B.Tech, Computer Science & Engineering · PES University, Bengaluru
Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Operating Systems, Distributed Systems, Database Management, Computer Networks, Machine Learning
The fresher CV structure (different from experienced CVs)
As a fresher, the order of sections is different from a working professional's CV. You don't have years of work to lead with — so education comes earlier, projects matter more, and you have to make the most of what you have.
Recommended fresher CV order
- Header (name, contact, LinkedIn, GitHub if technical)
- Career objective (2-3 sentences)
- Education (degree, college, CGPA, 10th, 12th)
- Projects (3-5 strong ones — most important section for freshers)
- Internships (if any)
- Skills
- Certifications (NPTEL, Coursera, AWS, etc.)
- Achievements (competitive exams, scholarships, hackathon wins)
- Positions of responsibility (clubs, fests, college societies)
- Languages
Page count
One page. No exceptions for freshers. Two-page fresher CVs get judged as padded or unfocused.
Header — what every fresher header needs
- Full name — exactly as on your degree certificate (not nicknames)
- Phone — +91 98XXX XXXXX format
- Email — professional (firstname.lastname@gmail.com), not your college email if you're graduating soon
- City — "Mumbai, Maharashtra" or "Bengaluru, India" — full address isn't needed
- LinkedIn URL — keep it short (linkedin.com/in/your-name)
- GitHub URL — mandatory for tech roles, optional for others
- Portfolio URL — for design, content, product roles
Avoid: Skype IDs, full home addresses, parent's name, date of birth, religion, caste (unless applying for category-reserved positions). Indian fresher CVs often include these out of habit — drop them. They look dated and create privacy risk.
Career objective — short, specific, no clichés
Most fresher CVs open with weak objectives. Don't be that fresher.
Cliché (skip)
"To work in a challenging environment that helps me utilise my skills and contribute to the growth of the organisation."
Every fresher writes this. It says nothing about you or what you want.
Specific (use)
"B.Tech Computer Science fresher (CGPA 8.7) with hands-on experience in React.js, Node.js, and AWS from 3 personal projects and a 2-month internship at a Bangalore startup. Targeting entry-level full-stack developer roles in product companies."
Specific stack, specific projects context, specific target role. Done in 3 lines.
Objective formula
[Your degree] fresher ([CGPA if 8+]) with [specific skills/experience] from [proof points]. Targeting [specific role type] in [specific industry/company-type].
Education section — what to include as a fresher
For every degree/qualification, include
- Degree name (B.Tech, B.E., M.Tech, MBA, BCom, BBA, BSc, BA)
- Specialisation (Computer Science, Mechanical, Finance, etc.)
- Institution name (full name, no abbreviations recruiters won't know)
- CGPA / Percentage (use whichever your college reports)
- Year of completion (or expected graduation)
Should you include 10th and 12th marks?
Yes, for fresher applications — especially at Indian companies. Most major employers (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Accenture, Cognizant) have minimum cutoffs for 10th and 12th. If yours are below 60%, you may want to address this in your cover letter.
After your first job (1-2 years experience), you can drop 10th and 12th and keep only your degree.
Order: most recent first
- Current degree (B.Tech, MBA, etc.)
- 12th (Class XII) — board, school, year, percentage
- 10th (Class X) — board, school, year, percentage
Tip for low CGPA: If your CGPA is below 7.0, you don't have to highlight it. Mention only "B.Tech Computer Science, IIT Kanpur, 2026" without the number. If asked in interviews, be honest — never lie about CGPA.
Projects — the most important section for a fresher
Recruiters know freshers don't have years of work experience. What they want to see is whether you've actually built things — and that's where projects come in. A strong projects section can outweigh a moderate CGPA.
What makes a strong project entry
- Project name + 1-line description of what it does
- Tech stack (specific technologies used)
- Your role if it was a group project
- 2-3 bullets describing what you built (not what the project does — what you contributed)
- Result / impact — users, GitHub stars, hackathon prize, etc.
- Link — GitHub repo, live demo, video walkthrough
Weak project entry
"E-commerce website using React and Node.js"
Strong project entry
FreshKart — Hyperlocal grocery delivery platform · React, Node.js, MongoDB, Razorpay (github.com/yourname/freshkart)
• Built the full-stack web app over 6 weeks; handled cart logic, Razorpay integration, and 3 user roles (customer, admin, delivery)
• Processed 240+ test orders during a college pilot; achieved 95% cart-completion rate
• Open-sourced the Razorpay-Node integration boilerplate (180 GitHub stars)
How many projects?
3-5 strong projects. Quality beats quantity. One full-stack app you built end-to-end is worth more than five "Hello World" tutorials.
If you don't have many projects
Build some. Even one weekend project (clone of a popular app, a simple utility, a Discord bot) is better than nothing. Then write it up properly.
Internships — even short ones count
If you've done any internship — campus, off-campus, summer, virtual, paid, unpaid — include it.
Format
Company Name · Role · Duration (Month/Year – Month/Year) · Location
2-3 bullets on what you specifically did. Use measurable impact whenever possible:
- "Wrote 12 unit tests covering the payments module" (good)
- "Worked on backend tasks" (weak)
Virtual internships and online programs
"Forage" virtual internships (free, sponsored by companies like JP Morgan, BCG) are valid for a fresher CV. List them clearly: "JP Morgan – Software Engineering Virtual Internship (Forage)". Don't disguise them as real internships.
Skills section — specific, not generic
Generic skill lists ("MS Office, Communication, Teamwork") are filler. Be specific.
Tech freshers
- Languages: Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, TypeScript
- Frameworks: React, Next.js, Express, Django, Spring Boot
- Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis
- Cloud: AWS (S3, EC2, Lambda), Vercel, Firebase
- Tools: Git, Docker, Postman, Linux command line
- Concepts: Data structures & algorithms, OOP, REST APIs, system design basics
MBA freshers
- Functional: Financial modeling, valuation, market research, strategic analysis
- Tools: Excel (advanced — pivot tables, VBA, Power Query), PowerPoint, Tableau, SQL basics, Bloomberg Terminal, FactSet
- Frameworks: Porter's Five Forces, SWOT, 4Ps, BCG matrix
- Certifications: CFA Level 1/2, FRM Part 1, NISM
BCom / Finance freshers
- Accounting: Tally ERP9 / Tally Prime, Zoho Books, QuickBooks
- Tax: GST filing, TDS, Income Tax basics
- Excel: VLOOKUP, pivot tables, financial modeling basics
- Certifications: CA Foundation, CS Foundation, CMA Inter, CPA in progress, ACCA papers passed
Avoid: "MS Office", "Internet", "Email" (assumed in 2026), "Hindi", "English" (move these to a Languages section with CEFR levels).
Example 1: B.Tech CSE fresher (full CV)
Aditya Reddy
Software Engineer · Full-Stack Developer
+91 98765 43210 · aditya.reddy@gmail.com · Bengaluru, India · linkedin.com/in/aditya-reddy · github.com/adityareddy
Objective
B.Tech Computer Science fresher (CGPA 8.9) with hands-on full-stack experience from 4 personal projects and a 2-month internship at a Series-B SaaS startup. Targeting entry-level software engineering roles at product companies in Bangalore.
Education
Class XII (CBSE) · Delhi Public School, Hyderabad
Class X (CBSE) · Delhi Public School, Hyderabad
Internship
Software Engineering Intern · Lemonbox (Series-B SaaS)
- Shipped 3 production endpoints in the Lemonbox billing API (Node.js, PostgreSQL) used by 12,000+ paying customers
- Cut Stripe webhook processing time by 38% by refactoring the idempotency-key check
- Wrote 24 Jest test cases for the billing module, bringing module coverage from 61% to 89%
Projects
FreshKart — Hyperlocal grocery delivery platform · github.com/adityareddy/freshkart
- Built the full-stack web app over 6 weeks with cart, checkout, Razorpay payment, admin panel, and delivery-tracking
- Processed 240+ test orders during a college pilot; achieved 95% cart-completion rate
- Open-sourced the Razorpay-Node integration boilerplate (180 GitHub stars)
CourseLeak — Telegram bot for college course timetables · github.com/adityareddy/courseleak
- Scrapes the PES timetable site every 4 hours and posts changes to subscribed groups
- Used by 2,100+ PES students; 98% delivery uptime over 9 months
PES Hackathon 2025 — Winner, Best Developer-Tools Hack
Skills
Languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C++
Frameworks: React, Next.js, Node.js / Express, Django
Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis
Cloud / DevOps: AWS (S3, EC2, Lambda), Vercel, Docker, GitHub Actions
Concepts: Data structures, algorithms, REST APIs, system design basics
Achievements
- GATE CS 2026 — AIR 423 (cleared)
- JEE Mains 2022 — 99.4 percentile
- NPTEL elite — Deep Learning, IIT Madras (2024)
Positions of Responsibility
- Tech Lead, PES Open Source Society (2024-25) — managed 8 hackathons, 240+ active members
What works: Specific projects with metrics. Stack tags on every project. Skills grouped logically. Internship bullets show measurable impact, not just tasks. GATE score adds credibility for a CS fresher.
Example 2: MBA finance fresher (full CV)
Ananya Sharma
Associate, Investment Banking / Equity Research
+91 98765 43210 · ananya.sharma@iimb.ac.in · Bengaluru, India · linkedin.com/in/ananya-sharma
Objective
IIM Bangalore MBA (Finance major) graduating April 2026 with summer internship at JP Morgan (Equity Research). CFA Level 2 cleared. Pre-MBA: 2 years at EY (Audit). Targeting equity research and investment banking analyst roles at bulge-bracket and Indian IBs.
Education
MBA · Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB)
B.Com (Honours) · Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University
Class XII (CBSE) · Modern School, New Delhi · 2019 · 96.2%
Class X (CBSE) · Modern School, New Delhi · 2017 · 97.0%
Professional Experience
Summer Associate · JP Morgan India (Equity Research)
- Led initiation-of-coverage research on 2 mid-cap Indian IT services firms; built earnings models with full P&L, balance sheet, and DCF
- Authored a 14-page sector note on "Generative AI Impact on Indian IT Services Margins" — circulated to global tech equity team
- Built and maintained the daily comp sheet for 26 Indian IT services and BPO companies
Senior Associate · EY (Assurance / Audit)
- Led audit teams on 8 listed-company engagements (avg. revenue ₹800 Cr) across BFSI and tech sectors
- Trained 6 freshers on Ind-AS standards, audit documentation, and SAP audit modules
- Recipient: EY Excellence Award FY24 (top 5% of cohort)
Certifications & Coursework
- CFA Level 2 — cleared Jun 2025; Level 3 candidate Jun 2026
- Chartered Accountant — Intermediate cleared (Nov 2023); Final pending
- Relevant IIMB coursework: Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Fixed Income, Derivatives, Corporate Strategy
Skills
Financial: Three-statement modeling, DCF, comparables and precedents valuation, sensitivity analysis
Tools: Excel (advanced — Power Query, VBA), Bloomberg Terminal, Capital IQ, FactSet, PowerPoint, Tableau
Frameworks: Porter's Five Forces, SWOT, scenario analysis, Monte Carlo basics
Achievements
- CAT 2023 — 99.84 percentile
- Winner, IIMB Finance Olympiad 2025 (out of 480 teams)
- Top-5 nationally, ICAI National Quiz on Indian Capital Markets (2023)
Positions of Responsibility
- Co-coordinator, IIMB Finance & Investment Club (2025-26) — organised "Vista" finance summit with 14 industry speakers
Languages
English (Native), Hindi (Native), French (B1 — DELF certified)
What works: Pre-MBA experience clearly separated. Internship bullets quantify outputs (page counts, number of companies covered, recommendation acceptance). Certifications listed precisely (level cleared, when). CAT score adds credibility. Achievements section is a tight 3 — quality over quantity.
Example 3: BCom fresher (full CV)
Rohan Iyer
Junior Accountant / Audit Trainee
+91 98765 43210 · rohan.iyer@gmail.com · Mumbai, India · linkedin.com/in/rohan-iyer
Objective
BCom graduate (88%, Mumbai University) with CA Foundation cleared and Tally Prime, GST, TDS practical exposure from a 4-month articleship at a mid-tier audit firm. Targeting junior accountant and audit trainee roles in CA firms and corporates in Mumbai.
Education
B.Com (Accounting & Finance) · Narsee Monjee College, Mumbai University
Class XII (Maharashtra Board) · St. Xavier's College, Mumbai · 2023 · 91.4% (Commerce)
Class X (Maharashtra Board) · St. Mary's High School, Mumbai · 2021 · 94.2%
Internship
Articled Assistant · M.S. Patel & Associates, Chartered Accountants
- Performed monthly GST returns filing (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B) for 14 SME clients across retail, manufacturing, and services
- Supported statutory audit of 3 private limited companies (revenue range ₹3 Cr – ₹40 Cr): bank reconciliation, vouching, ledger scrutiny
- Computed TDS workings under sections 194C, 194J, 194I for 12 clients; prepared Form 16A summaries
Certifications
- CA Foundation — cleared (Nov 2023, all 4 papers in first attempt)
- CA Intermediate — Group 1 attempted May 2026 (results awaited)
- Advanced Excel (Coursera, 2024)
- NISM Series VIII — Equity Derivatives (Aug 2025)
Skills
Accounting: Tally Prime, Zoho Books, QuickBooks Online
Tax: GST (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9), TDS, Income Tax basics
Excel: VLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, pivot tables, basic VBA
Concepts: Audit procedures, Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS), Bank Reconciliation, MCA filings (DIR-3, AOC-4)
Projects & Achievements
College Project — Comparative analysis of GST input-tax-credit utilisation across 8 listed FMCG companies
- Built a 14-page report from company annual reports and GST portal data; presented to faculty panel — graded A+
- Class topper in Direct Taxation (semester 5) — 92/100
- Winner, NM College Commerce Quiz 2024 (out of 80 teams)
Positions of Responsibility
- Treasurer, NM Commerce Society (2024-25) — managed ₹2.4 lakh annual budget, organised 4 industry events
Languages
English (Fluent), Hindi (Native), Marathi (Native), Tamil (Conversational)
What works: Practical tax / audit exposure quantified (number of clients, company revenue ranges, specific sections). CA progress made explicit. Skills section names specific accounting software, not just "MS Office". Indian-specific certifications (NISM) listed properly. Marathi listed — relevant for Mumbai jobs.
Common fresher questions answered
Should I add a photo?
Optional for most roles. Trends are moving away from photos at product/tech companies. Photos remain expected at some traditional Indian companies (banks, hospitality, government roles, sales positions where customer-facing). When in doubt, skip it — your CV is judged on content.
What if I don't have any internships?
Lead with projects instead. A strong projects section can carry a fresher CV without internships. Build 2-3 substantial projects, write them up properly, and put them at the top. Also consider Forage virtual internships (free, sponsored by real companies) to add experience signals.
Should I include hobbies?
One short line at the bottom is fine if hobbies are specific (chess at competitive level, marathon running, published photographer). "Reading, music, movies" is generic and skippable.
How do I list ongoing certifications?
Be honest. "CA Intermediate — Group 1 cleared May 2025; Group 2 attempted Nov 2026 (results awaited)" is correct. Don't claim what you haven't completed.
Should I include the gap year explanation in the CV?
Not in the CV itself. Cover it briefly in the cover letter or in the interview. If the gap is over 6 months, do prepare a clean honest explanation — "Family caregiving + self-paced Coursera AWS certifications" is acceptable. Avoid leaving recruiters guessing.
What about Naukri profile vs my CV — should they match?
Yes, exactly. Recruiters often cross-check. Discrepancies (different job titles, different durations, different colleges) raise red flags.
Campus placement CV vs off-campus job CV
These need slightly different approaches.
Campus placement CV
- Standard structure as your placement cell prescribes (most colleges have a fixed format)
- Include 10th, 12th, current CGPA prominently — these are auto-screened for cutoffs
- Include extracurriculars, positions of responsibility, sports — recruiters value "well-rounded"
- One generic version per role-type (software, consulting, finance, core engineering)
Off-campus job CV
- Strict ATS-friendly format (single column, standard headings) — see our ATS guide
- Tailor each application to the specific job — keyword match matters more
- De-emphasise CGPA if low; emphasise projects, internships, certifications
- Lead with the most impressive 2-3 things at the top
Want to match your CV to a specific job?
Paste any Naukri or LinkedIn URL into the Gap Analyser to see your match score, missing keywords, and get an instant rewrite.
Try Gap Analyser →Top fresher CV mistakes that get you filtered
- Two pages. Cut to one. Always.
- Generic objective. "Looking for a challenging role to utilise my skills" — auto-rejected by attention.
- "Hardworking team player." Show it, don't claim it.
- Family details. Father's name, mother's occupation — irrelevant in 2026, drop them.
- Address in full. "Flat 401, Sunrise Apartments, Sector 18, Noida" is too specific. "Noida, UP" is enough.
- Class V marks. 10th and 12th are enough.
- Project titled "Mini Project — Final Year". Give it a real name. "FreshKart — hyperlocal grocery platform" beats "Mini Project".
- Listing technologies you haven't really used. "Blockchain, AR/VR, AI, ML" — only list what you can demonstrate.
- Hobby: "Listening to music". Either be specific (competitive chess, marathon running) or skip it.
- Spelling errors. One spelling error in a fresher CV signals carelessness. Three errors are auto-reject. Use Grammarly.
FAQ
How do I write a fresher CV with zero work experience?
Lead with projects and education. Build 2-3 real projects. Add online certifications (Coursera, NPTEL, AWS Cloud Practitioner). Apply to Forage virtual internships. Volunteer for college events and list these as positions of responsibility.
Should I have one CV or different versions for different companies?
At minimum, you should have different versions per role-type (one for software, one for product, one for consulting). Most importantly, customise the objective and skills section for each application.
What's the right CV length for a fresher?
Exactly one page. If it spills to two pages, cut content.
Do recruiters actually check GitHub for fresher candidates?
Yes — for tech roles especially at product companies. A clean GitHub with 3-5 real projects (not tutorial clones) makes a stronger impression than your CGPA. At top product companies like Razorpay, Zomato, CRED, your GitHub profile may matter more than your college.
Should I include my placement cell registration number?
Only if your college requires it. For off-campus applications, no.
Can I use MakeMyCVNow to generate my fresher CV?
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Start free →Last updated 13 May 2026. All example names and details are fictional. Questions? Email support@makemycvnow.com.