How to Write a Perfect Resume for Articleship Applications (That Actually Gets You Shortlisted)

When you apply for articleship, your resume is not just a document.
It is the first impression you make on a CA firm, and in many cases, the only chance you get to show who you are.

Most students think a resume is just about marks and qualifications. That is partially true, but firms look for more than that. They want to see whether you are serious about the profession, whether you understand how office work functions, and whether you are someone they can actually train for the next three years.

If your resume looks casual, rushed, or copied from Google templates, you may not even get a call—no matter how good your marks are.

This article will help you write a resume that fits articleship applications perfectly, even if:

• you have no work experience
• you are not from a big college
• you don’t have references or contacts

Let us break it down in a very practical way.

First, Understand What a CA Firm Expects From Your Resume

Before writing anything, you need to understand how principals and seniors read resumes.

They do not read it like an HR manager in a corporate company.
They usually scan it quickly and look for answers to basic questions:

• Is this student eligible for articleship?
• Is the resume clean and organised?
• Does the student seem sincere and willing to learn?
• Will this student be dependable for client work?

Your resume has to answer these questions silently, without you being present.

That is why format, clarity, and relevance matter more than fancy words.

Keep One Rule Clear: One Page Is Enough

For articleship applications, one page is ideal.

You are still a student. No firm expects a two-page resume full of achievements. In fact, a long resume can backfire and show that you don’t know what to include and what to remove.

A one-page resume shows that:

• you respect the reader’s time
• you understand professional communication
• you can present information clearly

Now let’s see how that one page should look.

Section 1: Header – Your Basic Identity

At the top of your resume, clearly mention:

• Your full name
• Mobile number
• Professional email ID
• City & state

That’s it.

You do not need:

• date of birth
• father’s name
• Aadhaar number
• full address

Use a simple email ID. If your email looks unprofessional, create a new one immediately.

A clean header already creates a positive first impression.

Section 2: Career Objective – Short but Meaningful

Many students either skip this section or write very generic lines.

Your career objective should tell the firm why you want articleship and what you want to learn.

It should be 2–3 lines, not more.

Think like a principal reading this. They want to train someone who:

• wants exposure
• is willing to work
• understands the value of articleship

A good objective sounds sincere, not dramatic.

Avoid writing lines like:

• “To work in a challenging environment”
• “To achieve heights of success”

These lines add no value.

Your objective should quietly tell them:

“I am here to learn properly and take this seriously.”

Section 3: Educational Qualifications – The Most Important Section

This section matters a lot for articleship.

List your education in reverse order, starting with the most recent qualification.

You should clearly mention:

• CA Intermediate status (cleared group / both groups / appearing)
• Graduation course (B.Com, BBA, etc.)
• College or university name
• Year of passing or current year
• Marks or percentage (only if decent)

There is no need to hide marks. If your marks are average, it is okay. Many good articles are trained from average scorers.

What matters more is honesty and clarity.

If you are still pursuing graduation, just mention “Pursuing” instead of guessing the result.

Section 4: Internships, Training, or Exposure (Even Small Ones Matter)

Many students believe that if they have not worked in a CA firm before, this section is useless.

That is not true.

Any exposure that shows you have seen how practical work happens is valuable.

You can include:

• summer internships
• short-term accounting work
• work with a local CA office
• GST return assistance
• tally data entries
• family business accounting exposure (mention carefully and honestly)

For each experience, mention:

• name of organisation or firm
• duration
• what you actually did

Do not exaggerate. Firms can easily sense fake roles.

Instead of writing:

“I handled complete taxation of clients”

Write something practical, like:

“Assisted in preparation of GST returns and basic compliance work under supervision.”

This shows you understand your level and are open to learning.

Section 5: Skills – Focus on What Articleship Actually Needs

Your skills section should be relevant, not decorative.

Split it mentally into two parts:

1. Technical skills
2. Professional skills

Technical Skills

Mention skills that are useful in a CA firm, such as:

• Basic accounting knowledge
• Tally or accounting software
• Excel basics (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, etc., if you know them)
• GST, TDS fundamentals
• Basic auditing concepts

Do not worry if you are not an expert. Firms do not expect perfection, only familiarity and willingness to learn.

It is better to mention fewer skills honestly than a long fake list.

Professional Skills

These show how you work as a person.

Useful ones include:

• attention to detail
• time management
• ability to follow instructions
• disciplined work approach
• communication basics

These matter a lot in articleship because seniors rely on you for routine but important work.

Section 6: Certifications and Courses (Value Add, Not Mandatory)

If you have done any additional courses, mention them clearly.

These can include:

• ITT or orientation related training
• Excel certification
• GST workshops
• accounting software training

This section shows initiative. It tells the firm that you are not waiting passively for opportunities.

But do not list random online courses that have no practical relevance.

Quality matters more than quantity.

Section 7: Achievements or Extra Activities (Optional but Useful)

This section is optional, but useful if written correctly.

You can include:

• academic ranks or distinctions
• leadership roles in college
• organising events
• volunteering work

These show responsibility and commitment.

Avoid adding hobbies like “watching movies” unless they genuinely add professional value.

Remember, this is a professional document, not a college form.

Language and Formatting: Extremely Important

Even good content can look bad if poorly formatted.

Keep these points in mind:

• use a simple font
• keep spacing consistent
• use bullet points where needed
• avoid long paragraphs
• align everything properly

Your resume should look easy to read, not crowded.

A messy resume silently tells the firm that your work files might also be messy.

Common Resume Mistakes That Get You Rejected Instantly

Many good students lose opportunities because of basic mistakes.

Avoid these at all costs:

• spelling and grammar errors
• copied resume format
• fake experience
• irrelevant information
• casual language
• unnecessary personal details

Your resume does not need to impress.
It needs to reassure the firm.

Before Sending Your Resume, Ask Yourself This

Before clicking “send” or handing over your resume, read it once as if you are the principal.

Ask yourself:

• Does this look serious?
• Is everything truthful?
• Does this show I am ready to learn?
• Would I call this student for an interview?

If the answer feels “maybe”, improve it.

Final Thought: Your Resume Is Not About Perfection, It Is About Clarity

You do not need a perfect academic record to get a good articleship.

What you need is:

• a clear resume
• honest information
• professional presentation
• genuine intent to learn

A well-written resume shows maturity, even before you step into the office for the first day.

If you treat your resume seriously, your articleship journey already starts on the right note.