Resume norms in India differ from Western markets. Campus placement committees, TCS/Infosys-style service companies, Indian startups, and global MNC offices in Bangalore or Hyderabad each have different expectations. In 2026, one rule applies everywhere: if you apply online, your resume must be ATS-parseable regardless of format traditions.

The Standard Indian Resume Structure

Most Indian recruiters expect this section order:

  1. Contact Information — Name, phone, email, LinkedIn, city
  2. Career Objective / Summary — 2–3 lines (especially for freshers)
  3. Education — Degree, college, CGPA, year (often placed high for freshers)
  4. Work Experience / Internships — Company, role, dates, bullets
  5. Projects — Critical for IT roles; include tech stack and outcomes
  6. Technical Skills — Languages, frameworks, tools
  7. Certifications — AWS, Oracle, Coursera, etc.
  8. Achievements / Extracurriculars — Optional but valued in campus hiring

Should You Include a Photo?

In India, photos on resumes are common for campus placements and some domestic companies. However, for ATS-submitted applications to MNCs, product companies, and remote global roles, skip the photo. ATS systems cannot parse images well, and many international employers discourage photos to reduce bias. Use a photo version for in-person campus drives; use a clean text-only version for online portals.

Format by Career Stage

Freshers (0–1 year experience)

  • Keep to 1 page
  • Lead with Education and CGPA if above 7.5/10 or 70%
  • Projects section is essential — 2–3 with GitHub links
  • Include internship experience even if unpaid
  • List programming languages and tools explicitly

Experienced (2–8 years)

  • 1–2 pages maximum
  • Lead with Experience, not Education
  • Quantify impact: team size, revenue, performance improvements
  • Education moves to the bottom half
  • Remove outdated college projects unless highly relevant

Senior (8+ years)

  • 2 pages acceptable
  • Focus on leadership, architecture, and business outcomes
  • Trim early-career details to 1–2 lines per role
  • Include patents, publications, or conference talks if applicable

IT vs Non-IT Formats

IT / Software: Projects section with tech stack is non-negotiable. Use standard headings. Avoid colourful infographic templates — they break ATS. PDF or DOCX only.

MBA / Business: Lead with experience and measurable business outcomes. Skills section can include tools (Excel, SAP, Tableau). Keep formatting conservative.

Core Engineering (Mechanical, Civil): Include relevant software (AutoCAD, ANSYS), certifications, and project work. Campus format with education first is still common.

Common Indian Resume Mistakes

  • Using "Curriculum Vitae" as the title — use "Resume" for industry roles
  • Listing every subject studied — list skills and projects instead
  • Including father's name or marital status — outdated and unnecessary
  • Two-column Canva templates for Naukri/LinkedIn Easy Apply
  • Generic objective: "To work in a challenging environment" — replace with a targeted summary
  • Missing phone number with +91 country code for international applications

ATS-Friendly Formatting Rules

Whether you're applying on Naukri, LinkedIn, or a company portal, follow these rules for any online submission:

  • Single column, no tables or text boxes
  • Standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
  • File name: FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf
  • Selectable text (not a scanned image)
  • Standard section headings in English