Resume writing tips for freshers

Importance of resume

Landing an interview is a huge accomplishment. It appears to be the most crucial step in securing your dream job. That is true, but it is not the only one! Taking the appropriate first steps toward a great journey is the key to success. Freshers, on the other hand, overlook the significance of a well-written resume, which is the first step toward a positive career. Your resume can make or break your application. It is the first point of contact between you and the interviewer. A resume is a written depiction of you and it should be able to speak for itself.

Resume for freshers

A fresher is someone who has recently graduated from high school or college and is seeking a job. He or she has limited or no prior work experience. It is important to understand how to write a resume as a fresher. Chronological, functional, and combinational resume formats are the most common. A fresher’s resume is generally a functional resume; a resume in which there’s more emphasis on the individual’s skills and strengths.

First impressions are said to be the most important. You do want to make a first good impression, right? Then you’d better make the best first impression you can!

Here are some tips for writing a well-structured resume.

1. Look out for keywords

Before you start writing your resume, make sure you read the job description for the position you’re applying for. Make it a point to read it thoroughly and make note of the skills and qualities they are looking for in candidates. The skills and keywords you use in your resume should match the job description.

If you’re applying through an online portal, usage of keywords becomes all the more important because recruiters use what is known as an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software. Initial screening is done by an ATS and it scans for relevant and right keywords. Since you’ve understood the importance of such keywords, make it one of your top priorities, and do not miss out on including them in your resume.

2. Include personal details

The first thing you should put on your resume is your contact information. Include your name, address, email ID, and phone number. You could also add your LinkedIn profile link, GitHub link, blog links, etc.

3. Build a strong career objective

As your introduction begins here, the next most significant aspect is your summary statement or headline. This is a brief description of who you are, your professional goals, skills, strengths, and why you are the ideal candidate for the job. Using the proper keywords and keeping the summary short (no more than 2-3 lines) adds a professional touch.

4. Add educational qualifications

Add your educational qualifications in chronological order, with the most recent at the top. To make it look neat and structured, include details like the name of the institution, year of graduation, course, and CGPA/percentage in a table.

5. Include your top relevant skills – Technical and soft skills

Since freshers have little work experience, their skills play a key role in determining your eligibility for the job role. Include both technical and soft skills that apply to the position. Back up your soft skills with relevant experience to increase your credibility.

For example, Elected by the student community as the chairperson of the student’s association club. Led the team and conducted outreach programs across several cities in India.

This experience portrays team leadership skills.

6. Include work experience

Include any prior work experience that you have. This includes internships as well. Mention the title, date, description, key learnings, your roles, responsibilities, etc.

7. Add projects

Include any projects you’ve worked on or been a part of. This section primarily highlights the application of your technical and soft skills.

8. Highlight your achievements and awards

This indeed is a prestigious section of your resume because you’ll be listing some great moments in your life when you felt proud of yourself. For example, your scholarships, university awards, etc. Your achievements are an indication of how well you performed a job. Add all of your relevant accomplishments, accolades, and achievements to make the recruiters want to hire you!

9. Add Certifications

Course certificates demonstrate your expertise and skills in a specific subject to a recruiter. List your certificates along with the date of completion.

10. Proofread

A resume rich in content is of little value if it is prone to errors. You don’t want to come across to your recruiter as a candidate who isn’t meticulous enough to check your resume for errors. Make sure your resume is free of spelling and grammatical mistakes. Reading it out loud to your family/friends or having them read it for you is a fantastic approach to spot any glitches right away!

Important resume tips for freshers

We are not done yet! There are a few more important things to keep in mind before drafting the final version of your resume.

Here are some tips to help make your resume stand out from the crowd.

· Keep it short and crisp

On average, a recruiter takes about 7.4 seconds to scan your resume. Keep your resume to 1 or 2 pages in length. It doesn’t matter how strong your skills are if you can’t articulate your thoughts clearly. Keep it short, concise, and clear.

· Customize resume based on the job description

Do not make the mistake of submitting the same copy of our resume while applying for different job roles. Read each job description thoroughly and tailor your resume to the position.

· Honesty is the best policy

Never exaggerate or lie on your resume. Make sure that the information you provide is genuine and correct.

· Bullet it

A congested resume is hard to follow. Use bullets instead of extended paragraphs to highlight your content.

· Format it right

Use legible and professional fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, Georgia, and Verdana. Font size matters too. Use 12-16 points for headings and 10-12 points for the body. Line spacing between texts should be between 1.0 and 1.15.