CV Writing Best Practices
A well-written CV is your first impression on employers. It highlights your skills, experience, and achievements while helping recruiters quickly decide if you’re the right fit. To create a strong CV, you need proper structure, the right format, and optimization for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
1. Structuring Your Resume
A proper structure makes your CV easy to read for both recruiters and ATS software.
Header & Contact Information:
Start your CV with your full name at the top. Below it, add:
Phone number
Professional email address
City and country
LinkedIn profile (optional but recommended)
Avoid adding age, gender, marital status, or photos unless the employer asks for them.
Professional Summary or Objective:
As a fresher, use a career objective instead of a summary.
Your objective should:
Be 2–3 lines long
Mention your skills and career goals
Show how you can contribute to the company
Example:
Motivated graduate with strong communication and technical skills, seeking an entry-level position to apply knowledge and grow professionally.
Education
Education is one of the most important sections for freshers.
Include:
Degree or qualification
Institution name
Year of completion
If you have a strong academic record, you may also add relevant coursework.
Skills:
List skills that match the job description.
Examples:
Communication skills
Teamwork
Time management
Basic computer skills
Technical or software skills
Keep this section short and relevant.
Projects, Internships, or Training:
If you don’t have work experience, add:
Academic projects
Internships
Online courses or workshops
Briefly explain what you did and what skills you gained.
Additional Sections:
You may also include:
Certifications
Languages
Volunteer experience
Achievements or awards
Only add sections that add value to your CV.
2. Choosing the Right Format
Choosing the correct CV format helps recruiters understand your profile quickly.
Best Format for Freshers:
The Chronological format is best for freshers.
Why?
Easy to read
ATS-friendly
Clearly shows education and skills
Avoid the functional format unless you have strong skills and no clear education timeline.
Layout & Design Tips:
Keep your CV design clean and professional:
Use simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
Font size: 10–12
Use bullet points
Keep it to one page
Maintain proper spacing
Avoid graphics, icons, or heavy colors.
3. Optimizing Your CV for ATS
Many companies use ATS software to filter CVs. Optimizing your CV increases your chances of selection.
Keywords & Phrasing:
Use keywords from the job description, such as:
Job title
Required skills
Tools or software
Example: If the job mentions “MS Excel” or “communication skills,” include those exact words in your CV.
Standard Formatting:
ATS systems prefer simple formatting.
Avoid:
Tables and columns
Text boxes
Images and icons
Headers and footers
Use standard headings like Education, Skills, and Projects.
File Type:
Use PDF unless the employer asks for Word format
Ensure the file name is professional (e.g., FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf)