Always keep in mind that there will be hundreds of other people applying for the same job. Recruiters will have hundreds or thousands of resumes for a single profile. To stand out, your resume must be more attractive than others.
To do this, keep your resume short, catchy, and, like an advertisement, concise but informative.
It is important to create a strong and impressive resume that highlights your strengths and accomplishments. In this article, we will provide some tips to help you write an effective resume as a fresher.
How to Write a Job-winning Resume
1. Choose the right format and layout-
The first and most important step to creating an excellent resume starts with choosing the right format.
Your resume should be one page long (but it's also acceptable to make it longer than one page if you have some impressive accomplishments or experience), but try to keep it to a maximum of two pages. It is also important to use the correct font size (11pt or 12pt font size is highly recommended).
There are three main CV formats: chronological, functional, and combination.
The chronological format lists your most recent experiences first, starting with your education, followed by any internships, projects, or relevant work experience.
The best structure could be as follows-
- Contact Information Contact Information
- Summary/resume objective
- Work Experience Work experience (If any)
- Education. Education.
- Skills & Hobbies Skills & Hobbies
There are a few more basic things to keep in mind when structuring your resume.-
- Your name and contact details should always be at the top (header) of the resume.
- Set adequate margins (1 inch recommended) all around the resume.
- A resume between 475 to 600 words is considered an ideal resume.
- Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs.
- Avoid using fancy/designer fonts for resumes.
- Always send your resume in PDF format.
2. Name and Contact details (phone, email, LinkedIn profile)
You must include your full name, phone number, and email ID at the top (header) of the resume.
It's okay not to mention your full address as they are not going to your address. You can also add your LinkedIn profile to your resume.
Avoid using inappropriate or unprofessional emails or long numbers in your emails.
For example-
- xyzloverboy@gmail.com,
- xys989786789768@gmail.com, etc.
3. Start with a strong objective or summary
The objective or summary is the first thing employers will read on your resume, so it's important to make it strong and impressive. This section should be a brief statement that highlights your skills, strengths, and career goals.
Avoid writing general statements, and instead tailor your objective or summary to the job you are applying for.
4. Highlight any Relevant work experience (for Experienced).
List your professional work experience in Present to Past order. First, mention your current or most recent job profile, then switch to your previous job, and so on. First, write about current job responsibilities then tell about past jobs.
Mention the company name, your job profile, and job responsibilities, and most importantly, highlight your professional achievements. Be careful not to make false achievements or praise yourself too much. Write only what is true.
Make sure to sprinkle the keywords mentioned in the job description so that the interviewer knows that you might be the right fit for the job profile.
5. Highlight any relevant work experience. (for Freshers)
Even if you don't have a lot of work experience, you can still include any part-time or summer jobs, internships, or volunteer experience that is relevant to the job. Focus on skills and responsibilities that are relevant to the job
Use verbs to describe who you're applying for, and your accomplishments.
For example, instead of saying "Worked at a grocery store," you could say "Managed inventory, stocked shelves, and assisted customers."
6. Include your Education in Reverse Chronological Order-
As a fresher, your education can be your strongest asset, so it is important to highlight it prominently in your resume. It is highly recommended to list your latest education on top and then go backward. Include your degree, the name of your college or university, your major and minor, your graduation date, and your GPA (if it is above 3.0). If you have received any academic awards or scholarships, include them as well.
Below that, include 3-4 bullet points to highlight any relevant course details, CGPA, or Honors.
Pro Tip -
- If you are not a fresher then do not mention your marks. If you are a fresher then it is okay to mention your marks.
- Include all the degrees and institutions in reverse chronological order up to class 12th) or secondary (class 10th) education. Senior secondary or secondary education is usually less sympathetic if you have worked for more than 3 years.
7. Relevant skills and competencies. (for freshers)
Nowadays, skills are more important than qualifications to get a job. Nowadays all companies or organizations are giving more importance to Skills.
Therefore, you have to pay attention to skills along with qualifications.
Whenever you go for an interview for a job, apart from your studies, you are also asked about your skills. This decides whether you are suitable for that job or not.
You should mention only your best skills and also mention any training you have taken which is relevant. Remember, do not write about training or skills that are not related to your future job.
As a fresher, you can write these skills.
- Quick Learner
- creative thinking
- Communication Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Leadership Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Decision-Making Skills
Apart from these, if you have any technical skills or experience that is relevant to the job profile, then definitely write it.
8. Highlight extracurricular activities. (Achievements or Awards)-
Along with qualifications, also mention your extracurricular activities.
Extra-curricular activities aim to build the intellectual, spiritual, social, physical, and moral abilities of the student.
Include activities that are recent and not more than two years old. Also, make sure they are helping you perform better in your current role or will help you advance in your career.
Be careful not to write irrelevant activities just to fill the page for the show.
Focus on skills and responsibilities that are relevant to the job you're applying for, and use verbs to describe your accomplishments. For example, instead of saying "Worked at a grocery store," say "Managed inventory, stocked shelves, and assisted customers."
Some relevant Extra Curricular Activities which you can write in your resume.-
- volunteering
- Fundraising
- Foreign Language
- Student Clubs
- Student Government
- Sports
9. Highlight your skills and achievements
In addition to your education and work experience, it is important to highlight your skills and achievements. This can include technical skills (such as proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Adobe Photoshop), soft skills (such as communication, teamwork, and leadership), and any accomplishments (such as academic awards or volunteer work).
Be specific and measure your accomplishments as much as possible. For example, instead of saying "Organized a fundraiser," say "Raised Rs 10,000 for a local charity through a successful fundraising event."
10. Include relevant keywords-
Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to check CVs before they are viewed by a human. To ensure that your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of a recruiter, it is important to include relevant keywords from the job description. This may include job titles, technical skills, and industry-specific jargon.
11. Keep it concise and error-free
Your resume should be no more than one or two pages long, and it should be easy to read and visually appealing. Use bullet points and clear headings to organize your information, and make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors.
It is also important to tailor your resume to the job you are applying for and customize it for each application.
Let's Sum Up-
I hope that these 11 Basic Resume Writing Tips for Freshers will help you in making a great resume.
If you liked this information or want to know any other information related to it, then you can write to us in the comment box.