Resume Tips for Freshers: What to Put on a CV With No Experience
Short answer: With no work experience, lead your CV with education, then skills that map directly to the job, then anything that demonstrates initiative — internships however short, college projects, part-time work, or running a college event or social media page. Keep it to one page, use short bullet points rather than paragraphs, and double-check that your phone number and email are correct.
If you’re applying for your first job, “no experience” doesn’t mean you have nothing to put on a CV. It means you need to know what to lead with instead.
What to include when you have no work experience
- Education, clearly. Degree, institution, year, and any relevant coursework or projects.
- Skills that map to the job. Software (MS Excel, Tally, Canva), languages spoken, certifications. Match these to the role you’re applying for rather than listing everything.
- Internships, even short ones. A two-week internship still counts and still tells an employer you’ve been inside a workplace.
- Extracurriculars that show initiative. Organising a college event, running a small social media page, part-time tutoring. These demonstrate communication and follow-through, which is exactly what fresher hiring screens for.
Formatting that actually gets read
One page. A clear name and working phone number and email at the top. Simple section headings — Education, Skills, Experience, Achievements. Short bullet points rather than paragraphs.
A recruiter screening entry-level applications gives each CV seconds. Everything about the layout should serve that reality.
Mistakes that get CVs skipped
- Listing skills you can’t demonstrate if asked about them in the interview.
- An unprofessional email address.
- Sending an identical generic CV to every job — at minimum, adjust the top section to match the role.
- Not proofreading. Small typos create a disproportionate impression at the screening stage.
- A wrong or unreachable phone number. This is genuinely the most common reason a good candidate never hears back.
Tailoring without rewriting
You don’t need a new CV per application. Keep one base version, and change the top third — the skills line and any summary — to match what the specific listing is asking for. That’s usually enough to move a CV from “generic” to “relevant” in a screener’s eyes.
When your CV is ready, drop it with us and we’ll match it against live openings, or see our guide to finding a job in Guwahati for where to send it.
Key takeaways
- One page, always, at fresher level.
- Lead with skills that match the specific role, not a generic list.
- Internships, projects and extracurriculars all count — they demonstrate initiative.
- A wrong phone number is the most common reason a good CV gets no callback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should freshers include a photo on their CV?
It isn't required and isn't standard for most private-sector roles in India. Use the space for skills and education instead.
What if I have no internships or projects at all?
Highlight coursework, any part-time or freelance work, and soft skills you can back up with a specific example — organising an event, handling a college responsibility, or tutoring.
How long should a fresher CV be?
One page. Recruiters screening entry-level applications spend seconds per CV, and a second page almost never gets read at this stage.
Is a cover letter necessary?
Not always, but a short, specific message when applying — why this role, why you — helps you stand out, particularly when applying directly to a small employer.