Hey there,
Last week, 100+ of you commented asking for my CV template.
Here it is.
But before you download and start editing, let me tell you why most CVs fail—and how to make yours the one that actually gets read.
The 6-Second Reality
Your CV has one job: survive the ATS scan and earn 6 seconds of human attention.
That's it.
Not to showcase your creativity. Not to display your design skills. Just to get you into the room.
Here's what most people get wrong—and how to fix it.
Index
Beating the ATS (The Computer Screen)
Writing Bullet Points That Actually Work
The Formatting Rules No One Tells You
Education Section
The Details That Kill Applications
The 10-Hour Rule
The Review Process (Non-Negotiable)
Download the Template
Part 1: Beating the ATS (The Computer Screen)
Rule 1: Keywords > Design
Fancy templates with graphics, colors, and text boxes confuse the ATS. They get auto-rejected before a human ever sees them.
Keep it plain. Keep it keyword-dense. Keep it black text on white background.
Rule 2: Structure Matters
The ATS scans in a predictable pattern. If your information isn't where it expects, you lose points.
Order of sections:
Header (Name, Contact, LinkedIn)
Work Experience / Internships (Put this FIRST)
Education
Skills
Extracurriculars / Certifications
Part 2: Writing Bullet Points That Actually Work
This is where 90% of CVs die.
Every bullet point needs four things:
1. Quantified Impact
❌ "Increased portfolio returns"
✅ "Analyzed 15+ companies across 3 sectors, contributing to a $2M investment decision"
2. Your Specific Role
What did YOU do? Not the team. Not the company. YOU.
3. Action Verb Variety
Led, analyzed, built, structured, executed, designed, implemented, managed.
Don't repeat the same verb twice. It looks lazy.
4. Smart Bucketing
Group similar work under subheadings:
Financial Modeling
Client Management
Deal Execution
This makes it scannable for both ATS and humans.
Part 3: The Formatting Rules No One Tells You
These are the details that separate amateur CVs from professional ones.
1. Fill the Entire Page
Use the page from top to bottom. No half-empty pages. No wasted white space.
The template I'm sharing has a few blank lines at the end for visual breathing room, but YOUR actual CV should be filled.
(Exception: Freshers with limited experience can have a slightly shorter CV—use more spacing or a bigger font to fill the page naturally.)
2. One Point = One Line
Use "Justify" alignment and write enough to fill each line completely.
One bullet point should not spill into two lines. Edit ruthlessly to make it fit.
This creates visual consistency and forces you to be concise.
3. Master the Left Margin (Bucketing)
Use the left side for categories:
WORK EXPERIENCE
Financial Modeling
• Bullet point
• Bullet point
Deal Execution
• Bullet point
• Bullet pointThis creates structure and makes your CV scannable in 3 seconds.
4. Font, Spacing, Color Consistency
Pick one font. Stick to it. Pick one spacing style. Stick to it. Use only black text.
Inconsistency screams "I didn't proofread."
5. Bold Strategically
The bolded words alone should tell your entire story.
Example: "Analyzed 15+ companies across 3 sectors, contributing to a $2M investment decision"
Someone skimming should understand your value from bold text alone.
But don't over-bold. Too much bolding = no bolding.
Part 4: Education Section
List chronologically (most recent first).
Highlight:
Rank (if top 10%)
GPA / Percentage
Special distinctions (Dean's List, scholarships, gold medals)
Example:
IIM Ahmedabad | MBA | Class of 2026
- CGPA: xx/4.0
- Member, Investments Committee & SportsCommPart 5: The Details That Kill Applications
Things that get you rejected:
❌ Blank spaces (shows lack of attention to detail)
❌ Generic hobbies ("reading, traveling, music")
❌ Inconsistent fonts or spacing
❌ Any color other than black text
❌ Sending as .docx (always export as PDF)
Things that get you noticed:
✅ 2-3 specific extracurriculars ("Captain, Ultimate Frisbee Team" not "Sports")
✅ Clean, single or double-column format
✅ PDF export (preserves formatting)
✅ File name: FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf
Part 6: The 10-Hour Rule
Here's my controversial take:
If you can't spend 10+ hours perfecting a one-page document about yourself, why would they trust you with their $100M deal?
Your CV is your first deliverable to the company you want to work for.
It's a work sample. A proof of effort. A test of attention to detail.
Treat it like one.
The Review Process (Non-Negotiable)
After you've spent 10 hours on your CV, here's what to do:
Self-review (Read it out loud. Does every word earn its place?)
Peer review (Send to 2-3 classmates/colleagues in similar roles)
Senior review (Get feedback from someone 3-5 years ahead of you)
Mentor review (If you have access to a recruiter or hiring manager, even better)
Each round will catch things you missed.
Each round will make it 10% better.
Four rounds = 40% better CV.
Your Template
I've attached my CV template below—the exact format I used to land roles in Investment Banking, get into IIM Ahmedabad, and secure my JP Morgan offer.
A few notes on the template:
It follows every rule I mentioned above
It's ATS-friendly (plain text, clear structure)
It has strategic bolding and bucketing
The blank lines at the end are placeholders—fill them with your content
Use it as a starting point. Customize it to your profile. Make it yours.
The Reality Check
The interview gets you the job.
But the CV gets you the interview.
Most people never get the interview because their CV dies in the ATS or gets 6 seconds of attention and loses.
Don't be most people.
Spend the 10 hours. Get the reviews. Make it perfect.
Your career is worth it.
See you in two weeks with the next Vault drop.
Mihir Joshi
CA | IIM Ahmedabad | JP Morgan
P.S. - If you used the template and landed an interview, reply and let me know. I'd love to hear about it.
