Fresher resume: IT services vs product companies in India
What to emphasise on a 2026 fresher resume for TCS / Infosys-style roles versus product SDE roles - one master PDF, two keyword passes.
Updated 2026-09-15
Services firms (TCS, Infosys, Accenture, Cognizant) scan for degree, YOP, and a clean skills list plus any project that shows you can ship. Product companies scan for DSA signal, one sharp project, and tools that match the JD. Keep one master resume PDF; change the top third and keywords, not your life story.
Same person, two readers
| IT services OA / apply | Product / SDE-1 style | |
|---|---|---|
| First screen | Degree, batch, arrears, location | GitHub / project + DSA comfort |
| Skills line | Java or Python, SQL, basics of OS / DBMS | Language + one stack you can defend |
| Projects | 1–2 that ran end-to-end (even college) | 1 deep project; impact in one line |
| Prep after apply | TCS NQT, Infosys, Accenture | Data structures, Amazon SDE-1 |
Neither reader wants a 4-page “objective: to work in a dynamic organisation.”
What to put on the page
- Header - name, phone, email, city, GitHub / LinkedIn if real.
- Education - degree, college, YOP, CGPA if you are comfortable publishing it.
- Skills - tools you can answer a follow-up on. Match the JD you are applying to.
- Projects / internships - problem, what you built, stack. No “team of 20, I coordinated.”
- Optional - official certifications, HackWithInfy / NQT only if current.
Run an ATS scan on the PDF you will upload. If a rewrite would help, use resume rewrite against that JD - then read every line so it stays true.
Services-first pass
Lead with education and a short skills block. Mention Java/Python, SQL, and one project with a database or API. You will still sit an OA; the resume only gets you into the test.
Product-first pass
Move the strongest project above the fold. Name the data structures or systems you actually used. Keep CGPA if it is strong; do not hide a missing internship behind fluff.
Apply loop
One PDF in the tracker per company. Apply on the official link - how to apply off-campus. Do not pay a site to “format it for TCS.”
Sources
Public fresher JDs from services and product careers pages, plus common ATS behaviour (keyword + parseable PDF). We do not claim a magic format that “guarantees shortlist.”
FAQ
Do I need two completely different resumes?
No. One master PDF. For a services drive, lead with education, skills, and a simple project. For product, lead with the strongest coding project and tech stack from the JD.
Should I put my NQT / InfyTQ score on the resume?
Only if the form or JD asks, or the score is recent and official. Do not invent a cutoff or a rank.
How long should a fresher resume be?
One page. Two pages only if you have internships or published work that a recruiter will actually read.
Does CareerLoka write the resume for me?
The ATS scan and rewrite tools help you fix keywords and structure. You still own the facts - no fabricated internships.
Scan your resume (ATS)
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