Build a fresher resume in 20 minutes

The seven steps

1. 01

   Contact details

   Your name in large type, then one line: phone, email, city, and a LinkedIn or GitHub link if it shows your work. Use an email address with your name in it.

   Priya Sharma · +91 98xxx xxxxx · priya.sharma@example.com · Pune · github.com/your-handle

2. 02

   A two-line summary

   Say what you are, what you work with, and one thing you have done that proves it. Write it last, once the rest is down.

   [Degree] graduate ([year]) who [what you do] with [two or three tools]; [one result or project, with a number].

3. 03

   Education

   Degree, college, graduation year, and CGPA or percentage. Add class 12 only if the job asks or your degree is not finished yet.

   B.Tech, Computer Science · [College], [City] · 2026 · CGPA 8.1

4. 04

   Skills, grouped

   Only what you could use in an interview task tomorrow. Group them so a recruiter can scan. Pick your track below for a starting list, then cut what you do not know.

   Languages: … · Tools: … · Concepts: …

5. 05

   Projects

   Two to four, best first. One line on what it is, then one or two bullets on what you did and what came of it. Link the code or the live version.

   [Built / Designed / Analysed] [what] using [tools], [result: users, speed, accuracy, marks, time saved].

6. 06

   Internships and achievements

   An internship reads like a job: role, company, dates, two to four bullets. Then achievements that matter to the role: a hackathon placing, a rank, a certification you studied for.

   [Verb] [task] for [team or users], [what changed because of it].

7. 07

   Export a PDF and test it

   Open the PDF and try to select a line of text. If you can, an applicant tracking system can read it too. Name the file Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf.

Skills to start from, by track

Starting lists of what entry-level postings in each track commonly ask for. Keep only what you can show in a project or an interview; a skill you cannot back up costs more than it adds.

Software / IT

Languages: Java, Python, JavaScript · Web: React, Node.js, HTML, CSS · Data: SQL, MySQL · Tools: Git, Linux, Postman · Concepts: data structures, REST APIs, OOP

Data analyst

Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP) · SQL · Python (pandas) · Power BI or Tableau · Statistics: hypothesis testing, regression · Data cleaning and visualisation

Commerce / finance (B.Com, BBA)

Tally Prime · GST and TDS basics · Excel · Accounts payable and receivable · Bank reconciliation · Financial statements · MS Office

Mechanical / civil

AutoCAD · SolidWorks or CATIA · Engineering drawing (GD&T) · MS Project · Quality tools: 5S, Six Sigma basics · Site safety and inspection

Marketing / sales

Google Analytics · SEO basics · Social media scheduling · Canva · Email campaigns · CRM (HubSpot or Zoho) · Lead generation · Presentation and negotiation

Before you send it

• One page, one column
• Section headings in plain words: Education, Skills, Projects, Experience
• Every bullet starts with a verb
• At least a third of bullets have a number in them
• No photo, date of birth or "Declaration" unless the employer asks
• Skills match the words in the job posting, where you really have them
• The text in the PDF can be selected

Questions