You may be staring at an empty document for hours with only one chore at hand: creating your fresher resume, and that too, appealing. You may wonder where to start, which format to follow, and what to include exactly.
We feel your confusion and struggle to stand out in today’s competitive professional world. That’s why we are here to guide you!
This helpful blog lays down all the information you will need to craft a winning first-ever job resume.
Let’s explore!
7 Sure-Shot Steps to Make a Fresher Resume for 2024
1. Select the Right Format and Template
Three main formats put different parts of your resume at the top.
- Reverse-Chronological Format: Your professional experience and education are listed in the reverse order
- Functional Format: It focuses more on your skills and achievements rather than your work history
- Combination (or Hybrid) Format: This type pays attention to your skills and work experience.
We suggest you stick to the reverse chronological format. Use a two-column layout to fit a lot more information into your application. Select one of the common font types: Ubuntu, Overpass, or Roboto. Use bullets to describe your professional experience and skills. As a fresher, you shouldn’t go over one page. Only experienced individuals with a decade of work history can exceed this limit.
2. Include Your Contact Information
List down at least two ways to reach out to you in your application. Ideally, the first section should appear like this:
- Full Name
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Address
You can also provide your LinkedIn URL, relevant social media handles, and website or blog apart from the above must-haves. Your LinkedIn profile will serve as a digital form of your undergraduate resume, boosting your credibility.
3. Add a Wholesome Objective
On average, a recruiter spends seven to eight seconds on each resume to determine whether it is worth dedicating more time or not. It means you have to impress your potential HR in the blink of an eye. By making your objective wholesome and compelling, it will act as a magnet, drawing HR’s attention towards your strengths.
Use this section as your opportunity to showcase to them what they are looking for. All you have got is two to three sentences. Use them to provide an attention-grabbing snapshot of your skills, accomplishments, and career goals. It is your chance to highlight your motivation behind entering this field and choosing that particular position.
4. List Down Your Educational Details
As you may not have enough relevant professional experience, your education will be the biggest selling point. The correct format is:
- Name of Your Program
- Your University Name
- Years Attended
- GPA
- Honors
- Exchange Program
If you have any educational achievements, there is a moment where you can flaunt them. Keep in mind that your CV is not the place to be humble.
5. Highlight on This Instead of Your Work Experience
As you are a recent graduate, the recruiter will understand that you won’t have any work experience. And that’s completely OKAY. When you apply for junior or entry-level positions, they won’t expect a work history from you. Instead, they will look for:
- Internships
- Extracurricular activities
- Additional projects
If you will add any of these, format them like you would any professional experience.
6. Exhibit Your Skills
You can highlight your soft and hard skills to showcase yourself as a credible candidate. Hard abilities may refer to particular technical expertise and knowledge related to industry-specific tools. They differ depending on your target field and potential position.
For instance, the hard skills for a UI designer will be:
- Design software proficiency
- Wireframing and prototyping
- Responsive and adaptive design
- Interactive design
- Information architecture
- User-centered design
Soft skills, on the other hand, highlight your abilities that you can apply to any work environment, irrespective of the field and workplace. It may include your adaptability to work environments and collaboration to work within a team.
Here are a few essential ones:
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Attention to detail
- Creativity
- Open to feedback and constructive criticism
If you are unable to flaunt them in your CV, seek assistance from online experienced resume writers Malaysia. Experienced professionals will make your CV irresistible to ignore for recruiters, thus boosting your odds of receiving interview calls.
7. Mention Optional Sections
Still, has some space left in your CV?
Don’t leave it empty. Instead, use it to your advantage by adding useful sections to boost your chances of hiring.
Here’s what you can include:
- Volunteering: mention your volunteering experience to showcase your commitment, dedication, plus a sense of purpose
- Languages: As more companies are becoming global, recruiters are appreciating employees with additional languages
- Awards and certifications: Whether you earned an award at your institute or a certificate from an online course, including them will be your plus point
- Hobbies: Prove your genuine interest in your target industry and position by adding some relevant hobbies
- How does a fresher make a resume attractive?
Tailor your application according to the job you’re applying for by using keywords mentioned in the ad. Quantify your achievements, create an inch-perfect professional summary/objective, and showcase your relevant experience, plus skills. Include your academic accomplishments and extra-curricular activities to boost your chances of receiving interview calls.
- What is an ideal page limit for a fresher resume?
The ideal limit is one page for a fresher.
- What should I put on my no-experience resume?
There are plenty of other things you can include in place of professional experience to enhance your credibility, like education. Demonstrate the skills that the recruiter is looking for. Talking about your projects, internships, extra-curricular activities, and achievements will also work effectively.
Final Takeaways
By reaching this point of the guide, you may have realized that creating your first job resume isn’t so difficult. It is not as stressful as it may sound. Picking the right format and template will save you from the formatting hassle. It will also help your application effortlessly pass the ATS scan.
Write a precise and captivating professional objective. Include information on all other sections to show yourself as the most suitable candidate for the potential position. Highlight your internships, extracurricular activities, and projects instead of work experience. All these steps will increase your professional reputation and increase job chances by 2X.