How I Fixed My Resume and Finally Started Getting SWE Interviews I used to blame LinkedIn's algorithm. Turns out my resume was the real problem. First, format matters more than you think. Skip tables, columns, and fancy graphics — ATS bots choke on them. Stick to a clean, single-column layout with standard headings (Experience, Projects, Skills, Education) in a normal font like Calibri or Arial. For project descriptions, don't just list "Built a chat app using React." Say what problem it solved, what tech stack you used, and what impact it had — even if the impact is "reduced load time by 40%" or "handled 500+ concurrent users." Recruiters skim, so make the value obvious in one line. Achievements should be numbers-driven wherever possible. "Improved" and "optimized" are empty words unless you back them with metrics. If you don't have real metrics yet, estimate honestly rather than skip it entirely. Skills sections should be split — Languages, Frameworks, Tools — not one giant paragraph. Only list what you can actually defend in an interview. Always add your GitHub link and a live portfolio link if you have one. Recruiters do check, especially for freshers with no work experience yet. Biggest mistakes I see: generic objectives ("Seeking a challenging role..."), walls of text, inconsistent formatting, and resumes that read like a job description instead of your story. For freshers, keep it to one page: Contact Info → Skills → Projects (2-3 solid ones) → Education → Certifications (optional). Fix these, and interviews start coming — I promise it's not luck, it's structure.