How to Write a Resume for Freshers in India: A Step-by-Step 2025 Guide

In 2025, the Indian job market remains fiercely competitive, with over 1.5 million engineering graduates and millions more from commerce, arts, and science streams entering the workforce annually. For freshers, those with little to no professional experience, your resume is often the first (and sometimes only) impression you make on recruiters. A poorly crafted resume gets rejected in under 10 seconds, while a targeted, ATS-friendly one can land you interviews at top companies like TCS, Infosys, Google India, or startups in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

This comprehensive 2025 guide walks you through every step of how to write a resume for freshers in India and writing a fresher’s resume tailored for the Indian job landscape. Whether you’re applying for IT, marketing, finance, or core engineering roles, follow these proven strategies to stand out.

Why Your Fresher Resume Matters & How to Write a Resume for Freshers in India in 2025

Recruiters receive hundreds of applications per role. In India, where campus placements, Naukri.com, LinkedIn, and company portals dominate hiring, your resume must:

• Pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by 90% of large firms.
• Highlight potential over experience.
• Align with India’s skill-based hiring trends (e.g., AI, cloud computing, digital marketing).
• Be concise—1 page for freshers.

A strong resume increases your interview call rate by 40%, per LinkedIn data.

Read Also: Top Work from Home Jobs for Beginners: No Experience Needed Roles

Step 1: Choose the Right Resume Format

For freshers, the reverse-chronological format works best, but adapt based on your profile.

1.1 Recommended Formats

1. Functional Format (Skill-focused): Ideal if you lack internships but have strong projects/academics.
2. Hybrid Format: Combines skills and education; used for tech roles.
3. One-Page Rule: Strictly adhere—recruiters hate lengthy resumes.

1.2 Tools to Use in 2025

• Free: Canva, Google Docs, Resume.io
• Paid: Novoresume, Zety (ATS-optimized templates)
• Indian-specific: Naukri Resume Maker, apna.co templates

Pro Tip: Use PDF format to preserve formatting. Name the file as “FirstName_LastName_Resume_2025.pdf”.

Step 2: Craft a Compelling Header

Your header is prime real estate.

2.1 Essential Elements

• Full Name: Bold, 16-18 pt font.
• Phone Number: Active, professional (avoid nicknames).
• Email: Professional (e.g., firstname.lastname@gmail.com, not coolboy123@yahoo.com).
• LinkedIn Profile: Mandatory in 2025—80% recruiters check it.
• Location: City, State (e.g., Mumbai, Maharashtra).
• Portfolio/GitHub (for tech): Link to live projects.

2.2 What to Avoid

• Photograph (unless applying to hospitality/aviation).
• Personal details (religion, marital status)—illegal under Indian labor laws.

Example Header:

text

Rahul Sharma

+91-9876543210 | rahul.sharma.prof@gmail.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rahulsharma | GitHub: github.com/rahulcodes

Bengaluru, Karnataka

Step 3: Write a Powerful Career Objective

Replace outdated “objectives” with a professional summary (3-4 lines).

3.1 Structure

1. Who you are: B.Tech in CSE, 2024 graduate.
2. Key skills: Python, ML, AWS.
3. What you offer: Eager to contribute to innovative projects.
4. Career goal: Align with the company (research before applying).

3.2 Sample Objectives

For IT Role:

“Final-year Computer Science student with hands-on experience in Python, Django, and cloud deployment via AWS. Built a real-time chat application with 500+ active users during college fest. Seeking to leverage technical skills and problem-solving ability as a Software Developer at [Company Name].”

For Marketing Role:

“BBA graduate with certification in Digital Marketing (Google Analytics, Meta Blueprint). Managed social media for the college entrepreneurship cell, growing followers by 300% in 6 months. Passionate about data-driven marketing strategies.”

Avoid: Generic statements like “Seeking challenging role to grow.”

Step 4: Highlight Your Education Properly

For freshers, education is your strongest section.

4.1 Order and Details

1. Degree: Full form + specialization.
2. Institution: Full name + location.
3. Year: Passing year (or expected).
4. CGPA/Percentage: Only if ≥7.5 CGPA or 75%.
5. Relevant Coursework: 3-5 subjects (e.g., Data Structures, DBMS).

4.2 Formatting Tips

• Place above experience if CGPA >8.0.
• Use a consistent format.

Example:

Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering  

National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli  

2021 – 2025 | CGPA: 8.9/10  

Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing

4.3 Handling Backlogs/Low Scores

• Omit percentage if <70%.
• Highlight improvements (e.g., “CGPA improved from 7.2 to 8.9 in final year”).

Step 5: Showcase Projects (Your Mini-Experience)

Projects are gold for freshers—treat them like professional experience.

5.1 Selection Criteria

• Choose 3-5 impactful projects.
• Prioritize: Tech stack relevant to job (e.g., React for frontend roles).
• Include live links (GitHub, Heroku, YouTube demo).

5.2 STAR Format for Description

• Situation: Context
• Task: Your role
• Action: Technologies used
• Result: Impact (quantify!)

Example:

E-Commerce Platform (Full-Stack) – GitHub: github.com/rahul/ecom  

• Developed a responsive web app using React.js, Node.js, and MongoDB  
• Implemented JWT authentication and Razorpay payment gateway  
• Reduced page load time by 40% via lazy loading; deployed on Vercel  
• 200+ users registered during the college tech fest

5.3 Project Ideas for 2025

Domain	Project Ideas
IT	AI Resume Parser, Chatbot with NLP, Blockchain Voting System
Marketing	Instagram Growth Tracker, SEO Audit Tool
Finance	Expense Tracker with Predictive Analytics

Step 6: List Technical and Soft Skills Strategically

Skills make you ATS-visible.

6.1 Technical Skills

• Group by category.
• Include proficiency level only if advanced.

Example:

Programming Languages: Python (Advanced), Java, C++  

Web Technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React.js  

Tools & Platforms: Git, Docker, AWS, VS Code  

Databases: MySQL, MongoDB

6.2 Soft Skills

• Limit to 3-4.
• Prove with evidence (e.g., “Led team of 10 in organizing TEDx event”).

6.3 In-Demand Skills in 2025 (India)

• Tech: GenAI, Cybersecurity, DevOps, Data Analytics
• Non-Tech: Content Writing, Video Editing, Tally, Salesforce

Step 7: Include Internships, Certifications, and Achievements

Even short stints count.

7.1 Internships

• Company name, duration, role.
• Use bullet points for responsibilities + achievements.

Example:

Software Development Intern  

Tata Consultancy Services, Mumbai  

June 2024 – August 2024  

• Automated data entry for 500+ client records using Python scripts  
• Collaborated with a team of 5 using Agile methodology  
• Received ‘Star Intern’ award for reducing processing time by 30%

7.2 Certifications (2025 Relevant)

1. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
2. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
3. Meta Social Media Marketing
4. Cisco CCNA
5. NPTEL courses (with grades)

7.3 Achievements & Extracurriculars

• Awards: “Secured 1st prize in Smart India Hackathon 2024”
• Leadership: “President, College Coding Club (200+ members)”
• Volunteer: “Taught coding to 50 underprivileged students via NGO”

Step 8: Add Optional Sections (If Space Permits)

Only if they add value:

• Languages: Hindi (Native), English (Fluent), Tamil (Intermediate)
• Hobbies: Only if relevant (e.g., “Competitive Programming – 5-star on CodeChef”)
• References: “Available upon request”

Step 9: Design and Formatting Best Practices

9.1 Visual Guidelines

• Font: Arial, Calibri, or Roboto (10-12 pt).
• Margins: 1 inch.
• Headings: Bold, 14 pt.
• Bullet Points: Use • or – consistently.
• Keywords: Mirror job description (e.g., “SQL” if mentioned).

9.2 ATS Optimization

1. Avoid tables, columns, and images.
2. Use standard section names: “Education“, “Projects”.
3. Spell out acronyms first (e.g., “Machine Learning (ML)”).

Step 10: Proofread and Get Feedback

10.1 Checklist

• No spelling/grammar errors (use Grammarly).
• Consistent tense (past for completed, present for ongoing).
• Quantified achievements.
• Tailored for each job.

10.2 Get Reviews

• Seniors/alumni on LinkedIn.
• Career counselors.
• Tools: Jobscan.co (ATS score).

Common Resume Mistakes Freshers Make in India (2025)

1. Lying about CGPA/internships – Background checks are strict.
2. Using fancy templates – Fails ATS.
3. Generic resumes – Apply to 50 jobs with the same file.
4. Irrelevant details – Class 10th marks, father’s occupation.
5. Poor email etiquette – Sending from unprofessional IDs.

Tools and Resources for 2025

Category	Tools
Builders	Resume.io, Kickresume, Naukri FastForward
ATS Checkers	Jobscan, Resunate
Templates	Canva (search “ATS resume”), Overleaf (LaTeX for tech)
Learning	Coursera, Udemy (“Resume Masterclass”)

Final Tips Before Hitting ‘Submit’

1. Customize per job – Spend 15 mins per application.
2. Track applications – Use Excel: Company | Role | Date | Status.
3. Follow up – Polite email after 10 days.
4. Build online presence – Active GitHub, LinkedIn posts.

Read Also: Top Work from Home Jobs for Beginners: No Experience Needed Roles

Conclusion: How to Write a Resume for Freshers in India

Writing a fresher resume in 2025 is about strategy, not length. Focus on relevance, quantification, and digital readiness. A well-crafted resume doesn’t guarantee a job—but it guarantees an interview. Start drafting today, iterate based on feedback, and apply consistently. Your first job is a launchpad—make it count.

 FAQs About How to Write a Resume for Freshers in India (2025)

1. Should freshers include a photo in their resume?

No. Under Indian employment laws and global best practices, avoid photos unless the industry (e.g., modeling, aviation) explicitly requires it. It prevents bias.

2. Is a one-page resume mandatory for freshers?

Yes. Recruiters spend <10 seconds scanning. One page forces clarity and prioritization.

3. How to write a resume with no experience?

Focus on:

• Strong academic projects
• Certifications (Google, AWS, etc.)
• Hackathons, open-source contributions
• Volunteer leadership roles

4. Which font is ATS-friendly in 2025?

Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Garamond. Size 10–12 pt. Avoid decorative fonts.

5. Can I mention Class 10th and 12th marks?

Only if:

• ≥90% and from a reputed board (CBSE/ICSE)
• Space permits
• Applying to government jobs/PSUs

Otherwise, skip.

6. How many projects should a fresher include?

3–5 high-quality projects. Prioritize relevance over quantity. Include GitHub links.

7. Is LinkedIn mandatory on a resume?

Yes. 87% of recruiters check LinkedIn (2025 LinkedIn report). Optimize your profile first.

8. Should I use a resume builder or Word?

Use builders (Resume.io, Zety) for ATS templates. Export to Word/PDF for final edits.

9. How to handle gaps after 12th (e.g., drop year)?

Be honest. Write: 2022–2023: Prepared for JEE Advanced (self-study). Focus on skills gained during the gap.

10. When to use a CV instead of a resume?

Use CV (2+ pages) only for:

• Academic/research roles
• PhD applications
• International jobs (Europe/US)

For Indian corporate jobs, stick to a 1-page resume.