Simple Tips for Formatting a Resume

Our goal is to simplify the process of creating a resume. If you search the internet for a resume guide you get thousands of options for ‘resume templates.’ The truth is you don’t need them! I’m going to share some of the common mistakes and edits that we make to ensure resumes are visually appealing and directly highlighting skills you have acquired. With our help making some simple adjustments to your resume could quite possibly land you your dream job!

Visual appearance

First things first, who are you? How do I get in touch if I like your experience? Is your email one from high school or professional? Put these details upfront, in a clean font that is slightly larger than the font throughout the body of the resume.

How does your job history look? The goal here is to be consistent in font and font size, but more importantly in the format. The company name is bold with correct spelling, Job title(s) italicized just below the company and responsibilities you held or acquired while in that position.

Dates should be clear and align with the company to match the same format throughout the resume. If you worked for one company but held more than one position –the company name should be listed at the top and then list the positions and responsibilities separately below.

Notice the dashes between the dates, months fully spelled out. These details seem small, but employers seeking someone who is ‘detail oriented’ is someone that will notice these subtleties. Now let’s talk about what your resume should include and a general order.

Layout

Simplicity on your resume is KEY! Below is a quick guide with notes on how to navigate each section.

• Contact information –Bold and at the top, large font to stand out.
• Professional Experience – Be clear, ensure the correct past/present tense is used, punctuation and grammar matter here.
• Volunteer/Extracurricular (optional) – Use the same format we discussed above and it will read seamlessly should you chose to add it.
• Education ­– Education should be at the top of your resume if you graduated less than 5 years ago and at the bottom if more than 5 years ago.

• Skills – Should contain technical and personal skills, list skills specific to the job you are applying for that would help you in the interview. Read thoroughly through the job posting to ensure the skills you add pertain to the job, if searched they will catch the interviewer eye.

Three Point Search is a staffing firm with a wide and deep network of clients, and we thrive on connecting the best people with the best companies. Let us help you find your next opportunity! For more information: Contact – Three Point Search