What recruiters actually check on a fresher CV
A campus recruiter or an agency screener spends six to eight seconds on a first pass. In that time they are not reading; they are looking for five things in a fixed order. Whether you are applying to a mass recruiter in India, a graduate scheme in the UK or an entry-level role in Dubai, the list barely changes.
| They look for | Why it matters | What this builder does |
|---|---|---|
| A target role in the first two lines | Tells them which pile you go in. "Seeking opportunities" goes in no pile. | Puts your role under your name and writes the objective around it. |
| Degree, institution, year, grade | Eligibility filter. Many companies screen on year of passing and a minimum grade. | Education is the first section. Grade shown only when it helps you. |
| Projects with outcomes | The only evidence a fresher has that they can finish something. | Turns your plain answers into verb-first bullets and nudges you to add a number. |
| A grouped skills list | ATS keyword match happens here. Recruiters scan it for the two or three tools the job needs. | Role-specific suggestions, grouped into languages, tools and core. |
| Proof of initiative | An internship, a certificate or a club role separates you from the 400 other CVs with the same degree. | Optional sections that only appear when you have something to put in them. |
Why the order is education first, then projects
Experienced candidates lead with work history because it is the strongest evidence they have. A fresher's strongest evidence is a degree that meets the eligibility bar and two or three projects that show they can apply it. So education goes first, projects second, and skills right after so the keyword scan lands early. The India resume format guide and the US resume guide cover the same ordering in more depth; the builder applies each country's rules automatically when you pick it.
The five mistakes that get fresher CVs rejected
1. Two pages
With under two years of experience, a second page is read as padding. The builder shows a live word count and flags when you cross roughly 550 words, which is where one page ends in a standard font.
2. A photo, a two-column layout, or a skills bar chart
Most applicant tracking systems read left to right, top to bottom. A sidebar layout scrambles the order; a photo is ignored at best and a bias risk at worst; a "70% proficient in Java" bar tells nobody anything. This builder outputs a single column with standard headings, which is what parses on Workday, Greenhouse, Lever and iCIMS.
3. Describing the project instead of your part in it
"An e-commerce website with cart and payment features" describes a product. "Built the cart and checkout flow in React; integrated Razorpay test mode; 40 classmates placed test orders" describes you. The form asks the two questions separately for exactly this reason.
4. Listing every skill you have heard of
Fifteen languages on a fresher CV is a lie the interviewer will catch in the first question. List what you can be questioned on. Six to twelve real skills beats thirty names.
5. An objective that could be anyone's
"To work in a challenging environment where I can utilise my skills" is on a million CVs. The generated objective names your degree, your target role, your project count and your top three tools, because that is the only version a recruiter can act on.
After you download
A first CV is a base, not a finished application. When you have a specific job in mind, use Score against a job to send this CV into the main AlterCV engine, paste the job description, and get a keyword match score with the bullets rewritten for that role. Then write the cover letter against the same job. If the role sponsors visas, the verified sponsor board is where to look.
Questions freshers ask
I have no work experience. What goes in the experience section?
Nothing called experience. For a fresher, projects are the experience section. Two to four projects, each with the tools used and one line of outcome, tell a recruiter more than a job title would. Internships, training programmes and volunteering go in a separate section if you have them.
Should I include my CGPA or percentage?
If it helps you: roughly 7.0+ on a 10-point scale, 3.0+ on a 4-point scale, or 65%+. Below that, leave it off and let projects carry the weight. The builder applies this rule and lets you override it either way.
Do I need Class X and XII marks?
On an Indian fresher CV, yes, most mass recruiters still filter on them. Outside India, no. The checkbox is on by default for India and off elsewhere.
Do I need a photo?
Not for India, the US, UK, Canada, Australia or Ireland. Germany, Switzerland and the Gulf still expect one; add it separately for those. The builder deliberately outputs a no-photo CV because that is the version that parses everywhere.
Is a declaration line still needed in India?
It is harmless and many recruiters still expect it, so the India format includes it. Every other country omits it.
Is this free?
Building and previewing is free with no account. Downloading the PDF needs a free AlterCV account so the draft is saved to you. Scoring against a job description uses the main engine, which has a free tier.