How long should a fresher resume be?

A fresher resume should be one page. Recruiters reviewing entry-level applications spend an average of 6 to 10 seconds on a first pass, so a concise, well-structured single page is more effective than a padded two-page document.

Should freshers include a photo on their resume?

No. Modern hiring practices in India and globally have moved away from photos on resumes. Including a photograph, date of birth, father's name, or marital status is no longer recommended, as many companies prefer resumes without personal details that could introduce bias.

Best Resume Format for Freshers and New Graduates

Published January 15, 2026Updated January 29, 2026

Writing your first resume is a unique challenge. You know you are capable, you have spent years studying, and you may have completed internships or academic projects, but translating all of that into a one-page document that impresses employers feels daunting. The question every fresher asks is: "What do I even put on my resume when I don't have real work experience?"

The answer is more encouraging than you might think. Employers hiring freshers know you do not have ten years of experience. What they want to see is potential: your skills, your ability to learn, and evidence that you can deliver results. The right resume format helps you present all of this effectively.

The Three Main Resume Formats

Reverse-chronological format

This is the most widely used format globally. It lists your most recent experience first and works backward. For experienced professionals, this format shines because it showcases career progression. For freshers, it can feel awkward because the work experience section is either thin or empty.

Functional (skills-based) format

This format organizes your resume around skill categories rather than job history. While it sounds ideal for freshers, many recruiters and ATS platforms dislike it because it obscures your timeline and can feel like you are hiding something.

Combination (hybrid) format

This is the recommended format for freshers. It leads with a skills or summary section, followed by education, projects, and any work experience you do have. You get to highlight your strengths upfront while still providing a clear chronological structure.

Recommended Resume Structure for Freshers

1. Contact information

Keep this simple and professional. Include your full name, phone number, email address, city (you do not need your full postal address), and LinkedIn profile URL. If you have a portfolio website or GitHub profile relevant to your field, include that as well.

A note for Indian freshers: do not include your photograph, date of birth, father's name, or marital status. While these were common on Indian resumes historically, modern hiring practices have moved away from them, and many companies actively prefer resumes without personal details that could introduce bias.

2. Professional summary or objective

Write 2 to 3 sentences that summarize who you are, what you bring, and what you are looking for. Be specific rather than generic.

Weak example: "Hardworking and motivated fresher seeking a challenging position to grow my career."

Strong example: "B.Tech Computer Science graduate from VIT with hands-on experience in full-stack web development through three academic projects and a six-month internship at a Bangalore-based startup. Looking to contribute to a product engineering team as a Junior Developer."

The strong example tells the recruiter exactly what you studied, what you can do, and what role you want. It is specific, confident, and informative.

3. Education

As a fresher, education is one of your strongest sections. Include:

Degree name and specialization
University or college name
Graduation year (or expected graduation year)
CGPA or percentage (include it if it is strong; if it is below average, you can omit it)
Relevant coursework, if it directly relates to the job you are applying for
Academic achievements, scholarships, or dean's list recognition

You can also include your 12th and 10th board results if you are a very recent graduate and they are strong, but this becomes less relevant as you gain other experience.

4. Projects

This is the most underutilized section on fresher resumes, and it is arguably the most important one. Academic projects, personal projects, hackathon entries, and open-source contributions all demonstrate that you can apply your knowledge to real problems.

For each project, include:

Project title
Brief description of what it does (one sentence)
Technologies and tools used
Your specific role and contributions
Outcome or result (if measurable)

Example: "Built a personal expense tracker web application using React, Node.js, and MongoDB. Implemented user authentication, data visualization with Chart.js, and deployed on AWS. The application handled 50+ test users during the college tech fest demonstration."

5. Internships and training

If you have completed internships, part-time jobs, or formal training programs, list them using the same format as professional work experience. Even short internships matter. A two-month summer internship shows that someone outside your college trusted you enough to bring you on board.

6. Skills

List your technical and professional skills. Be honest and specific. Group them logically:

Programming languages: Python, Java, JavaScript
Web technologies: React, HTML5, CSS3, Node.js
Databases: MySQL, MongoDB
Tools: Git, VS Code, Figma, Jira
Soft skills: Team collaboration, public speaking, technical writing

Only list skills you can actually discuss in an interview. Claiming "expert in Machine Learning" when you have only completed one online course will backfire.

7. Certifications and extracurricular activities

Online certifications from platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or NPTEL carry real weight, especially when combined with projects that prove you applied the learning. List the certification name, issuing platform, and completion date.

Extracurricular activities matter too. Leading a college club, organizing events, participating in competitive coding, or volunteering all demonstrate initiative, leadership, and time management.

Formatting Tips for Fresher Resumes

Keep it to one page. As a fresher, you do not need more than one page. Recruiters reviewing entry-level applications spend an average of 6 to 10 seconds on a first pass. A concise, well-structured resume serves you better than a padded two-page document.
Use a clean, professional template. Avoid flashy designs. A well-organized, readable resume with clear headings and consistent spacing communicates professionalism. EasyResume's builder offers templates specifically optimized for freshers and new graduates.
Use consistent date formatting. Pick one format (e.g., "June 2025" or "Jun 2025") and use it throughout.
Proofread everything. A single typo on a fresher resume stands out far more than on an experienced professional's resume. Have a friend or mentor review it.

Tailoring Your Resume for Each Application

One of the most common mistakes freshers make is sending the same resume to every company. Take 15 to 20 minutes to customize your resume for each job application. Read the job description, identify the key skills and qualifications they are looking for, and adjust your summary, skills section, and project descriptions to reflect those priorities.

This does not mean lying or exaggerating. It means emphasizing the parts of your background that are most relevant to each specific role.

Getting Started

Your first resume does not need to be perfect. It needs to be clear, honest, and well-structured. Focus on demonstrating what you can do, not apologizing for what you have not done yet. Every working professional started exactly where you are now.

If you want a head start, try building your resume with EasyResume. The guided builder walks you through each section step by step, so you can focus on your content rather than wrestling with formatting.