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Resume formatting: How should a resume look?
Learn how to format a resume that gets you an interview.
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The first time through a stack of resumes, many employers spend less than a minute with each one. You can survive the first cut if you learn how to format a resume to look appealing and professional. The content of your resume is essential, of course, but its format can help you earn a second look and an interview.
The importance of resume formatting.
Learning how to format a resume is crucial because it establishes a professional image and makes it easier for employers to review your qualifications. A well-formatted resume creates a positive first impression, organizes information effectively, enhances readability, and captures attention, all of which are vital for employers to review your qualifications.
- Establishes a professional image. Proper resume formatting showcases your professionalism and attention to detail.
- Creates a positive first impression. Well-formatted resumes immediately impress employers and show your commitment to the application.
- Organizes information effectively. Formatting structures your resume logically, making it easy for employers to find relevant details about your skills, experiences, and achievements.
- Enhances readability. Clear formatting techniques such as headings and bullet points improve the readability of your resume, enabling recruiters to quickly grasp the information.
- Captures attention. Effective formatting draws attention to your key strengths and accomplishments, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.
- Saves time. A concise, one- to two-page resume demonstrates respect for the employer’s time and facilitates an efficient review of your qualifications.
- Increases job opportunities. Well-formatted resumes significantly improve your chances of grabbing the reader’s attention and securing valuable job opportunities.
Chronological resume formatting.
A chronological resume is a structured format that lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job and working backward. This type of resume is ideal for candidates with a strong, consistent work history in a particular field, as it highlights career progression and growth over time. It is best suited for professionals with steady employment, those applying for roles in traditional industries, or anyone looking to showcase a clear trajectory of increasing responsibilities and achievements. If you have frequent job changes or employment gaps, a different resume format, such as functional or combination, may be more effective.
A chronological resume follows a structured format that emphasizes work history and career progression. The outline is typically this:
- Contact information – your name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile (if applicable), and location.
- Professional summary (Optional) – a brief 2–3 sentence overview of your skills, experience, and career goals.
- Work experience – listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first)
- Education – degree(s) earned, institution name, graduation year (if recent), and any relevant coursework.
- Certifications and licenses – any industry-recognized certifications with issuance and expiration dates. Find out more about how to list certifications on resume.
- Skills – a list of relevant hard and soft skills tailored to the job you’re applying for.
- Optional sections – additional sections such as awards, volunteer experience, or professional memberships, if relevant.
This format is widely used because it is easy for recruiters to scan and quickly assess a candidate’s career growth and experience.
Functional resume formatting.
A functional resume focuses on skills and competencies rather than chronological work history, making it ideal for career changers, those with employment gaps, or individuals with limited formal experience. It emphasizes abilities over job titles and dates. The typical format includes:
- Contact information
- Professional summary – a brief 2–3 sentence introduction highlighting your key strengths, experience, and career objectives.
- Skills and Competencies – organized into categories relevant to the job, such as:
- Leadership & Team Management
- Project Planning & Execution
- Market Research & Analysis
- Communication & Collaboration
Each category should include bullet points demonstrating achievements or examples of using these skills.
- Work experience (optional or minimal detail) – instead of listing job responsibilities, this section provides only:
- Job title
- Company name and location
- Dates of employment (optional or with years only)
- Education
- Certifications and licenses
- Optional sections – awards, volunteer work, professional memberships, or projects that reinforce relevant skills.
Combination resume formatting.
A combination resume blends elements of both chronological and functional resume formats, emphasizing both skills and work experience. It's ideal for candidates with a strong skill set who also want to showcase their professional experience in a structured way. It’s particularly useful for career changers, professionals with diverse experience, or those with employment gaps. The standard format includes:
- Contact information
- Professional summary
- Key skills and competencies — organized into categories related to the job, such as Product Management & Strategy, Data Analysis & Market Research, and Leadership & Team Collaboration.
- Work experience
- Education
- Certifications
- Optional sections
How should a resume look?
When it comes to formatting a resume properly, there are a few key elements to consider. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your resume looks polished and professional.
1 Apply appropriate margins. Set your page margins to around one inch on all sides, creating sufficient white space and maintaining a balanced layout.
2 Select a professional and readable font. Choose a font that is easy to read and portrays professionalism. Some popular choices include Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, and Helvetica. Avoid using decorative or overly stylized fonts that can be distracting.
3 Use 10- to 12-point font size. Maintain a consistent font size throughout your resume. A font size of 10 to 12 points is generally considered legible and ensures your content is easily readable.
4 Add section headers. Clearly distinguish different sections of your resume by using section headers. Examples of common headers include Contact Information, Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, and Skills. Using bold or slightly larger font sizes for headers helps them stand out.
Proper formatting also enhances readability and highlights your key strengths. To ensure your resume stands out, consider incorporating the following formatting tips:
- Use bullet points where appropriate. Bullet points help to organize information and make it easier to read and comprehend. Utilize them to list your achievements, responsibilities, and skills within each section of your resume.
- Keep information concise and clear. Use concise and impactful language to convey your qualifications. Avoid lengthy paragraphs and focus on highlighting the most relevant and impressive aspects of your experience.
- Show consistent formatting. Maintain consistency in formatting throughout your resume. This includes using the same font, font size, and formatting styles for headers, subheadings, and body text. Consistency creates a cohesive and professional look.
- Provide a professional email address. Ensure that the email address listed in your contact information is professional and appropriate for potential employers to reach out to you.
- Proofread carefully. Thoroughly proofread your resume for any spelling, grammar, or formatting errors. Ask someone else to review it as well, as fresh eyes can often catch mistakes you may have missed.
- Tailor your resume to the job. Customize your resume for each specific job application. Highlight relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments that align with the requirements of the position you’re applying for.
- Add a cover letter PDF if requested. If the job application specifically asks for a cover letter, provide it as a separate PDF document. Ensure that the cover letter is well-written, concise, and addresses the specific job requirements.
- Ask for feedback. Seek feedback from trusted friends, mentors, or career advisors. They can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improving your resume’s formatting and content.
Create your own custom resume PDF.
Your resume doesn’t need to look like everyone else’s. It’s good to stand out from the crowd. But there are certain things a hiring manager will look for immediately, so make sure those items stand out. One way to create a professional-looking resume is to use a pre-formatted PDF template.
To make a standardized resume template your own, use an editing tool that can do these things for you:
1 Add text to enter your experience and education.
2 Add PDF pages if you need additional space.
3 Extract pages to remove what you don’t need.
Numerous templates are available online that provide a place for all your information along with a professional look. When you find a PDF resume template that captures your style and presents your education, experience, and accomplishments in the best light, you can use Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat online services to personalize it.
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Resume formatting: How should a resume look?
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