5 Best Resume Formats for Freshers to Get Well-Paying Jobs

We worry too much about the details we add to our resume, but the truth is, recruiters barely spend more than six or seven seconds to initially screen the CV. To make an impression, first, ensure that your CV is pleasing to the eyes so that recruiters can easily scan it. One of the best ways to pass through the initial scanning test and get an interview call is to use a simple and consistent resume format. This blog explains the best resume format for freshers and the common resume mistakes to avoid.

Understanding the Different Types of Resume Format for Freshers

There are multiple resume formats available online. Let’s discuss them to understand which one you can use.

1. Chronological Resume

This is the most standard resume format for freshers across different industries because of its simplicity. The chronological resume format lists your experience in a reverse chronology—the latest experience is mentioned first, followed by previous experiences in a descending manner. 

A chronological resume includes:

• Header with your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile link
• A short professional summary one-to-two lines long, or add your educational qualifications here instead of summary
• Work experience or work history in reverse chronological manner. As a fresher, you can add your internship experiences here. Also, add the organization’s name and internship commencement and end dates
• List skills relevant to the job 
• Educational qualification 
• Additional information such as volunteer work or extracurricular activities

Here is an example of a chronological resume format for freshers.

By Resume Now

This resume is simple and easily scannable. However, it may not be relevant for freshers because of a lack of work experience.

2. Functional/Skills-Based Resume

This resume format for freshers focuses more on skills than work experience. It mainly includes the following sections:

• Header section containing the name and personal contact details
• A professional summary 
• Skills section, which is the highlight of the whole resume 
• A brief overview of the professional experience. You don’t have to add previous job timelines; only the company’s name is enough

Here is a sample functional resume format for freshers:

By Resume Genius

A Functional resume is one of the most commonly fresh graduate CV formats out there because it focuses more on skills than experience. It is also beneficial to showcase transferable skills if you are planning to explore a new industry.

3. Combination Resume

Confused between chronological and functional resume formats for freshers? You can try the combination resume format. It highlights both skills and experiences. It is usually divided into two columns. The common sections included in a combination resume are:

• Header with personal contact details 
• Skills summary in the left or right side column 
• Work experience in descending chronological order
• Educational background and achievements
• Additional information, such as training courses

By Enhance CV

A combination resume offers better flexibility. However, it can also contain information overload, and formatting is also difficult. So, select it wisely.

4. Targeted Resume

A targeted resume format for freshers is a highly customized CV design that targets a specific role in the industry. It highlights the specific skills, experiences, and qualifications relevant to a job. The most common sections in targeted resumes are:

• Header with personal contact information 
• Professional summary of skills and experience 
• Educational background 
• Relevant work experience 
• Conclusion

By Resume Genius

Targeted resume formats for freshers can increase your chances of getting interview calls because they highlight the information required by the interviewer instead of making them search for it.

5. Video Resume 

Another resume format for freshers that is gaining popularity is a video resume. Instead of a paper resume, you record a short video clip highlighting your experience and skills. It is more personalized and engaging, increasing your chances of securing a job. The format for video resumes is:

• A quick introduction of 30 to 60 seconds which should include an overview of your professional experience, skills, and goals 
• Next, explain your professional experience in a bit more detail in under one or two minutes. You can use a reverse chronology here. Explain the key responsibilities and learnings from each role
• Highlight relevant leadership projects or case studies you have performed in 30 to 40 seconds 
• Talk about your education qualification and skills and abilities within two minutes 
• Conclude the video by giving a quick summary of one or two lines and expressing your interest in the role

Here are some tips to make stellar video resumes:

• Keep video resumes short and to the point, usually not more than three to four minutes 
• Record then using professional video recording tools such as Loom 
• Add visual elements through editing apps
• Include a call-to-action requesting the interviewer to contact for more information 
• Create a script beforehand and practice before recording the final video

ALSO READ: How to Build a Resume to Land Your Dream Job

Why Does the Right Resume Format Matters for Freshers?

The right format becomes more important if you are fresher because no one expects you to have experience. In this context, a well-formatted CV demonstrates professionalism, thus making it easier for you to secure jobs.

Tips for Crafting an Effective Fresher Resume

Let’s look at some resume writing tips for freshers.

1. Customize Your Resume

The best way to make your application stand out is to send a customized resume with an effective freshers resume design. Pick relevant keywords and skills from the job description and incorporate them in your resume. This makes it easier for the interviewer to assess your application.

However, creating a customized resume is a challenge. You have to create several CVs and add different data in all. An effective way to simplify this is to create a master resume comprising all your skills and experiences. You can easily refer to the points in the master resume, making it easier to finalize tailored resumes for different roles.

2. Highlight Educational Achievements

As a fresher, you can make up for your lack of experience by highlighting educational achievements. Mention specific online courses, internships, or projects you have done. Also talk about other academic achievements, such as awards for research papers or proposals.

3. Incorporate Keywords

Use specific keywords to make your resume Application Tracking System (ATS)-friendly. It helps your CV easily land in the inbox of the recruiter instead of going into spam.

4. Add a Strong Objective Statement

Since recruiters don’t have too much time to go through your resume, you need to provide relevant information upfront. This is where adding a compelling career objective in the resume helps. It should highlight your ambitions and express your interest in applying for a particular role.

Here’s an example: “Results-oriented marketing professional with a passion for driving brand awareness and increasing ROI through marketing campaigns. Seeking to leverage my expertise in digital and brand marketing to facilitate Company XYZ’s growth.”

5. Use AI Tools 

One of the best resume writing tips for freshers is to use AI resume makers or generative AI tools like ChatGPT to get entry-level resume examples. They provide tailored bullet points for work experience and skills. Many AI tools require you to add your work details through questionnaires and create a personalized resume format for freshers.

However, if you don’t want to use AI tools to write the complete CV, you can use the resume content generated by such tools for inspiration and create a resume from scratch.

ALSO READ: 5 Easy Tips to Build a Resume for Freshers

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Resume

You have completed your education and are excited to step into the professional world. However, creating an effective freshers resume design can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have enough experience to add. Remember that it is a learning curve and you can only learn with practice. However, here are some common resume mistakes you should avoid.

1. Overloading Information 

The first common mistake is adding irrelevant or too much information to the CV, such as your home address, school achievements, and multiple hobbies, without any context. 

To avoid this, read the job description carefully and add the relevant experience and skills that align with the role. Keep information crisp and relevant so that there is enough white space in the resume. Also, carefully read your resume to delete repetitive information.

2. Using Generic Statements and Experiences

Another common mistake in entry-level resume examples that you should avoid is generic statements that offer little to no knowledge about their experience.

Instead, quantify your achievements wherever possible to show more impact. For example, instead of simply adding “Assisted in various marketing tasks”, mention “Collaborated with the marketing team to plan and implement social media campaigns and increased social media engagement by 55%”.

The key is to add the results you generated instead of talking about the tasks.

3. Inconsistent Formatting 

Poor formatting, such as the use of different font styles and sizes throughout the resume and the use of different colors leaves a negative impression. You can avoid this by finalizing a color theme, font styles, and sizes for the resume. Some of the most popular professional fonts for resumes are Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Helvetica, and Times New Roman.

4. Spelling and Grammar Issues 

Incorrect spelling and grammar usage are also very common in fresher resumes. Hence, proofread your resume multiple times before sharing it with the interviewer. You can also ask your friend, mentor, or family member to review the CV and suggest changes. Another excellent way to avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes is to use Grammarly. Simply copy and paste the content into a Grammarly doc and work on its suggestions.

ALSO READ: Common Resume Mistakes and Ways to Avoid Them

Downloadable Resume Template

Choosing the right resume format for freshers is the first step to creating a stellar resume. Once you have the right template, it’s easier to add information. However, if you have chosen the wrong format for the resume, making it difficult to read, the recruiter will reject you straightaway. Hence, choose a resume format very carefully. Weigh the pros and cons of each format and choose one based on your preferences and job demands.

To prevent the pitfall of choosing the wrong format, this downloadable resume template by Canva is a simple and effective example of a format you can use. So edit it to your requirements and take that first step to get your dream job. As fresh graduate CV formats go, this has a minimal and clean look for professionalism and comprises only relevant headings. 

ALSO READ: Writing a Career Change Resume: A Comprehensive Guide for Professionals

Build Your Career With Emeritus

Remember that resumes are important only for the initial screening. The real test happens in interviews, where you have to demonstrate your skills and experience. Hence, you need to continuously upskill to gain a competitive edge. Emeritus’ online career courses can help you with this. You not only get to learn from experts but also gain practical experience and insights into industry trends. Explore Emeritus’ online career courses to advance your career today.

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