How to make a good Resume?: A Simple 5-Step Process

Your resume is the first impression you make - and in the highly competitive job market today, you have exactly 6–7 seconds to make it happen. After going through thousands of CVs, we have discovered what sets the rejected ones apart from the ones that land interviews. Here’s what works:

Step 1: Understanding the "Resume Screening Process"

a) ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Check

The ATS scans your resume for job-related keywords. If it doesn’t find enough matches, your resume might be rejected immediately.

Tip: Use job description keywords naturally in your skills and experience.

b) HR Screening

HR people make quick scans for good formatting, relevant experience & easy read. They are not technical people, so your resume must be very simple and clean.

Tip: Keep your resume well-structured, clutter-free, and easy to skim.

c) Hiring Manager Review

At this point, the hiring manager needs actual impact—what your work did to generate success. They always focus on accomplishments instead of only job responsibilities.

Tip: Focus on actions/achievements instead of just responsibilities.

Key Takeaway:

Optimize your resume with the right keywords, a clean formal, strong statement and get the higher chances to be hired.

Step 2: Tweak Your "Work Experience Section"

Your work experience section is the most important part of the resume.

Hiring managers want specific details about your work but also need to see how you helped the business perform better.

Here's how you can improve your Experience Section:

1. Use reverse chronological order – List your most recent job first.
2. Use bullet points – Avoid lengthy paragraphs.
3. Focus on impact

Use this formula: Accomplished [X] by [Y], resulting in [Z] outcome.

4. Structure your bullet points:

• First 2–3 points: Easy to understand for the HR.
  Example: “Improved system reliability by 45 % through API error processing.”
• Next points: Providing technical credibility for hiring managers.
  Example: “Implemented an efficient microservices-based system that reduces downtime to 65 %”
• Tech stack (Skills): List of tools and technologies at the end of the work.

5. Avoid unclear statements:

• Wrong: "Improved website performance."
• Correct Way: “Improved the loading speed of the website’s pages by 25% and the user interaction rate by 18%.”

Key Takeaway

It is important always to use individual numbers to reveal any real impact.

Step 3: Improve Your "About & Skills Section"

It is very common for candidates to take many keywords and write general self-promoting statements on the objective. Instead, keep the top of the resume clean and professional.

How to Optimize the Top Section?

Include only essential details:

1. Full Name
2. Phone & Email
3. LinkedIn Profile
4. GitHub & LeetCode (if relevant)

Recruiters cannot search for skills within a resume in seconds, so make sure they are pinned down!

• Programming Languages: Java, Python, JavaScript, C++, Ruby
• Frameworks & Tools: React, Node.js, Django, Next.js, Docker
• Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL

Mistakes to Avoid

• Do not use ratings (e.g., ★★★★ Java) – it is meaningless.
• Do not list unrelated skills (for example, if the job description is a full-stack developer, there should be no Figma or MS Excel as one of the skills mentioned).

Key Takeaway

Having a professional About & Skills section is a win-win, as it increases your chances to get invited for an interview.

Step 4: Showcase Your "Projects" the Right Way (Especially for Freshers)

For a fresher with little prior working experience, well-defined projects can leave a good impact. However, many candidates fail to showcase them well.

How to Structure Your Projects Section

Each project should clearly answer:

1. What did you build? (Purpose of the project)
2. How did you build it? (Tech stack, tools used)
3. What was the impact? (Results, improvements)

Ideal Format

1. Project Title
2. What it is – Brief Description/Aims & Objectives
3. Tech Stack Used -The technologies, frameworks or tools used.
4. Your Contribution – Explains in detail what specific tasks involved in the assignment/task/project you did.
5. Results & Impact – Any measurable improvements

Example:

• Low quality: "Created an e-commerce website."
• Good quality: "Developed an e-commerce site in Next.js, optimized for faster loading by 45% and increased customer retention by 15% as well."

Key Takeaway

It is important to choose 3-4 good projects, which should be presented in the best way to show your skills.

Step 5: Optimize Your Resume for Maximum Impact

Even with solid content, bad formatting can cause a resume to be ignored.

How to Structure Your Resume

1. Prioritize Sections Smartly:

• Top-tier college (IIT, NIT, BITS, IIT)? List Education first.
• Average college? Highlight Skills at the top.

2. Keep It Clean & Impactful:

• Make it look full, but avoid clutter.
• Remove all useless or non-relevant details.

3. Emphasize (Highlight) the Right Section:

• Experienced? Work experience should be as detailed as possible.
• Student/Fresher? Focus on Projects.

4. Ditch or Avoid Filler Achievements:

• Instead of “Solved 300+ LeetCode problems,” showcase real-world projects.

Key Takeaway

A well-formatted and easy-to-read resume will capture the attention and increases your chances.

Final Thoughts: Your Resume Is a Living Document

As your professional achievements increase, your resume needs continuous update. Schedule to update it every 3 months, even if you’re not actively hunting a job. This way you never miss a chance and can immediately apply when ideal roles when available.

Remember: The best resume doesn’t tell what you have done – it tells the story of the value you create. By using this structure, you will change your resume from a file that must be submitted for a job opportunity to a resume with real career acceleration potential.

Explore how Bosscoder Academy can help you grab your dream tech offer!

Frequently Asked Questions