A recruiter usually spends less than a minute on a resume before deciding whether to call you. A clear, honest and well-organised resume makes that minute count. These tips work for freshers and experienced candidates applying to jobs in India.
1. Choose a clean, simple format
Use a reverse-chronological layout: your most recent job or education first. Stick to one easy-to-read font (such as Arial or Calibri) at 10–12 pt, clear section headings and enough white space. Avoid tables, text boxes and heavy graphics — many companies screen resumes with software that cannot read them.
- Freshers: one page.
- Experienced: up to two pages; trim anything older than 10–12 years.
- Name the file properly, for example Priya-Sharma-Resume.pdf.
2. Put correct contact details at the top
Write your full name, mobile number, a professional email address and your current city. Add your LinkedIn profile or portfolio link if you have one. Double-check the phone number — a single wrong digit means the recruiter cannot reach you.
3. Write a short career summary
Replace a generic “objective” with two or three lines that say who you are, what you are good at and what role you want. For example:
“Commerce graduate with 2 years of experience in billing and GST filing using Tally Prime. Looking for an accountant role in Bikaner where I can manage day-to-day accounts and reporting.”
4. List skills that match the job
Read the job description and use the same words for skills you genuinely have — for example “MS Excel”, “Tally”, “customer handling” or “React”. Group them into technical skills, tools and languages (English, Hindi, Rajasthani…). Do not list a skill you cannot discuss in an interview.
5. Show experience with results
For each job, give the company name, your role, city and dates, then three to five bullet points. Start each point with an action verb and add a number wherever you can:
- “Handled 60+ customer calls a day with a 95% resolution rate.”
- “Increased monthly store sales by 15% by improving product displays.”
- “Trained 4 new staff members on billing software.”
6. Add education and certifications
List your highest qualification first with the institute, year and percentage or CGPA if it is good. Add short courses and certifications that are relevant to the job, such as Tally, digital marketing or a typing certificate.
7. Tips for freshers
- Put education and skills near the top, since you have little work history.
- Include internships, college projects, part-time work and volunteering — they show real ability.
- Mention achievements: competitions, NSS/NCC, leadership roles or a strong final-year project.
- Search fresher jobs on CareerSetu to see which skills employers ask for.
8. Common mistakes to avoid
- Spelling and grammar errors — ask a friend to proofread.
- Copying a template with someone else’s details still in it.
- Unexplained gaps — add one honest line, such as “Preparing for competitive exams (2024–25)”.
- Too much personal information or a long list of hobbies.
- False claims about degrees, salary or experience — they are often verified.
Final checklist before you apply
- Contact details are correct and up to date.
- The summary matches the job you are applying for.
- Skills use the same words as the job description.
- Every point is true and easy to explain in an interview.
- The file is a PDF, properly named and under 2 MB.
Ready? Create your free CareerSetu account, upload your resume to your profile and start applying. Then read our interview tips to prepare for the call.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should my resume be?
Freshers should keep the resume to one page. With several years of experience, two pages are fine. Recruiters skim, so keep only what is relevant to the job.
Should I add a photo, date of birth or religion?
They are not required for most private-sector jobs. Add a photo only if the employer asks for one. Leave out religion, caste and marital status unless specifically requested.
Which file format is best?
Send a PDF so the layout looks the same on every device. On CareerSetu you can upload a PDF or Word file up to 2 MB to your profile.
Do I need a different resume for every job?
Keep one master resume, then adjust the summary and the order of your skills for each job so the most relevant points appear first.
Put your new resume to work
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