How To Format Your Resume

A good resume can capture the attention of a recruiter.  While resume content matters the most the simplest formatting techniques will assist in creating a professional and readable resume that can help your resume stand out from other applicants at just a glance.

Refer to the tips below when formatting your resume:

  • Set margins and ensure all formatting is in the same font and font size.
  • Set consistent line spacing at 1 to 1.5 line spacing with an extra space between sections.
  • Keep the layout simple, clean, and consistent.
  • Ensure the resume is in clear sections these include, contact information, resume summary or career objective, education, skills summary, and work experience.
  • Consider adding your full name as a header or footer to all pages. This will act as a reference point for the reader across multiple pages.
  • Your mobile number and email address should be included in the contact information. Remember that this is a professional document and the email address provided should reflect this.
  • In the resume summary or career objective think about what you can bring to the employer not what you want from the role you are applying for.
  • Use the skill summary to summarize your strengths up front. Use bullet points to highlight key strengths that you have to offer.
  • Also use bullet points in formatting past work experience. Use one bullet point format throughout the whole document.
  • Work experience should be in chronical order from your most current role.
  • Each work experience point should include position title, employer, date, and key responsibilities.
  • Check your grammar and do not forget to spell check the document.
  • Save your resume as a Word document or PDF.