What Cognizant looks for
- Aptitude and communication
- Programming basics and SQL
- Projects and internships
- Certifications
Tips for your Cognizant resume
Cognizant hires freshers into GenC, GenC Next and GenC Pro tracks. The higher tracks look for stronger coding and project work, so put those first.
SQL and one programming language you know well are a good base. List them in the first line of skills.
Keep the objective short and role-specific, for example 'programmer analyst trainee'.
Format that works
One page, single column, no tables or graphics. Contact details, a short objective naming the role, education with scores, skills, 2–3 projects with bullets, internships, certifications and achievements.
Every bullet should start with an action verb and, where possible, include a number. Our builder checks this for you and shows an ATS score.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Two-column or graphic-heavy designs that ATS tools read in the wrong order
- A long objective that says nothing specific ("seeking a challenging position…")
- Listing 30 skills, including ones you can't answer interview questions on
- Project bullets that describe the project but not what you did
- No numbers anywhere: users, accuracy, marks, time saved
- A second page full of hobbies and personal details like father's name and date of birth
Templates that work well for Cognizant
Build yours in 15 minutes
Examples, an ATS score and a free PDF with no watermark.
Questions
FAQ
Does Cognizant use ATS software?
Large recruiters process high volumes of applications with software that reads the text of your resume. A single-column, text-based PDF like the ones our builder makes reads cleanly.
What are the eligibility criteria for Cognizant?
They change from year to year and by role. Always check the official Cognizant careers page or your placement cell for the current rules on percentages and backlogs.
Should I write a different resume for each company?
Keep one base resume and adjust the objective and the order of skills and projects for each company. You can keep 2 resumes in a free account and duplicate them.