If you're a fresher looking for jobs in 2025, you're in the right place.
Here's what you'll learn:
- What a "fresher" resume should look like in 2025
- How to structure it section by section
- Examples to make it real
- Regional tips for India & SEA
- Mistakes to avoid
Let's build your resume step by step.
1. Who is a "Fresher"?
A fresher is someone with little to no formal work experience: 0–1 year, fresh out of college or just entering the workforce.
Your resume needs to show potential, not just past jobs. It should highlight:
- Education
- Projects
- Internships
- Skills
- Certifications
- Volunteer work or achievements
The challenge? You have little to show. The opportunity? You can make your resume stand out with smart formatting and content.
2. Best Format: Functional or Combination
Freshers benefit most from:
- Functional format – focus on skills and achievements
- Combination format – highlight skills first, then education and internships
Functional Example
Name | Contact Info
Objective
Short line: e.g. "Aspiring software developer with strong Java & ML skills, looking to join a product-based company."
Skills & Projects
• Web Dev (HTML, CSS, JavaScript): Built a portfolio website with responsive design.
• Data Analysis (Python, Pandas): Analyzed student scores; improved data accuracy by 15%.
Education
B.Tech – 2025, ABC University, CGPA: 8.5/10
Internship
XYZ Labs – May–Jul 2024
• Assisted in building REST APIs using Django.
Certifications
• Python for Data Science (Coursera), Jan 2024
Personal Info (India/SEA)
Languages: English, Hindi
Combination Example
Name | Contact Info
Objective
Details as above
Key Skills
Same bullets as above
Internship & Projects
Same details
Education
Same details
Certifications
Same details
Use functional to downplay limited internships; use combination if you have at least 1–2 internships or major projects.
3. Section-wise Breakdown
3.1 Header & Contact Info
Always top of resume:
- Full name
- Phone number + country code
- Professional email (no nicknames)
- LinkedIn or GitHub if applicable
- In India, you can add your photo and brief personal info if you want—but only if it's common for your industry or requested
Example:
John Doe
+91‑98xxxxxxx | john.doe@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/john-doe | github.com/johndoe
3.2 Objective
2–3 lines. Not mandatory but helpful.
Example for software fresher:
"Final-year CS student with 6 months internship experience in Django & React. Looking to join a product startup to build scalable web apps."
Matches job description keywords.
3.3 Skills & Projects
This is your main section. Group skills under headings.
Example:
Web Development
• React, Node.js, Express: Created portfolio site with contact form & REST APIs.
Data Analysis
• Python, Pandas: Analyzed user behavior in class project; created reports in Jupyter.
Always connect skills to real work—personal projects, course work, hackathons. That shows you can use the skill.
3.4 Education
Put degree, college, year, and marks.
Example:
B.Tech in Computer Science | ABC University (2025)
CGPA: 8.5/10
Relevant Courses: Data Structures, Algorithms, ML, DBMS
Add awards or academic projects here.
3.5 Internships / Work Experience
If you have any internship, apprenticeship, or part-time job, include:
- Company, role, dates
- Two or three bullet points that show your contributions or learning
Example:
ABC Technologies – Intern (May–Jul 2024)
• Developed REST API using Django to fetch student records.
• Wrote unit tests covering 80% of endpoints.
• Collaborated with UI team to integrate front-end forms.
Even if work wasn't tech, show transferable skills like communication, teamwork, or problem solving.
3.6 Certifications and Training
Add relevant certifications with source and date.
Example:
• Python for Data Science (Coursera), Jan 2024
• Responsive Web Design (freeCodeCamp), Dec 2023
3.7 Personal / Extra Sections (Optional)
In India & SEA, you can optionally add:
- Languages spoken
- Volunteer work
- Hobbies (if relevant)
- Photo, DOB, marital status—only if culturally necessary
4. Formatting Tips (Make it Look Clean)
- Font: Arial or Calibri (11–12pt)
- Headings: 14–16pt bold
- Margins: 1-inch / 2.5 cm
- One-page max (two pages only if you absolutely need it)
- Bullet points, not paragraphs
- No fancy colors, graphics, tables—ATS might break
- Save as PDF. Keep a Word version for ATS if asked
5. Regional Advice: India & Southeast Asia
India
- 2 pages accepted, but keep content relevant
- Photo and biodata common—only include if required
- Use formal English
Southeast Asia (Philippines, Singapore etc.)
- 1–2 pages—most prefer 1
- No photo usually
- Mention visa or work eligibility if relevant
6. Example Complete Resume
John Doe | +91‑98xxxxxxx | john.doe@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/john-doe | github.com/johndoe
Objective
Final-year CS student with strong skills in Django & React, seeking a software developer internship to build REST APIs.
Key Skills
Web Development
• React, Node.js: Built a portfolio site with REST APIs and responsive pages.
Database
• MySQL, Django ORM: Designed and managed backend database schema.
Education
B.Tech – Computer Science, ABC University (2025)
CGPA: 8.5/10
Relevant Courses: Algorithms, ML, DBMS
Internship
ABC Technologies – Software Intern (May–Jul 2024)
• Developed REST APIs for student record system using Django.
• Wrote unit tests covering 80% endpoints.
• Integrated frontend forms with backend services.
Projects
Portfolio Website (Personal, 2024)
• Full-stack site using React, Express and MongoDB.
• Features: user forms, responsive layout, API endpoints.
Pandemic Data Analysis (Course Project, Jan–Mar 2024)
• Analyzed COVID-19 data in Pandas; plotted trends in Matplotlib.
• Identified key hot spots and created recommendations.
Certifications
• Python for Data Science (Coursera, Jan 2024)
• Responsive Web Design (freeCodeCamp, Dec 2023)
Languages
• English (Fluent), Hindi (Native)
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Long resumes (over 2 pages)
- Fancy fonts or visuals
- Typos or inconsistent formatting
- Irrelevant info ("like gaming")
- No contact details or generic email
- Copying JD phrasing? Use similar keywords—but write your own sentences
8. Use AI to Help
Recent tools like ResumeFlow and AI-based resume builders can speed up your work:
- They extract JD keywords
- Suggest content improvements
- Show ATS scores
But always review manually. AI should save time, not replace your judgement.
If you also need help choosing between a CV and Resume formats, check out my other article: 👉 Curriculum Vitae vs. Resume – And 5 Tools to Make a Great CV Online
Conclusion
As a fresher in 2025, your resume should:
- Be one page
- Focus on skills, projects, education
- Use functional or combination format
- Avoid flashy visuals—keep it clean and ATS-friendly
- Tailor it to India or SEA job markets
The goal is simple: show you've got the skills, motivation, and clarity to learn.