# How to Write a Fresher Résumé That Gets Shortlisted (ATS-Friendly)

Source: https://skills101.in/learn/career/fresher-resume — Skills101 free tutorial (Interview & Career). Updated 2026-11-09.

A recruiter spends about **6–10 seconds** on a first look at a résumé, and many companies first filter with **ATS** (Applicant Tracking System) software. Your résumé must be **clear, relevant and easy to scan**.

![One-page fresher résumé layout from top to bottom: contact line, optional summary, skills, 2–3 projects with impact, internships, education, achievements](https://skills101.in/learn-img/career/resume-layout.svg)

## 1. Format rules

- **One page.** Freshers don't need two.
- A **simple single-column** layout, standard fonts (Calibri, Arial, Inter), 10.5–11 pt.
- Save as **PDF** named `Asha_Verma_Resume.pdf`.
- **No photo, no date of birth, no father's name, no "Declaration"** — they're not needed for software roles and waste space.
- Avoid tables, text boxes, icons and two-column templates — ATS software often reads them wrongly.

## 2. Sections in order

1. **Header:** name, phone, professional email, LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolio/Skills101 profile.
2. **Skills:** grouped and honest —
   *Languages:* Java, Python, SQL · *Web:* React, Node.js, Express · *Tools:* Git, Postman, VS Code · *CS:* DSA, DBMS, OS, OOP.
3. **Projects** (the most important section for freshers).
4. **Internships / experience** (if any).
5. **Education:** degree, college, year, CGPA (if ≥ 7, or as required by the company).
6. **Achievements:** coding contest ranks, hackathons, verified profiles, certifications that matter.

## 3. Writing project bullets

Use this formula: **Action verb + what you built + technology + result/number.**

| ❌ Weak | ✅ Strong |
|---|---|
| Made a website for college | Built a college event-registration site with React and Node.js used by **600+ students** during the annual fest |
| Worked on database | Designed a normalised MySQL schema and added indexes, cutting report query time from **4 s to 0.3 s** |
| Did a chatbot project | Developed a WhatsApp FAQ bot in Python that answered **70%** of admission queries automatically |

Each project: **title + tech stack + live link/GitHub + 2–3 bullets**.

## 4. Beat the ATS (honestly)

- Read the job description and use **its words** for skills you really have ("REST APIs", "SQL", "unit testing").
- Use standard headings: *Skills, Projects, Experience, Education*.
- Don't hide keywords in white text — recruiters notice, and it gets you rejected.

## 5. What to remove

- An "Objective" like *"to work in a reputed organisation…"* — says nothing.
- Hobbies (unless directly relevant).
- Skills you can't answer questions on ("Machine Learning" after one YouTube video).
- Long paragraphs — use bullets.

## 6. Final checklist

- [ ] Fits on one page; no spelling mistakes (read it aloud).
- [ ] Every link works (GitHub repos are public with a README).
- [ ] Numbers in at least half of the bullets.
- [ ] Consistent dates, fonts and bullet style.
- [ ] Tailored keywords for this job.

> Skills101 tip: your **verified Skills101 profile** (problems solved on our judge, mock percentiles) is proof you can show next to your GitHub.

## Common mistakes

- Two-page résumés full of school marks and hobbies.
- Fancy templates that ATS can't read.
- Listing technologies without showing what you built with them.

## Quick recap

- One page, single column, PDF, no personal details.
- Skills → Projects → Experience → Education → Achievements.
- Bullets: action + what + tech + number.
- Tailor keywords honestly; check every link.


Practice quiz and free certificate: https://skills101.in/learn/career/fresher-resume