Join me in the #LIPostingChallengeIndia and let's grow together!

“Applying for jobs without results?” Here’s what recruiters are really looking for—and how to align your application. As a recruiter, I can tell you that the first pass of your resume is under 30 seconds. In that time, here’s what we’re scanning for: 1️⃣ Job Titles & Functional Alignment Have you held the same or a closely related job title? If you’re applying for a Project Manager role, we’ll look for titles like “Project Manager” or related roles like “Program Coordinator” to ensure functional overlap. 2️⃣ Company & Industry Alignment Companies often prefer candidates from organizations of similar scale or industry. For example, a tech startup may prioritize candidates with experience at other startups, rather than those coming solely from tech giants like Google or Apple. 3️⃣ Minimum Requirements This could include certifications, education, location, or specific skills. For instance, if a role requires “PMP certification” or “proficiency in Tableau,” and it’s missing from your resume, that could be an early disqualifier—especially in a competitive applicant pool. 💡 Pro Tip: If there’s a large applicant pool, any misalignment here could result in being passed over. But if the pool is narrower, there may be more flexibility. Once your resume passes this initial scan, recruiters dive deeper into: ✅ Your Achievements: Quantifiable results like “Exceeded sales quotas by 15%” or “Increased social media engagement by 30%.” ✅ Your Experience: Evidence that you’ve worked on projects, challenges, or tasks that align with the expectations of the role. What This Means for You You DON’T need to customize your resume for every single application. You SHOULD ensure your resume highlights: Relevant job titles or functions. Skills and achievements that align with the job description. Minimum requirements that recruiters are actively searching for. For example: 📌 Applying for a marketing role? Highlight your experience targeting similar audiences or using tools mentioned in the job description (e.g., HubSpot, Google Analytics). 📌 Applying for sales? Emphasize deal sizes, quotas carried, and wins achieved. 💡 Key Takeaway: Recruiters don’t have time to connect the dots—make it easy for them. A few quick tweaks to highlight alignment can make the difference between landing the interview or being overlooked. What’s your go-to strategy for tailoring your resume? Share below! #JobSearch #ResumeTips #CareerGrowth #RecruiterInsights

“I’ve sent 260+ applications in 3 months on LinkedIn, Indeed, Naukri… but my inbox is still empty.” That is what a candidate told me last week. When I opened his resume, I knew why. The ATS could not read half of it. Here is what candidates don’t understand about ATS: An Applicant Tracking System does not “see” design. It reads structure. It ranks keyword relevance. It parses data into fields. If your resume cannot be parsed correctly, it is filtered out before a recruiter even knows you exist. Here is what actually makes a resume ATS-friendly, backed by how these systems work: 1️⃣ Use Standard Section Headings ATS scans for predictable headers like “Work Experience”, “Education”, “Skills”. If you write “Where I’ve Worked” or “My Journey”, parsing accuracy drops. Stick to conventional headings. 2️⃣ Match Keywords With Context, Not Stuffing Modern ATS tools use semantic matching, not just keyword counting. If the job description says “financial modeling”, writing it once under Skills is not enough. Show it inside bullet points with outcomes. Example: “Built 3-statement financial models to evaluate ₹20 Cr investment proposals.” 3️⃣ Avoid Text Inside Images, Tables or Graphics Many ATS systems cannot read text embedded in text boxes, tables, columns or icons. That stylish Canva layout may look impressive to you. To the ATS, it is a blank page. 4️⃣ Use Reverse Chronological Format Most ATS systems are trained to parse dates in reverse order. Inconsistent date formats like “Summer 2022” instead of “May 2022 – July 2022” reduce match accuracy. 5️⃣ Optimize File Type Unless specified otherwise, use .docx or a simple PDF. Some older systems struggle with heavily designed PDFs. 6️⃣ Prioritize Skills Based on Job Description ATS ranking is relevance-based. If Python appears 5 times in the JD and Excel once, reorder your skills accordingly. Relevance hierarchy matters. 7️⃣ Remove Headers and Footers Many ATS systems do not read content placed in headers and footers. If your contact details are there, they may not be parsed. 8️⃣ Keep It Single Column Multi-column resumes often break parsing logic. One clean column improves readability for both machine and human. 9️⃣ Customize Every Single Time There is no such thing as one universal resume. Each job requires alignment. If you are not tailoring, you are reducing your match score. Now tell me honestly: What is the biggest difficulty you are facing while trying to get your resume shortlisted? Is it no responses? Too many rejections? Confusion about keywords? Not sure if your format is ATS-safe? Drop your challenge in the comments and I will personally share specific feedback or a solution for you. #atsresume #resumetips #careercoach #interviewpreparation #jobsearchindia #ats #interviewcoach

I reviewed 500+ resumes last quarter. 90% made the same mistake. They listed responsibilities. Not impact. Here's what I mean: ❌ "Responsible for developing backend microservices" ✅ "Redesigned payment microservice — reduced latency by 40%, processing ₹2.3Cr daily transactions" ❌ "Worked on the team's CI/CD pipeline" ✅ "Built CI/CD pipeline that cut deployment time from 4 hours to 12 minutes for a team of 15 engineers" ❌ "Managed database operations and performance" ✅ "Optimised PostgreSQL queries — reduced p99 response time from 1.2s to 180ms, saving ₹18L/year in compute costs" See the difference? The first version tells me what you did. The second tells me what it meant. Here's the truth from the other side of the table: When I'm reviewing 50 resumes for one role, I'm scanning. Not reading. Scanning. I'm looking for numbers. Rupees. Percentages. Time saved. Scale handled. Users impacted. How does your work "resonate" with the role we are hiring If your resume doesn't have those, it does not resonate. No matter how good your work is. I know what your thinking..." "But my company doesn't track those metrics." Estimate. Use context. Frame it. You don't need exact numbers. You need evidence of thinking. "Served approximately 200K daily active users" is better than "worked on a high-traffic application." "Reduced manual testing effort by an estimated 60%" is better than "improved test automation." Your resume isn't a job description. It's a highlight reel. Make every bullet answer one question: "So what?" What difference did you make? That's what gets you the interview. Joshua Talreja Views are my own. #careers #techcareers #india #resume #hiring