This will be your last resume template
Source: Dev.to
What to Include in a Resume & What Not to Include – Avoiding Common Mistakes
Important Links
- Overleaf repository:
- Overleaf:
- Wonsulting:
Note: This guide is geared toward working professionals, but the format works for students as well. Personalization always wins—feel free to customize the theme for each job you apply to.
1. Header Design (First Impression Matters)
- Your Name (bold)
- Email address
- LinkedIn profile (hyperlinked)
- Portfolio (essential for tech roles)
- GitHub / Behance / Gumroad / LeetCode (or any relevant platform)
- Phone number (recruiters may call)
Tip: Rearrange Skills, Experience, and Projects based on your background.
- Students: Skills → Projects → Experience
- Working professionals: Experience → Skills → Projects
2. Skills Section (Play the Keyword Game Smartly)
Organize skills into clear categories:
- Languages
- Frameworks
- Tools & Technologies
Guidelines
- List only skills you have proven experience with.
- Avoid bluffing; it’s easy to be caught.
- Consider adding a low‑key or uncommon language to demonstrate breadth (e.g., “7 Languages in 7 Weeks”).
- If targeting a specific company, include its product or ecosystem in your skills. Contribute to open‑source or build a related side project if needed.
3. Projects Section (This Decides Interviews)
For each project:
- Project name (bold)
- Tech stack used (small‑cap italics)
- Link to live demo or GitHub repository (hyperlinked)
Project description rules
- Use numbers to quantify impact.
- Highlight the tech stack in bold.
- Limit to 3 bullet points per project.
4. Experience Section
Include your last two positions:
- Company name
- Job title
- Major tech stack you worked on
- Duration of employment
Focus on impact rather than a list of responsibilities.
5. Education Section
Place this section lower unless you’re from a highly prestigious institution. Include:
- College name
- Degree
- Timeline
6. Awards & Achievements (Optional)
Add only if you have space and the achievements are truly extraordinary. Avoid:
- Random certifications
- Club participation
- Generic achievements
What NOT to Add in a Resume
- ❌ Random learning certifications (Microsoft, Google, Udemy, etc.) without a proctored exam.
- ❌ School details (Class 10th / 12th).
- ❌ Personal photograph (unless the industry specifically requires it).
- ❌ College club activities for technical roles.
- ❌ Raw URLs like
https://xyz.com; use descriptive hyperlink text instead. - ❌ Excessive content—keep spacing clean and highlight only relevant information.
- ❌ Multi‑page resumes—one page only.
- ❌ Too many links—be selective.
Final Summary
- Keep it one page.
- Make it clean, keyword‑optimized, and personalized.
- Highlight impact, not effort; relevance beats everything.
Here’s a free resume template you can use: Overleaf link.
These tips are aimed at technical fields. Upcoming posts will cover Program Manager and Product Manager resume formats that helped land roles at top product‑based companies.