Hi there,

Formatting your resume properly is crucial to making a strong first impression on potential employers. Here are some best practices for creating a professional and easy-to-read resume:

1. Layout:
   • One Page: If possible, keep your resume to one page, especially if you have less than 10 years of experience.
   • Margins: Use standard 1-inch margins on all sides.
   • Spacing: Use consistent spacing between sections to ensure readability. Typically, 1.15 to 1.5 line spacing works well.
   • Sections: Use clear section headings (e.g., Education, Work Experience, Skills) and consider using bold or a slightly larger font size for these headings.
2. Font Choices:
   • Font Type: Choose a clean, professional font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
   • Font Size: Use a font size between 10 and 12 points for the main text. Section headings can be slightly larger (e.g., 14 points).
   • Consistency: Use the same font type and size throughout your resume for a cohesive look.
3. Section Order:
   • Contact Information: At the top, include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (optional).
   • Objective or Summary: A brief statement about your career goals or a summary of your qualifications.
   • Education: List your degrees, institutions, graduation dates, and any relevant coursework.
   • Work Experience: Include your job titles, companies, dates of employment, and bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements.
   • Skills: Highlight both technical and soft skills relevant to the job.
   • Certifications and Training: Any relevant certifications or training courses.
   • Projects: Significant projects that demonstrate relevant skills and experience.
   • Volunteer Experience: If applicable, include any volunteer work that showcases transferable skills.
   • Awards and Honors: Any relevant awards or recognitions.
4. Professional Look:
   • Bullet Points: Use bullet points for job descriptions and accomplishments to enhance readability.
   • Action Verbs: Start each bullet point with a strong action verb (e.g., “Developed,” “Led,” “Managed”).
   • Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, include numbers to quantify your achievements (e.g., “Increased sales by 20%”).
   • Consistency: Ensure that dates, job titles, and formatting are consistent throughout your resume.
5. Additional Tips:
   • No Photos or Personal Information: Avoid including a photo, age, marital status, or other personal details unless specifically requested.
   • File Format: Save and send your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting.
   • Proofread: Thoroughly proofread your resume to eliminate any spelling or grammatical errors. Consider asking someone else to review it as well.

Example Layout:

Your Name
[Phone Number] | [Email Address] | [LinkedIn Profile]

Objective or Summary:
[Brief statement about your career goals or a summary of your qualifications.]

Education:
[Degree] | [Institution] | [Graduation Date]

• Relevant coursework: [List relevant courses]

Work Experience:
[Job Title] | [Company] | [Dates of Employment]

• [Responsibility or achievement #1]
• [Responsibility or achievement #2]
• [Responsibility or achievement #3]

Skills:

• [Skill #1]
• [Skill #2]
• [Skill #3]

Certifications and Training:

• [Certification or training #1]
• [Certification or training #2]

Projects:
[Project Title] | [Brief description of the project and your role]

Volunteer Experience:
[Volunteer Role] | [Organization] | [Dates of Involvement]

• [Description of your responsibilities and achievements]

Awards and Honors:

• [Award or honor #1]
• [Award or honor #2]