I'm a 2024 BBA graduate transitioning into Data Analytics and applying for entry-level Data Analyst roles in India. I've built projects in SQL, Python, Excel, and Power BI, but I'm not getting as many interview calls as I'd like. I'd appreciate honest feedback on my resume.
Need some advice before I send this initial offer salary negotiation email.
Background/history:
I applied to a job I really want a few months ago. The interviews with the hiring manager (VP) went really well. He wanted to move me forward and get me an offer, but that took several weeks because the CEO, who apparently approves the offer details and salary, was on vacation for a while. He's back and my offer finally came through from HR.
The job posting salary was 111k-167k. On my job application, I'd put 130k-140k. As well as reiterated that range to the hiring manager, which he said he'd advocate for me as its not his decision.
HR offered me 115k. When I talked to her, I asked if it was negotiable, which she seemed a bit shy about, but ultimatley said they usually start new hires in the lower half of the range, based on experience, etc. And the best she could do is to try to see and get approval, etc. "Doesn't hurt to ask." is pretty much what she said.
So, with the initial 115k offer, and trying not to come in over the half-way mark of the full range, my current negotiation email is this:
>Hi [HR Contact],
>Thank you again for taking the time to discuss the offer. I really appreciated learning more from [Hiring Manager] about the role, and I remain very excited about joining [the company].
>I wanted to follow up on the base salary. The offer of $115,000 came in below the $130,000 - $140,000 range I discussed with [Hiring Manager] earlier in the process. Given my XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX certifications, along with my experience supporting [the relevant industry] programs through merger integration, XXX, XXX, and XX initiatives, I'd like to propose $135,000.
>If there's limited flexibility on the base itself, I'm also glad to talk through other ways to bridge the gap, such as a signing bonus or an earlier compensation review after six months. My priority is finding an arrangement that works well for both sides, and I'm confident I can add real value right away.
>Thank you again for your consideration, I look forward to hearing from you.
>[Me]
I'm expecting/hoping they might come back around 130k which is technically just the bottom of the range I originally gave them.
Would appreciate thoughts on whether that's a reasonable place to land, or whether I should push further given the original offer undercut my stated range so badly. Also open to advice on how to respond if they come back with something under 130k.
Also noteworthy: they are in a HCOL area, where as I'd be remote working from a LCOL area. Maybe they are factoring that in?
Thanks!
Hey everyone. Long story short I moved to a new state to start a new SWE job at a pretty well known financial institution. Before I was working for a defense/satcom company for 5 years, which was my first job out of college.
I was pretty excited to join the company because the project seemed pretty interesting to me. After my 1st week ended, I immediately regretted my decision. I found out there was a lot of micro management at this company, the VP is a character, and they moved me to a completely different project where all my team members are offshore.
I’m pretty set on leaving my job and I’m planning on leaving this job off my resume, but I need some help answering these 2 questions. Some of these I answered when I was applying for jobs early this year and I need some help answering them again:
idea? I’m worried background checks can see that I’m currently employed and they will think I’m lying about my experience
I was told by the TA person last week they would call me this “later this week” about a video interview with hiring manager. No call. Nothing. But, with the holiday this weekend…I shouldn’t be feeling super defeated yet, right?
I’m trying for cloud data engineer or normal data engineer at Google. I applied through referral multiple times but every single time I got rejected. I don’t know what else to add in the resume at least to get the interview. I’m getting rejected straight after applying. Please help me on what to change in my resume so that at least I will get the interview. I have put metrics and everything and even tailoring my resume according to JD and checking for match. Nothing seems like working please help me.
Recently I made it to the last round at a major tech company and I have an internal referral for the role. My last interview is with the director and I was wondering what are my chances I get an offer. In the recruiters last email, they said I will meet with team members.
Hi everyone,
I'm a final-year BCA student from India and I've been applying for frontend internships and entry-level developer roles for the past few months. I've applied to well over 100 positions through LinkedIn, company career pages, Internshala, and other job portals, but I've received almost no responses.
My current stack includes:
Some of my projects include:
I'm attaching my resume and I'd really appreciate brutally honest feedback.
I'm not looking for reassurance—I'd rather hear the truth if something is wrong.
Some specific questions:
Please don't hold back. I'd rather hear harsh but actionable criticism than generic advice.
Thanks in advance to everyone who takes the time to review it.
It just seems too forward and almost pushy to me. Does it really help, or is it in poor taste? What's the best way to go about it? It just seems "too easy" for it to really be something that helps.
Hi all,
I've been interviewing for this company for last 2 months now! Super slow and patience testing process... Completed 3 processes, including Screening + Manager Interview+ Panel interview with 3 team members. Now I'm waiting for either offer or rejection and after a week, recruiter reached out to say:
'' Hi , We're currently working through some internal conversations on the role and where things stand, and I'd rather give you a proper update on a zoom call than over email''
Things we know:
1- I'm very good fit for the role, within the salary range with short notice, and did 3 solid interviews
2- This doesn't look like a rejection as I would've received the automated rejection mail
3- This is not a offer either, as recruiter would've called me to offer the role...
So not sure what to think about it? Recruiter only reached out to me on 5pm Friday evening so I have to wait on Monday to find out... Which will be a lot of over thinking and torturous weekend, after this verry long and tiring process. I can't understand anything going on corporate behind the scenes anymore and nothing makes sense. I'm guessing this will be like 'Hey, you are a good candidate but we decided to pull back the role as organizational needs changed, we will post the job in another location... or we decided to go with someone more technical...?' Not sure what to think but this doesn't sounds good so I'm setting my expectations low.
What do you think? Has anyone ever received something similar to this? Finally, good luck to everyone in this horrible job market!!!
Hey everyone,
I graduated a month ago with a tech degree and I’m currently staring into the abyss of zero shortlists and endless automated rejections. I know my resume needs a massive overhaul, so I'm looking for some brutal honesty on what to change.
Here is the situation: I have no real-world corporate job experience. To prevent my "Experience" section from being completely blank and to help pass ATS screenings, I’ve been listing a paid training program under my experience tab and calling it an "Internship."
In reality, it wasn't a real job. It was a paid training course organized through my college where we essentially just took classes and did guided labs. I feel incredibly sketchy keeping it there, and I’m worried recruiters or background checks will instantly flag it as fake or fluff.
On the other hand, my most significant technical achievement is my Capstone Project, which was a major part of my curriculum. It's an actual, fully functioning program that required serious coding and architecture, but right now it's buried under an "Academic Projects" section.
I need your advice on how to fix this layout:
What do I do with the "fake" experience? Do I delete it entirely, re-label it as "Training/Certifications," or leave it as an internship just so the ATS sees the word "Experience"?
How do I handle a completely empty Experience section? If I remove that training, I have zero traditional jobs to list. Can I put my Capstone Project right at the top under a section called "Technical Experience" or "Project-Based Experience" instead?
General Resume Review: Beyond the structural layout, what are the absolute must-haves for a new grad resume in 2026 to actually stand out when you don't have corporate experience?
I've pasted a clean version of my current resume text below. Please tear it apart and tell me how to frame my actual project work so it carries real weight.
Thanks in advance for the help!
Hey everyone,
I've been applying for jobs and internships for the past 2 months but haven't received a single interview call. I feel like my resume might be the problem. I'd really appreciate your help reviewing it and letting me know what I should improve.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I’ve had this debate with friends and I’m curious what recruiters think. Do you care if a resume was written by AI?
HR recruiter reached out on LinkedIn (someone who does hiring for the company, not an agency). Said I was a great fit, would love to chat, etc.
I looked at the role & it's somewhat outside my scope (it was in finance, all my experience is in the public sector), but I thought if the HR recruiter reached out, maybe they saw something I didn't.
So I tailored my resume, wrote a nice cover letter, and applied. I didn't hear anything for three weeks and then get an email saying I wasn't the right fit for the role.
Like - I could have told you that three weeks ago... why even have me apply?
It has been eight days since I posted here, and I still have not gotten a single response from any place that I have replied to at all. I seriously do not understand what I am doing wrong. I’ve asked numerous people at least 10+ if my résumé is OK and they have all said it’s fine. I do not understand if that is what’s screwing me over, like what’s on my résumé itself, the way it’s written or something else completely. Am I seriously just not qualified or does every single place I’ve applied to just have unrealistic expectations.
Hi everyone, I know the job market is worse than ever right now, but I feel so frustrated because I’m not even getting pre-screening calls after applying to hundreds of jobs.
To give some context, I’m looking for entry-level jobs or internships, and as I mentioned before, all I get are rejections, or sometimes I don’t even get an answer back.
Unfortunately, I’ve only been here for 5 years, so I don’t really have connections or people who can recommend me for jobs. Even so, I know I’m a good worker, with an almost perfect GPA, experience in management and sales, and now a background in tech.
I would truly appreciate any help or guidance.
I been apply to everything under the sun in the HR field that I feel like I have a decent understanding of the role l.
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I have reviewed hundreds of CVs over the past few months, and one thing keeps standing out, too many people are asking AI to write their entire CV or cover letter, copying it word for word, changing nothing, then wondering why they aren't getting interviews. AI is an incredible tool, but it's an assistant, not a replacement for your own thinking. Recruiters and HR professionals review resumes every single day. They can often spot generic AI-generated content within seconds because it tends to be filled with lots of vague phrases. None of these tell an employer what you actually did or why they should hire you.
Your CV should tell your story, not ChatGPT's.
You can use AI to:
Brainstorm ideas.
Improve grammar and clarity.
Amend your CV to a job description.
Make your achievements more impactful.
Don't use AI to replace your experiences, personality, and critical thinking.
A recruiter isn't just hiring someone with skills, they're hiring someone who can think, communicate, and solve problems. If your application sounds exactly like thousands of others, you've already made their decision easier. If you've applied to hundreds of jobs with little success, don't just keep pressing "Apply."
Take a step back and ask whether your CV actually reflects you, or whether it's just another AI-generated template.
Sometimes, it's not your experience holding you back. It's how you're presenting it.
Hey everyone, I have a 3rd and final interview this coming Monday with the Hiring Manager and the HR Lead. It's scheduled for one hour.
For context, my references have already been checked, but I know they are still deciding between me and two other final candidates.What can I typically expect from a 1-hour final call at this stage? And how can I make the best possible impression?
I really want to nail this and leaving them thinking I am the right person for the job.
Any advice on how to stand out against the final competition would be massively appreciated!
Thanks!
