Why Your Resume Matters
Recruiters spend about 7 seconds on each resume before deciding whether to keep reading. That's not a lot of time. Your resume needs to make your qualifications obvious at a glance—and it needs to get past the ATS software that screens applications before a human ever sees them.
As a new grad, you might feel like you don't have enough to put on a resume. But you probably have more than you think—class projects, internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and skills you've picked up along the way. The trick is knowing how to present it.
Key Insight from Harvard Career Services
"Your resume should be a carefully crafted marketing document, not a simple chronological list. Its goal is to make recruiters want to learn more about you and invite you for an interview."
Choosing the Right Resume Format
Your choice of resume format affects how recruiters understand your background. For most new graduates, we recommend using the Chronological Format because it's the easiest to read and the format recruiters are most familiar with.
Chronological
Lists experiences in reverse chronological order, most recent first. This is the most common and preferred format by recruiters and ATS systems.
✓ Recommended for New GradsFunctional
Organizes content by skill categories rather than chronologically. Suitable for career changers or those with employment gaps.
For Specific SituationsCombination
Combines the advantages of chronological and functional formats, showcasing both skills and timeline.
For Experienced CandidatesRecommended Resume Structure for New Grads
- 1 Contact Information
- 2 Education (for new grads, place near top)
- 3 Work/Internship Experience
- 4 Projects (academic, personal, hackathon)
- 5 Skills (technical and soft skills)
- 6 Optional: Awards, Certifications, Activities
Core Resume Sections with Examples
A complete resume typically includes the following core sections. For new graduates, education and project experience are often more important than work experience, so make sure these sections are substantial and highlight your strengths.
Contact Information
Essential information at the top of your resume
Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile URL. Make sure your email looks professional (avoid addresses like [email protected]). You can also add your personal website or portfolio if relevant.
John Smith | (555) 123-4567 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith | github.com/johnsmith
- Use a professional email format, ideally [email protected]
- Ensure your phone number is correct and voicemail is set up
- Customize your LinkedIn URL to a cleaner format (linkedin.com/in/yourname)
Education
One of the most important sections for new grads
List your degree, school name, and graduation date (or expected graduation date). Include your GPA if it's above 3.5. Add relevant coursework, honors, awards, and academic projects. For new graduates, education typically goes near the top of the resume.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | Stanford University | May 2026 GPA: 3.8/4.0 | Dean's List (6 semesters) Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Machine Learning, Database Systems, Software Engineering
- Consider omitting GPA if below 3.5
- List coursework relevant to your target position
- Include any honors, scholarships, or academic achievements
Work/Internship Experience
Showcase your professional experience
List your work and internship experiences in reverse chronological order. Each entry should include company name, job title, dates, and location. Use action verb-led bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements, quantifying results whenever possible.
Software Engineering Intern | Google | Mountain View, CA | June 2025 - August 2025 • Developed a microservice that reduced API response time by 40%, serving 10M+ daily requests • Collaborated with a team of 5 engineers to implement new features for Google Maps • Wrote 200+ unit tests achieving 95% code coverage for the authentication module
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb
- Quantify achievements (numbers, percentages, dollar amounts)
- Highlight experience relevant to your target position
Projects
Especially important for new grads with limited work experience
Include academic projects, personal projects, hackathon projects, or open-source contributions. Describe the project goal, your role, technologies used, and outcomes. This section is crucial for demonstrating practical skills.
E-Commerce Platform | Personal Project | github.com/yourname/ecommerce • Built a full-stack e-commerce application using React, Node.js, and PostgreSQL • Implemented secure payment processing with Stripe, handling $5K+ in test transactions • Deployed on AWS with CI/CD pipeline, achieving 99.9% uptime
- Include links to GitHub repos or live demos
- Describe specific technical challenges you solved
- Highlight teamwork and leadership roles
Skills
Technical and soft skills relevant to your target role
List technical skills (programming languages, tools, frameworks) and relevant soft skills. Be honest about your proficiency levels. Tailor this section to match the job description keywords.
Programming Languages: Python (Advanced), JavaScript (Advanced), Java (Intermediate), SQL (Advanced) Frameworks & Tools: React, Node.js, Django, Git, Docker, AWS, PostgreSQL Soft Skills: Team Leadership, Technical Communication, Problem Solving, Agile/Scrum
- Customize your skills list based on the job description
- Be honest about your skill levels
- Put the most relevant skills first
80+ Powerful Action Verbs by Category
Starting each bullet point with a strong action verb makes your resume more dynamic and impactful. Avoid weak phrases like "Responsible for" or "Helped with" — instead, use specific action verbs that demonstrate your initiative and impact. Click any verb to copy it.
leadership
communication
research
technical
creative
helping
achievement
financial
Before & After: Resume Bullet Examples by Industry
See how to transform weak resume bullets into powerful, quantified achievements. These examples cover common industries and roles for new graduates.
❌ Before (Weak)
Worked on the backend team and helped with various tasks
✓ After (Strong)
Developed RESTful APIs serving 50K+ daily users, reducing server response time by 35% through query optimization
❌ Before (Weak)
Managed social media accounts and created content
✓ After (Strong)
Grew Instagram following from 5K to 25K (400% increase) in 6 months through strategic content planning and influencer partnerships, generating 150+ qualified leads
❌ Before (Weak)
Helped with financial analysis and reporting
✓ After (Strong)
Built automated financial models in Excel/Python that reduced monthly reporting time by 60% and identified $500K in cost-saving opportunities
❌ Before (Weak)
Participated in client projects and meetings
✓ After (Strong)
Led market entry analysis for Fortune 500 client, presenting recommendations to C-suite executives that informed $10M investment decision
❌ Before (Weak)
Analyzed data and created visualizations
✓ After (Strong)
Developed machine learning model predicting customer churn with 92% accuracy, enabling targeted retention campaigns that reduced churn by 25%
❌ Before (Weak)
Worked on product features and talked to users
✓ After (Strong)
Conducted 50+ user interviews to identify pain points, leading to feature prioritization that increased user engagement by 40% and NPS score from 32 to 58
Professional Resume Tips
Do's ✓
- Keep it to one page (for new grads)
- Use consistent formatting throughout
- Tailor your resume for each application
- Use keywords from the job description
- Proofread multiple times for errors
- Save as PDF to preserve formatting
- Use a clean, professional font (10-12pt)
- Include relevant links (LinkedIn, portfolio)
- Quantify achievements with numbers
- Start bullets with strong action verbs
Don'ts ✗
- Don't use personal pronouns (I, me, my)
- Don't include irrelevant personal info
- Don't use unprofessional email addresses
- Don't lie or exaggerate experiences
- Don't use generic objectives
- Don't include references on resume
- Don't use fancy fonts or colors
- Don't submit without proofreading
- Don't use tables or graphics (ATS issues)
- Don't include high school info (unless recent)
Frequently Asked Questions
QHow long should a new grad resume be?
For new graduates, your resume should be one page. Focus on relevant coursework, internships, projects, and skills. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds reviewing a resume, so keep it concise and impactful. Only go to two pages if you have 10+ years of experience.
QShould I include my GPA on my resume?
Include your GPA if it's 3.5 or above. If your major GPA is significantly higher than your cumulative GPA, you can list both. If your GPA is below 3.5, it's generally better to omit it and focus on other achievements like projects, internships, and skills.
QWhat font and font size should I use?
Use professional, readable fonts like Arial, Calibri, Garamond, or Times New Roman. Font size should be 10-12pt for body text and 14-16pt for your name. Maintain consistent formatting throughout. Avoid decorative fonts that may not render correctly in ATS systems.
QShould I use a resume template?
Yes, using a clean, professional template is recommended. However, avoid overly designed templates with graphics, tables, or columns that may confuse ATS systems. Stick to simple, single-column layouts with clear section headers.
QHow do I tailor my resume for each job?
Read the job description carefully and identify key skills and requirements. Mirror the language used in the job posting. Reorder your bullet points to highlight the most relevant experiences first. Adjust your skills section to match the required qualifications.
QWhat if I don't have relevant work experience?
Focus on academic projects, personal projects, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Highlight transferable skills like leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Consider relevant coursework and certifications. Even part-time jobs can demonstrate valuable soft skills.