Resume for Class 12 Applicants: What to Include/Skip

If you are in Class 12 and someone told you, “Make a resume, you will need it for applications,” you probably opened a Google template and immediately got stuck at the first line.

Because. Resume for what exactly?

You are not applying for a job (most likely). You are applying for an undergraduate or integrated program. Maybe IPMAT Indore, IPMAT Rohtak, JIPMAT. Maybe other IIM UG pathways. And the resume in this context is less “corporate document” and more “clean one page snapshot of you.”

Still, it matters. A lot.

A good Class 12 resume makes it easy for an interviewer, mentor, or even your own future self to understand what you have actually done in the last 3 to 5 years. A bad one makes you look like you are trying to sound older than you are. Which is common. And very fixable.

This guide will tell you what to include, what to skip, and how to make it look like a real student resume (not a LinkedIn parody).

First, when do you even need a resume in Class 12?

You might use a resume for:

• Interview rounds (IPMAT style interviews, some college interviews, scholarship interviews)

• Profile evaluation with a mentor or coaching team

• Building your SOP answers, application form entries, and “tell me about yourself”

• Summer program applications, competitions, leadership opportunities

• Internships, volunteering, shadowing (even short stints)

At IIMAdmitMentors, we usually tell students to create a basic resume early because it helps in two ways. One, you stop underestimating your own work. Two, you stop adding random fluff because you can see what is real and what is not.

The one rule: keep it one page

One page. No exceptions.

Class 12 resume is not supposed to be a life story. It is supposed to be scannable in 20 seconds.

Also, do not shrink font to 9 to “fit more.” If you have too much, you need to edit, not compress.

A clean format usually means:

• 11 or 12 pt font

• Simple font (Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman is fine too)

• Consistent spacing

• Bullet points (short)

• Enough white space to breathe

What to include (the sections that actually work)

1) Header (basic details, no drama)

Include:

• Full Name

• City, State

• Phone number

• Email ID (a professional one)

• LinkedIn (optional, only if it is not empty or cringe)

• Portfolio link (optional: Canva portfolio, Drive folder, GitHub, writing link, sports profile)

Skip:

• Full home address

• Parents’ names

• Date of birth (unless specifically asked in an application)

• Photo (not needed for most academic contexts in India)

One small thing. Your email should not be “cutiepie123” or “kingkohli_18”. Make a simple one with your name.

2) Education (keep it factual, clean)

Include:

• Class 10 board, year, school name, percentage/CGPA

• Class 12 (appearing), board, school name

• Class 12 predicted score (optional, only if it is strong and you are confident)

If you are applying for IIM UG tests, you can also add:

• Stream (Commerce/Science/Humanities)

• Key subjects (optional)

Skip:

• Primary school

• A long paragraph about how you love learning (that belongs in an SOP, not education section)

If your Class 10 score is not amazing, do not hide it with weird formatting. Just present it normally and let the rest of the resume carry weight.

3) Academic achievements (only the meaningful ones)

Good examples:

• Olympiad/NTSE/KVPY style recognition (even participation in later stages can be mentioned honestly)

• School rank (if real and verifiable)

• High percentile in recognized exams (if you have it)

• Subject specific awards (topper in Accountancy, Economics, Maths)

• Debate/MUN awards that are credible and not “participant certificate” level

Write it like:

• School Topper, Economics (Class 11), XYZ School (2024)

• Regional Finalist, ABC Quiz, out of 2,000+ teams (2023)

Skip:

• Every certificate you ever got

• “Won 1st prize in drawing in Class 6”

• Online course completion certificates in bulk (more on this later)

4) Positions of responsibility (POR) and leadership

This section can be gold for Class 12 students. Especially for interviews.

Include roles like:

• School Captain / House Captain / Prefect

• Club head (Commerce club, Eco club, Debate society, Tech club)

• Event organizer (annual fest, interschool competition coordinator)

• Team leader for a project (serious project, not “made a chart together”)

Write it with impact:

• Head, Economics Club (2024 to 2025) Planned 6 sessions, hosted an inter school quiz with 120 participants, managed a team of 10.

Skip vague lines like:

• “Led my team and learned leadership.” That says nothing. Tell what you did.

5) Extracurriculars (show depth, not width)

This is where most resumes go wrong. Students list 14 hobbies. Interviewers roll their eyes.

Instead, pick 3 to 5 things you actually do.

Good extracurricular examples:

• Sports with level mentioned (district, state, school team)

• Music exams (Trinity, ABRSM), performances

• Competitive debating, MUNs with outcomes

• Content creation (if consistent and non embarrassing)

• Coding projects, hackathons

• Theatre, art exhibitions, photography projects

Write it like:

• Basketball, School Team (2022 to 2025) Played as point guard, represented school at district level (2024).

Not like:

• “Basketball (hobby)”

Skip:

• Generic hobbies with no proof: “Reading, traveling, listening to music” You can read. Great. But unless it is tied to something (book blog, curated reading list relevant to your interest, competition), it does not strengthen the resume.

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6) Volunteering and community work (real is better than fancy)

Include:

• Teaching younger students

• NGO volunteering (with hours or duration)

• Fundraising with details

• Community drives where you actually had a role

Write specifics:

• Volunteer Tutor, ABC NGO (Jun 2024 to Aug 2024) Taught Maths to Grade 6 students twice a week, created worksheets for 20 learners.

Skip:

• “Helped society” type lines

• Fake NGO experience (please do not. Interviews are designed to catch this)

7) Projects (this is underrated, do it properly)

Projects can be academic, personal, or competition based.

Examples:

• Commerce: market research project, stock tracking portfolio, business case analysis, mock IPO study

• Humanities: research paper, policy brief, history documentary project

• Science: model, lab project, prototype, research summary

• General: personal finance tracker, survey based study, blog series

Format:

• Project Title (Month Year) 1 line on what it was. 1 line on what you did. 1 line on outcome or learning (optional).

Skip:

• Copy pasted “research project on pollution” with no detail

If you are preparing for IPMAT and integrated programs, projects that show clarity, curiosity, and initiative tend to be discussed in interviews. This is also something mentors at IIMAdmitMentors often use to build your interview story. Your resume becomes your interview map.

8) Skills (keep it honest and basic)

Include real skills:

• Excel (basic/intermediate, be honest)

• PowerPoint

• Canva

• Public speaking

• Content writing

• Python (if you can actually write code, not just “watched a video”)

• Data analysis basics (only if real)

A simple format:

• Skills: MS Excel (basic), PowerPoint, Public Speaking, Canva

Skip:

• “Leadership, teamwork, hard working, punctual” These are not skills. These are self compliments. And everyone writes them.

Also skip rating yourself “9/10 communication skills.” Just no.

9) Certifications (only a few, only the credible ones)

Yes, online courses can help. But only if:

• The platform is credible (Coursera, edX, Google, etc.)

• The course is relevant

• You actually finished it and can talk about it

Include max 2 to 4 certifications.

Write:

• Google Digital Garage: Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (2024)

Skip:

• 15 Udemy certificates

• Random “AI for beginners” certificates unless you used it in a project

What to skip (common resume mistakes for Class 12 students)

Here is the “please remove this” list.

Skip 1: Objective statements

“Seeking a challenging position to utilize my skills.”

You are not seeking a position. You are a student. Delete it.

If you really want a top line, use a one line profile like:

• Class 12 Commerce student interested in business and economics, preparing for IPMAT.

But even that is optional.

Skip 2: Fake internships

A 2 day “internship” where you did nothing but got a certificate. Interviewers have seen it 1,000 times.

If you did real work, show output. Otherwise, skip.

Skip 3: Personal details section

Height, weight, religion, marital status. No.

Skip 4: Long paragraphs

Resumes are not essays. Use bullets.

Skip 5: Over designing

Too many colors, icons, progress bars, fancy templates. Keep it simple. Clean.

A simple Class 12 resume structure (copy this)

Use this order:

1. Header

2. Education

3. Achievements

4. Positions of Responsibility

5. Extracurriculars

6. Projects

7. Volunteering

8. Skills and Certifications

If you have strong projects, move Projects above Extracurriculars. The order is flexible. Put your strengths higher.

Small things that make a big difference

• Use action verbs: organized, led, created, analyzed, coordinated, presented

• Add numbers when possible: participants, hours, team size, rank

• Be consistent with dates: “Jun 2024 to Aug 2024” everywhere

• Save as PDF, name it properly: FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf

• Proofread. Twice. Spelling mistakes make everything look careless.

Quick note if you are aiming for IIM UG and integrated programs

For IPMAT and JIPMAT interviews, the resume is often less about “how many things” and more about “what can we talk about.”

So when you add something, ask yourself:

If the interviewer asks me a follow up question on this, can I answer confidently?

If not, remove it or reframe it truthfully.

If you want help turning your raw activities into a clean, interview ready story, that is literally the kind of profile support and interview prep IIMAdmitMentors helps with. Not just templates. The thinking part.

Wrap up (keep it real)

Your Class 12 resume does not need to look like an MBA resume. It needs to look like you.

One page. Clear sections. Real work. A few strong points that you can talk about without panicking.

Include what is true and relevant. Skip what is filler. And if you are unsure, the easiest test is this.

Would I be comfortable if someone asked me “tell me more” about every single line on this page?

If yes, you are done.

Build a Class 12 Resume That Strengthens Your IPM Profile

Your Class 12 resume does not need to look like a corporate CV. It needs to clearly show what you have done, what you learned, and what you can confidently discuss in an interview.

GOALisB helps IPM aspirants with profile building, resume guidance, SOP support, and personal interview preparation. We help you identify the experiences worth highlighting, present them clearly, and prepare for the questions that may follow from your profile.

If you're unsure what belongs on your resume—or whether your current profile tells a convincing story—get personalised guidance before you submit your applications.

Preparing for IPMAT, JIPMAT or an IIM UG programme?Connect with GOALisB

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

When do Class 12 students need to create a resume?

Class 12 students might need a resume for interview rounds like IPMAT or college interviews, profile evaluations with mentors or coaching teams, building SOP answers and application forms, summer program applications, competitions, leadership opportunities, internships, volunteering, and shadowing experiences.

What is the one essential rule for a Class 12 resume format?

The one essential rule is to keep the resume to one page only. It should be scannable in about 20 seconds without shrinking the font below 11 pt. Use simple fonts like Calibri or Arial, consistent spacing, bullet points, and enough white space for clarity.

What personal details should be included in the header of a Class 12 resume?

Include your full name, city and state, phone number, a professional email ID (avoid nicknames), and optionally LinkedIn or portfolio links if they are relevant and professional. Avoid including full home address, parents' names, date of birth unless specifically asked, and photos.

How should academic achievements be presented in a Class 12 resume?

Include meaningful achievements such as Olympiad/NTSE/KVPY recognitions, school ranks if verifiable, high percentiles in recognized exams, subject-specific awards like being a topper in Economics or Maths, and credible debate or MUN awards. Present them clearly with titles and dates.

What kind of positions of responsibility should Class 12 students highlight on their resumes?

Highlight leadership roles like School Captain, House Captain, Prefect; club head positions such as Commerce or Debate club; event organizer roles for annual fests or interschool competitions; and team leader roles on serious projects. Describe your impact with specific actions and outcomes.

How should extracurricular activities be listed on a Class 12 resume?

Focus on depth rather than breadth by listing 3 to 5 activities you actively participate in. Good examples include sports with levels mentioned (district/state), music exams or performances, competitive debating with outcomes, coding projects or hackathons, theatre or art exhibitions. Avoid generic hobbies without proof.