Resume Format for Freshers: Best, Simple Examples for Jobs

You’re stepping out into the world—

Going for a fresher job.

A whole new future is about to open up in front of you—

The security and independence, the new colleagues, the money.

Only one problem:

What’s a good resume format for freshers? Is there a recommended fresher resume format for job applications? 

It’s normal that you don’t know—no one’s born knowing these things.

I'll teach you everything you need to know.

This guide will show you: 

• An example of a resume format for freshers that ticks all the right boxes.
• How to choose a resume format for fresher jobs that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to use skills and achievements in a simple resume format for freshers.
• How to describe your education on a resume for freshers to get any job you want.

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Sample Resume Format for Freshers

Impressive, isn’t it?

This isn’t just a resume format for engineering freshers—it’ll work just as well for any other job.

I'll show you how to follow the right resume format for freshers, no matter the industry:

1. Pay Attention to the Overall Elements of the Best Resume Format for Freshers

The best resume format for freshers does two things well: it includes all the right sections and has a clear and elegant overall layout. Your fresher resume format should include these resume sections (don’t worry, work experience is optional):

• A resume header that includes your personal and contact details
• A career objective that summarises what you have to offer
• A work experience section, if you have some relevant experience already
• An education section that zooms right in on your academic performance
• A short list of proven professional skills that match the job requirements
• One or two additional sections that fill in any strengths not mentioned elsewhere.

Now that you know what sections to plan in your resume, let’s get your document ready. Let me show you the key steps towards making an effective yet simple resume format for freshers: 

1. Make Your Resume Easy to Scan

The overall layout of a good fresher resume format for job applications is clear and easy to navigate. Use large, well-separated subheadings and plenty of white space to clearly divide your resume into sections. 

Speaking of white space, it’s best to use 1.15 line spacing and symmetrical resume margins (one inch on every side) to help make it easier to read. The goal is navigation at a glance.

2. Ensure Your Resume Is Easy to Read

An understated, professional-looking font will go a long way to making your resume format for freshers hold up just as well under a closer reading. Use a resume font that won’t draw attention to itself. My favourite choice is Noto in 11–12 pt. Or just leave it at the default Arial or Calibri.

3. Stick to the Right Length for a Fresher Resume

Everything you need for your resume format for freshers will fit on a single page. If it doesn’t, double-check that everything you want to include is directly relevant to the job ad and cut out any unnecessary details. 

Avoid using a smaller font, tighter line spacing, or narrower margins if your fresher resume goes over a page. Trust me: it’s much better to rewrite longer sentences and remove unneeded information than to make your resume format difficult to read. 

4. Submit Your Fresher Resume as a PDF

While you can make your resume format for freshers in Word, make sure to go for a PDF resume template. PDF will preserve your layout and formatting better than something like a *.docx file. Always go with whatever the employer prefers, though—they might be using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that can’t handle PDF files.

Now I'll tell you more about each of the parts of the resume format for freshers.

For a step-by-step writing guide: Resume for Freshers: How to Make & Samples

2. Start With a Proper Header—It’s Part of Any Good Resume Format for Freshers

The first part of a resume format for freshers that a recruiter or hiring manager sees? The resume header. My experience shows that there’s no secret recipe here, your header just has to be clear, easy-to-find, and complete. So set it apart from the rest of your resume. Make your name especially stand out. Make it large and bold.

Other than your full name, include at least your occupation or student status and your contact details (phone, email, maybe an online profile or portfolio, but no mailing address). You might also be expected to list your nationality, date of birth, and marital status. Always check the job advert.

Simple Resume Format for Freshers: Header

Pro tip: Indian resumes typically feature a photo. Use a business-style headshot: that means a solid background, no sunglasses, and professional attire and hairstyle. It doesn’t matter if you’re applying for your first internship—in your headshot, go for a CEO look that shows confidence and professionalism. 

Making a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide, use ready-made content tailored to your job and have a resume ready in minutes.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

3. Don’t Stress: No Experience Doesn’t Mean No Skills

A resume format for freshers includes a place for work experience but, as a fresher, you’re not necessarily expected to have any. Got some relevant work experience? (Remember that internships and volunteer work count here.) Read on. Don’t have any at all? No problem, skip to just after the experience section example below.

Put your work experience in reverse-chronological order, listing jobs from most to least recent. Make a simple subheading for each position by using the job title, company name, and start and end dates. Under each of these subheadings, list three to six achievements in the form of brief bullet points.

Make sure each bullet point is relevant to the job advert. I can't stress enough how crucial it is. Use something like the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) formula to structure each point. Put numbers to everything you can. It’s by quantifying these points that you move away from listing duties and towards showcasing achievements.

Student Resume Format For Freshers: Work Experience

Read more: What is a Resume in India? Guide & Examples

4. Make Your Education Count—It’s at the Centre of a Resume Format for Freshers

You’re either still studying or you just graduated. It’s no wonder, then, that the heart of an effective resume format for freshers is the education section. 

Let me show you how to get it right: 

• List your qualifications in reverse-chronological order. Include the degree, institution, and expected or actual graduation years for each one.
• Include your Class XII and Class X only if you don’t have any relevant work experience or your first university diploma. 
• Add your CBSE or equivalent results. For your university studies, give your CGPA. Then, add bullet points that expand on your academic performance and interests.

These bullet points can cover awards and accolades, specialisations, academic areas of interest, and relevant extracurricular activities. Anything that shows relevant skills in action. These skills can be either hard skills or soft skills. Both are important, even in technical fields like IT.

Professional Resume Format For Freshers: Education Example

5. Add Skills to Your Fresher Resume Format

There’s no question that on a resume achievements are much more impressive than duties. But what if you don’t have any experience at all? Let me assure you that you can still prepare a great skills list, tailored to the job requirements. 

Remember when we mentioned making your fresher resume format ATS-friendly? This includes using keywords from the job ad, to make sure that your resume scores high and lands at the top of the pile. 

So—

Start by making a master list of all of your skills. Even with no work experience, you’re bound to have plenty of them; gained during your education, internships, extracurriculars, or hobbies. Include soft and hard skills, as well as computer skills and software proficiencies. 

Then, take another look at the job ad, focusing on the skills required by the employer. Highlight your keywords or turn them into a list. 

Compare the two lists and highlight the skills that appear on both. And that’s it: you’ve identified the skills that you have and that the employer wants. 

Aim for a list of 5–10 relevant skills. List them in a separate section, but make sure to follow my advice and also show them in your education section (and work experience if you have it).

I've prepared some skills examples to get you started: 

Resume Format For Engineering Freshers: Example Skills

6. Give Yourself an Edge—Add Extra Sections to Your Resume Format for Freshers

I know that your education won’t paint a full portrait of you as a potential employee. Even what little work experience a fresher can be expected to have won’t cut it. Add extra sections to your resume format for fresher jobs to fill in the picture. Anything that’s directly relevant to the job requirements is fair game.

Your additional sections could include academic awards (if you have more than one), any volunteer work you’ve done, your certifications, professional memberships, any conferences you’ve attended or presented at, even your hobbies and interests. Add one or two relevant such sections.

Resume For Freshers Format: Extra Sections Examples

6. Cap Off Your Resume Format for Freshers With a Career Objective

Once you have your skills list, education section, and possibly a work experience section written, you’re ready to write your career objective. This can be the most difficult part of writing a fresher resume. Luckily, though, you’ve already got everything you need at this stage and I've got a simple formula for you.

The objective is a short paragraph that goes at the top of the page, below the header of your resume. Its purpose is to give the reader a quick glimpse into your best skills and achievements, instantly showing your potential and proving you’d be a great asset to the company. 

Let me tell you how to go about writing yours: 

• Introduce yourself by using an adjective, your job title or student status, and years or months of experience, if any. 
• Briefly present two or three of your most relevant achievements, whether academic or work-based.
• State what you hope to achieve for this employer, and how you’ll do it.

Enough theory—this is what your objective might look like in action: 

Resume Format For Jobs: Fresher Career Objective

7. Write a Cover Letter to Go With Your Fresher Resume

Although not part of a resume, you really should write a fresher cover letter to go with your job application. Why? Because it is made up of two parts, and a resume is only one of them. The only time you can safely submit a resume without a cover letter is if the employer instructs you to do so.

Here’s how to write a cover letter to match your now-perfect fresher resume: 

• Use the right format for your cover letter—that of a standard business letter, addressed directly to the recruiter. 
• Start by mentioning the position you are applying for and highlight one of your achievements straight away to grab the recruiter’s attention. 
• Prove you’re the right candidate by outlining your transferable skills and experience. 
• Show how your values and goals align with those of the company. 
• End on a call to action, offering to achieve a specific goal for the company if given the opportunity. 

Read more: How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship

A great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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Key Takeaways

Let me sum up what you need for a winning resume format for freshers:

• A clear and prominent header that includes all the right personal details.
• A fresher resume objective that’ll really make a good impression.
• An education section brimming with achievements.
• A work experience section, if you’ve got some relevant experience.
• A list of skills, matched to the requirements and your experience.
• One or two additional sections, to give you that competitive edge.
• A strong cover letter will boost your chances of getting invited for an interview. 

That’s all there is to it! Now I’d love to hear from you:

• What are the biggest challenges regarding using the right format for resume for freshers? 
• Do you have any unanswered questions about Indian resume format for freshers?

Let me know. Let’s get the discussion started!

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Our editorial team has reviewed this article in depth to make sure it follows Zety’s editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and providing actionable career advice that brings real value. Each year, the high quality of our content draws 40 million readers to our site. But that’s not all—we conduct original research to obtain an exhaustive understanding of the labour market and pride ourselves in being cited by top universities and leading media outlets worldwide.