'Important To Have, Doesn't Matter If It's 2 Pages': How A Two-Page Resume Helped Woman Land Jobs At Amazon, Google

An Indian-origin woman, Sonakshi Pandey, dared to take a risk by submitting a 2-page CV when applying to Google, Amazon, and Microsoft - going against what experts normally recommend. Surprisingly, her gamble paid off, landing her a role as a data and product manager at Google's Seattle office. But what exactly did she include in her resume that set her apart from the competition?

From a shy, introverted person to a career focused on public speaking

Sonakshi Pandey/ LinkedIn

Following her master's degree in computer science, Pandey secured a position as a software engineer at Amazon, dedicating three years to coding.

"I was very shy, very introverted," she confided in Business Insider. "I used to wear my headphones and code for eight hours straight."

Then, she stumbled upon a YouTube video featuring a tech expert discussing databases with remarkable confidence and that was the moment which changed her career trajectory.

Representative image/ Unsplash

Inspired, she decided that she wanted to be able to speak confidently in public.

This ignited her journey of transitioning from software development to solution architecture at Amazon Web Services, a role demanding more public speaking and client interactions.

It was during this transition that she decided to revise her resume.

What Pandey suggests writing in a resume

After spending five years at Amazon, Pandey applied to Microsoft and Google in 2021.

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Also read: Debunking Resume Myths: Recruiter Reveals What You Should Delete From Your CV

Reflecting on her r¨¦sum¨¦ that led to offers from both Microsoft and Google, Pandey highlighted two key elements that made a significant impact:

Writing for Company Blogs: At AWS, Pandey authored blogs for Amazon's cloud computing platform, highlighting her thought leadership and expertise. She stresses the importance of such contributions for establishing credibility in the industry.

Also read: Biggest Red Flags Recruiters Look For In Resumes, As Per New Research

Volunteering Section: Despite exceeding the one-page limit, Pandey includes a section on volunteering, discussing her mentorship projects. This reflects her journey in the tech industry, where she overcame challenges like imposter syndrome and public speaking hesitations.

"I feel this is very important to have and is a piece of me that I want to share with everyone wherever I go. And that's why I was like: It doesn't matter if it's two pages, this needs to be here,¡± she expressed.

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