RESUME WRITING GUIDE

How to make a resume that is easy for recruiters to scan

A strong resume makes your most relevant information easy to find. It does not need complicated graphics or long paragraphs. Start with clear contact details, then show a short professional summary, experience or projects, education and skills in an order that fits your career stage.

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Choose the right resume format

For most online job applications, a clean single-column or simple two-column layout is easiest to scan. If an employer uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), simple headings and a logical reading order are generally safer than highly decorative layouts.

What to put at the top

Use your full name, a professional email address, phone number and city. Add LinkedIn or a portfolio only when it is useful. A photo is optional for most resumes in India unless the role or employer specifically asks for one.

Write a focused summary

Keep the summary to two or three lines. Mention your role or field, strongest relevant skills, and the kind of value you can bring. Freshers can lead with education, internships, projects and practical skills instead of pretending to have work experience.

Experience, projects and achievements

Use reverse chronological order for jobs. Instead of only listing duties, describe what you did and the result when possible. For students and freshers, projects, internships, volunteering and coursework can demonstrate real skills.

Skills and final checks

List skills that match the role you are applying for. Keep spelling, dates and formatting consistent. Before downloading, check the preview at normal size and make sure no section is cut off. Save the final version as a clean PDF with a professional filename such as Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf.

Create it on SahajPatra

Choose from the available resume designs, fill your details, add an optional photo where supported, review the live A4 preview and download the PDF. All current resume designs are free.

FAQ

How long should a resume be?

For many freshers and early-career applicants, one page is enough. Two pages can be appropriate when you have substantial relevant experience. Remove weak or outdated information before shrinking the font.

Should I add a photo to my resume?

Usually it is optional in India. For many corporate applications, a no-photo resume is perfectly normal. Follow the employer's instructions when they specify a preference.

What is an ATS-friendly resume?

It is a resume with clear structure, standard section headings and readable text that automated recruitment systems can parse reliably. Simple layouts are generally safer for ATS-heavy applications.