Formatting and Styling Tips

Proper formatting is crucial for creating a professional resume that's easy to read and passes through ATS systems. This guide covers essential formatting and styling tips.

Font Selection

Choose fonts that are professional and readable:

Recommended: Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond
Font Size: 10-12pt for body text, 14-16pt for headings
Consistency: Use the same font family throughout your resume
Avoid: Decorative fonts, script fonts, or fonts smaller than 10pt

Pro Tip

Our templates use professionally selected fonts optimized for both print and digital viewing. Stick with the template defaults unless you have a specific reason to change them.

Spacing and Margins

Proper spacing makes your resume easy to scan:

Margins: Use 0.5-1 inch margins on all sides
Line Spacing: Single or 1.15 line spacing for readability
Section Spacing: Consistent spacing between sections (12-18pt)
Bullet Points: Adequate spacing between bullets for readability

Section Headings

Use clear, standard section headings:

Standard Headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Summary
Avoid Creative Names: Don't use "Work History" instead of "Experience" - ATS systems look for standard terms
Consistency: Use the same heading style throughout

Bullet Point Formatting

Format bullet points for maximum readability:

Use consistent bullet style (round bullets, dashes, or squares)
Keep bullets aligned and indented consistently
Limit each bullet to 1-2 lines when possible
Start each bullet with a strong action verb
Use parallel structure (same grammatical form for all bullets)

Date Formatting

Use consistent date formats throughout:

Recommended Formats:

• "MM/YYYY - MM/YYYY" (e.g., "03/2021 - Present")
• "Month YYYY - Month YYYY" (e.g., "March 2021 - Present")
• Use "Present" for current positions, not "Current"
• Be consistent - don't mix formats

Color Usage

Use color strategically:

Accent Colors: Use sparingly for headings or important elements
Professional Colors: Blues, grays, and dark greens work well
Print Consideration: Ensure colors print well in black and white
ATS-Friendly: For ATS-optimized resumes, stick to black text

Important

Avoid using too many colors or bright colors that distract from your content. Professional resumes should be easy to read, not flashy.

Length Guidelines

Keep your resume to an appropriate length:

Entry-Level: 1 page
Mid-Level (3-10 years): 1-2 pages
Senior/Executive: 2 pages maximum
Academic/Research: Can be longer with publications

Pro Tip

If your resume is too long, prioritize the most relevant and impressive content. Quality over quantity - it's better to have one page of strong content than two pages of filler.

ATS-Friendly Formatting

To ensure your resume passes through ATS systems:

Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills)
Avoid tables, columns, and complex layouts
Don't use images, graphics, or charts
Use simple bullet points, not special characters
Save as PDF with text-selectable content
Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)

Common Formatting Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Inconsistent Formatting

Mixing date formats, font sizes, or spacing makes your resume look unprofessional.

❌ Too Much Text

Dense paragraphs are hard to scan. Use bullet points and white space.

❌ Complex Layouts

Multi-column layouts, tables, and graphics can confuse ATS systems.

❌ Inconsistent Spacing

Uneven spacing between sections looks unprofessional and is distracting.

Final Formatting Checklist

Consistent font and font sizes throughout
Uniform spacing between sections
Consistent date formatting
Aligned margins and indentation
No spelling or grammar errors
Proper page breaks (no awkward splits)
PDF exports correctly and looks professional