1) Gather your essentials
Collect the basics so you can focus on writing: contact info, degree details, 2-3 strongest projects, internships/part-time roles, and a shortlist of technologies you’re confident using.
- Contact: full name, email, phone, location, portfolio/GitHub/LinkedIn.
- Education: degree, school, grad date, GPA (if ≥ 3.5 or requested).
- Projects: links, tech stack, 2–4 impact bullets each.
2) Pick a clean layout
Keep it one page, readable, and ATS-friendly. Use consistent headings, spacing, and bullet styles. Avoid images and text boxes.
3) Write a punchy summary
In 2-4 lines, state your target role, strengths, and a differentiator. Focus on outcomes, not buzzwords.
- Example: “Recent college graduate with hands-on project and internship experience. Delivered two real-world projects used by 200+ people. Clear communicator who follows through.”
4) Education that signals readiness
Include degree, institution, grad date, and relevant coursework only if it helps your target role. Add honors, scholarships, or research if impactful.
5) Projects that prove skill
Choose projects and experiences (capstones, research, clinicals, service, or internships) that mirror job descriptions. Use impact bullets with metrics where possible.
- What you built + why it mattered + measurable outcome (perf, users, reliability).
- Highlight ownership: auth, payments, deployments, or accessibility improvements.
6) Experience and leadership
Internships, part‑time work, teaching assistantships, hackathons, or leadership roles count. Emphasize transferable impact.
7) Skills and tools
Group by category (Languages, Frameworks, Tools). List what you can use confidently. Avoid giant stacks.
8) Proof, export, and apply
Proofread, run a readability pass, and ensure consistent punctuation. Export to PDF for applications and keep a DOCX copy to edit.