Paige
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4 Simple Steps To Format A Great Resume
What’s the difference between a good resume and a great resume? A good resume may land you interviews. But a GREAT resume can land you THE JOB. The first step to crafting a great resume is getting the format right.
This brings us to the question, how long should my resume be…? Most experts suggest limiting your resume to 2-4 pages. The key is to keep it as brief as possible by sharing only the information that is relevant to the job you are applying for.
If you are a candidate with less experience please… please do not add non-relevant, filler content to your resume to get it to two pages! This won’t do you any favours.
The main sections you will need are as follows…
- Your name
- Contact information
- A brief personal statement
- Career summary
- Skills & attributes
- Professional experience
- Education
- Professional membership
- References
Other optional sections could include awards, and personal interests or activities. Many job seekers these days also include a link to one of their professional online profiles, such as LinkedIn or a personal website.
Margins for a great resume layout
Let’s say you’re creating a Microsoft Word resume layout from scratch. Your margins should be one inch. The effect you want to achieve is a balance between whitespace and text. Use bullet points to break up blocks of text and add more white space to your new resume layout.
Line Spacing
Single line spacing is best. Add double line spacing after subheadings.
Font Choice
Your font should be clean and easy to read – no Comic Sans. The best choice for an easy resume layout is to use a 10-12 point Sans Serif or Serif font.
For ideal readability, keep the font size consistent throughout your resume. The exception is increasing the font size for your name. If you want to emphasize certain elements of your cool resume layout do so by using bold, caps, or italics. That includes such information as your name or subheadings.
Bonus tip! Using Bullet Points to describe previous jobs
Make each bullet point unique for the job you’re applying for. Select duties or achievements that match the qualifications for the job. We recommend including 4-6 bullet points for each job or volunteer experience you list.
Resume Bullet Point example…
Retail Manager, The Space Store, 20XX-Present
- Created staff development plan that included training opportunities to encourage growth and increase responsibility.
- Identified by customers in surveys as a strong communicator.
- Lead annual weekend orientation training retreat for 20-30 new employees.
- Responsible for creatively implementing in-store marketing strategies.
- Develop individual employment plans, goal setting strategy, and customer service skills.
Even if you’re the best candidate with all the right skills, it doesn’t matter, you won’t get far without spending some time creating a professional resume.
That’s the difference between a good resume and a great one. And that difference is what will land you your dream job.
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