In a perfect world, a hiring manager would spend ample time reading through your entire resume to see if you’re a good fit. In reality, though, they’re busy and only devote a few seconds to each one. With that in mind, you need to ensure your resume is written in a way where it’s easy to skim. Where do you begin?
Here are a few key steps to take from the resume writers at ResumeSpice:
Align text to the left
The eye naturally reads from left to right, so aligning left will improve readability on your resume. However, if you center the text or justify it, it leaves uneven gaps and makes it harder to read.
Keep font size consistent
Appropriate font sizes on resumes can range from 10.5 to 12. But whatever size you choose, it’s important to stick with it throughout your resume. Your name at the top can be a little bigger, but other than that, all the text should look uniform in terms of size. If you need to emphasize something, then bold it or use italics, rather than increasing the size.
Don’t go overboard with styling
That said, it’s important to use bold and italic styling sparingly. Too much of either detracts from readability and looks unprofessional. So, for instance, choose to bold either your past employers or job titles, but not both. If the companies you worked for are more important to highlight, then bold those. However, if your career path better illustrates your value, then bold your job titles.
Keep bullet points short
When writing your resume, it’s important to use bullet points to make it easy to scan. But don’t let each one go over two lines. Otherwise, it will make your resume hard to read. Instead, keep them as concise as possible.
Use numerals
When you’re writing about quantifiable results, make sure you use numerals instead of writing out numbers. For instance, write “15 years of experience,” rather than “fifteen years of experience.” These take up less space on your resume and are easier to read.
Leave ample white space
Don’t create tight margins in an effort to cram more information on your resume. This will simply look crowded and messy. Instead, make sure you have plenty of white space, which helps hiring managers skim more easily.
Looking for help with your resume?
At ResumeSpice, our resume writers know first-hand what hiring managers want to see on resumes and how to create one for you that’s effective and easy to read. Call 832.930.7378 today to learn more or get started.
