how to make resume stand out visually

How to Make a Resume That Stands Out in 2024: A Guide That Stands Out

In This Guide:

What makes a resume stand out in 2023, key takeaways.

So you want to know how to make your resume stand out to recruiters?

You’re here because the generic “best practices from recruiters” advice you got until now was not very helpful. You already knew it all. You know what the baseline is .

But do you know how to write a visually appealing resume that makes you stand out from the crowd?

What makes a resume pop?

We, at Enhancv , asked ourselves the same questions. To find the standout factors, we did some research and testing.

We started by analyzing our clients’ resumes that helped them secure jobs at the likes of Amazon, Spotify, PwC, Verizon, and other top companies. We identified all the resume components that catch the eye of employers and recruiters. Then, we performed solid A/B testing, and finally, put together all our findings into one test resume . This test resume gathered over 1 million views, got covered by CNBC and Business Insider, and was praised by Mark Cuban .

BUILD MY RESUME LIKE THIS

To put it simply – it stood out and attracted attention.

The following advice helped thousands of candidates get interviews and land jobs at leading companies. We’ll share their resumes as case studies and explore different ways to make your resume stand out from the rest.

Here’s what you’ll learn from this guide:

• How to make a resume that both stands out and gets you interviews in 2023
• Case studies, tips, and professional examples from candidates that successfully landed jobs at top companies
• What resume layouts are getting more interviews and which are getting less
• How to pass automatic HR filters when creating a stand out resume

At the end of the day, you want your resume to stand out and land you a job, not raise HR’s eyebrows or get shared on Reddit for the sake of it.

So we won’t be using fancy fonts or inserting funny pictures. Every example we provide and each template we use has been thoroughly tested with HR systems to pass automatic filters.

This guide will take your resume from good to great, and here’s how.

• First, for every section we’ll cover a baseline, a bare minimum you need to do in order to have a competitive resume. Unfortunately, the majority of career guides stop at that.
• From there, we take it one step further with specific advice on how to make every section of your resume even more engaging and remarkable with out-of-box techniques.
• Finally, we’ll talk about the power of formatting and layout in creating an outstanding resume.

Along the way, we’ll provide case studies and real-life examples that helped candidates land real jobs at the companies they wanted.

Create attention-grabbing header section

The Header is the top section of your resume. It includes your name, location, job title, and contact details.

• Baseline: provide clear, typo-free contact and location details so that recruiters could contact you with zero effort.
• Stand out: include a link to your developed LinkedIn profile, add a custom headline, consider adding a photo.

Looking for ways to make your header stand out? See how you can perfect your resume header and get noticed .

Link to LinkedIn and/or personal portfolio website

Here’s a thing: 70% of recruiters will be checking your social media profiles. But the real bummer is that 79% of employers can reject candidates based on their social media.

Let’s turn this into our advantage and put a link to your LinkedIn profile in your Header section.

This will earn you extra points with recruiters and guide their attention to where you want them to be.

If you have a personal portfolio website that you want recruiters to see, link to it as well.

Gal included a link to his personal website to guide the recruiter’s attention, but also to keep his resume one-page without having to describe all the projects he’s worked on over the decade.

Pro tip: when applying for code-heavy jobs, consider linking to your Github.

Custom headline

Recruiters will spend most of their time analyzing the top third of your resume, and a custom headline is one of the most influential and often overlooked ways to grab their attention.

Headline goes immediately after your name on the resume and can include anything from your job title to a personal slogan.

However, you can do much better than simply putting your job title there., e.g. “System Administrator”.

Below are two amazing standout resume examples of a customized headline in action:

In the past, Daniel had two different jobs: Customer Support Engineer and Systems Administrator.

So he combined both qualifications in his headline, emphasizing experience with both people and systems.

This way he framed his diverse experience as an advantage before the recruiter even got to see the rest of the resume.

Result? Intercom hired Daniel. Check out the resume template that got Daniel the job.

For other jobs, you might want to get even more creative with your headline. For example, how are you going to stand out from hundreds of other marketers?

Wrong example : PPC specialist with 5 years of experience.

Right example : Fighting shady, aggressive marketing.

In his headline, Louis took a strong stance against something that was at the time a massive problem for established brands: shady viral marketing tactics of competition. Later he was hired by Hotjar. Check out the template that Louis used to get his dream job.

Custom headline allows you to frame the rest of your resume however you need, providing a halo effect. Daniel framed his work experience as an advantage for his next job, while Louis stood out from hundreds of marketers with the same skillset.

And the best part? Headlines can be easily tailored to every job you’re applying for, so you can easily switch between experience-based headlines, slogans, or anything related to your next job. Learn more about how to craft your headline here .

Should you include a photo in your resume or not?"?

Short answer: it depends. The best practice is to check company and government policy (including photos is illegal in some countries). For the long answer, head over to our helpful post on the topic .

Sam wanted to switch careers, but her extensive investment banking background made her resume look a bit boring for a startup-tech world.

So she used one of our resume templates, including her photo and adding some personality to her resume , to successfully score a job at Spotify.

To sum it up – you’ll need an attractive header section to make your resume stand out from the crowd. What you’ll also need is a special Summary section…

Use summary that captivates recruiters

The summary section is a short paragraph or bulleted list that briefly describes your professional experience before the rest of your resume.

Sometimes Summary is called an “Objective”, especially if you are using it to explain why you’re applying for the job.

• Baseline : short, easy-to-read, and impactful description of your professional experience
• Stand out : make your Summary memorable, use a proper layout .

Think of your Summary section as a cold email you’re sending someone you don’t know. If it’s a long, boring, and self-centered cold email, no one wants to read that.

But if you research your recipient, create an engaging and short cold email, you have a much higher chance of someone responding to it.

The Summary section, when done right, is one of the most powerful ways of “aligning” you to the position.

Sometimes you’ll hear the opinion that the Summary section takes too much space on your resume.

First, there’s an easy fix to it.

Let’s look at Daniel’s resume once again.

He puts the Summary section to the right of his Experience section. Why?

When recruiters scan your resume, they are checking your experience section first, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to learn more about you after.

With his Summary, Daniel once again frames the recruiter’s perception, highlighting that he did the majority of his work experience remotely. It helps a lot given that the company he applied for, Intercom, is a fully remote organization.

At the same time, he also provides some insight into his personality, as he knows how important culture fit is in remote companies.

Learn as much as you can about the company you’re applying for to know what’s important to them, and use this information to make your Summary more memorable.

Another great way to use the Summary section is when you’re switching careers, have no work experience, or have gaps in your work history.

Seeing your experience section, recruiters will immediately ask themselves questions: why are they making the career switch? Do they have enough experience?

Be proactive and address the elephant in the room yourself.

Akshay S. Rao put a brief summary section before his experience section to explain why he wants the internship with Tesla in the first place.

Check out the job-winning resume layout that Akshay used to land a promising internship.

Okay, so you’ve mastered the Summary, and you are one step closer to making a creative resume that stands out from the rest. Now, it’s time to understand how to tie results with responsibilities and present your work achievements on your resume.

Always provide quantifiable achievements

One of the most common pieces of advice we hear from recruiters is “provide results, not responsibilities”.

Well, yeah, it’s great advice. But we can do even better than that.

• Baseline: when describing your experience, demonstrate the impact of your work and contribution to the bottom-line of a company
• Stand out: Add quantifiable achievements to other sections of your resume, creating a cohesive “rainmaker” narrative.

Compare these two Experience sections from our job-winning Tech resume guide.

The first example may seem clean and concise, but in reality, it’s generic and doesn’t bring impact.

When you provide quantifiable achievements in your resume, it’s not about bragging with numbers.

It gives recruiters the impression that the person knows the impact of their work and their value to the company. And knowing your impact makes you more effective and loyal, a recruiter’s dream.

Here’s a formula we are using to describe our experience in an engaging and impactful manner:

Accomplished [A] as measured in [B] by doing [C]

Just remember that quantifiable achievements don’t necessarily mean “numeric achievements”. Simply adding numbers to something doesn’t make it impactful.

As long as what you did makes an impact and benefits the company, it will resonate with recruiters.

The best part is that you can demonstrate impact throughout other sections of your resume, instantly making them more engaging and effective: Summary, Projects, even your headline.

Maximilian Malterer, who now works at Amazon, used our “Most Proud of” section and moved it right next to his experience section.

No matter how recruiters will be scanning this resume, they will notice the impact you made.

Access the job-winning resume of Maximilian layout at our library of top-performing templates .

Now, let’s discover what the Achievement section is and how to use it wisely.

Highlight awards and recognitions

• Baseline : candidates rarely have this section in their resumes
• Stand out : adding an Achievements section to your resume sets you apart from the majority of candidates in the hiring pool.

If we were to summarize what sets apart the majority of our customers whose successful resumes we’ve used throughout this guide, we’d say custom sections.

“Achievements”, “Awards”, and “Most Proud” sections are all great examples.

Adding them within our resume builder is a one-step drag-and-drop process, but the most important part is that you can quickly change the whole layout based on your particular needs.

As mentioned before, Maximilian put his most impactful Achievements right next to his Experience section, amplifying the overall impact, which is critical when you work with Amazon partners.

But Julian Prim, who now works with PwC, took a different approach. His high-stakes analyst job required extra attention to detail and next to perfect time-management skills.

After all, that’s what PwC had in mind for their operations specialist.

So Julian put his skills first to let recruiters know he checks all these boxes and added his “Most Proud” section below.

While Maximillians’s resume narrative is an ambitious and impactful account manager, Julian Prim is an efficient and timid analyst. The layouts of their resumes work great for both of them.

Pro tip : with simple drag and drop you can quickly change layouts and thus how your resume narrative.

Julian can easily become an ambitious superstar data wizard and apply for some hot BigData startup by simply dragging his “Most Proud” section to the top. Experiment with resume layouts by using the top-performing templates directly in our resume builder .

Surely, sharing awards and recognition is a way to make your resume stand out from other applicants and land you the job. But if you want to get things to the next level, you’d spend some time tailoring your resume and make it more specific to the position you are applying for.

Tailor your resume

Tailoring your resume to the job description is an extremely effective strategy for landing more job interviews.

Just don’t overdo it, otherwise, your efforts might seem too obvious.

• Baseline : include in your resume skills and keywords from your target job description
• Stand out : group skills and provide context for your core skills to maximize the impact and prove that you actually have these skills.

There are several ways to feature both technical and soft skills on your resume.

The majority of candidates will simply list them, but for recruiters, it’s as engaging as reading someone’s shopping list.

Instead, we have a few more easy-to-read and effective options you can use.

Daniel is a technical person. It was important for him to showcase his technical skills when applying for a job at Intercom, but he didn’t want to scare off recruiters with a poorly formatted list of 100+ technologies he learned during his career in IT.

He mentioned many skills and technologies he worked with when describing his Experience section, but for the skills section he followed the old wisdom of “less is more”.

So he identified four of the most important groups of skills he has and presented them as engaging infographics.

Adapt this layout and try out various visual styles using our freely accessible resume templates .

Julian went for the jugular with his PwC analyst resume. He was perfectly aware that the majority of analysts lack soft skills, and that was a great opportunity to stand out from his competition.

But instead of simply listing soft skills he presented them in a real-world context. Finally, he renamed the whole section “Strengths” to grab the recruiter’s attention.

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to experiment with the names for your custom resume sections.

Recruiters are tired of seeing thousands of “My skills” sections to the point they automatically skim them.

But try naming them “Core strengths” or “Tech achievements” and you’ll hold their attention.

If you are interested in learning more about making your resume laser-targeted, read our post on the topic .

Did you know that nothing sets your resume apart from the rest more than sharing your personal story in it…

Show your career and personal story

So far, we’ve managed to make every section of your resume stand out and engage recruiters, showcasing your experience and achievement in the most convincing way.

Let’s apply some final effort with custom sections that will push your resume into a league of its own.

Here are the four custom sections our customers most often add to their job-winning resumes:

• Life philosophy

Marcellus Nixon, now Senior Director of Network Operations, had an excellent work history in the network communications sector.

You can access Marcellus’s full resume template here .

But so did every candidate who was aiming for an executive role at Verizon.

At this level, candidates rarely can outperform each other on a skill basis.

At the end of the day, organizations hire humans, and if recruiters feel that there’s a person behind all the achievements on your paper, they will remember you.

That’s why Marcellus decided to add “A Day In My Life” and “Life Philosophy” sections.

With these two custom sections, his resume narrative switched from “experienced network executive” to “experienced network executive with a strong work ethic and a solid plan.”

Exactly what Verizon, a global network mogul, needs.

Still with us? Good.

It’s all fun and games until we mention proper formatting. Are there any tricks to it? What colors and fonts are appropriate? Let’s see how you can make your resume stand out visually.

Apply formatting tricks to create stand out resume

Watch out for white space.

According to an eye-tracking study from Ladders Inc, resumes that lack white space turn recruiters off.

The easier your resume reads, the more chances there will be that the recruiter reads every section of it.

If you have a lot to put on your resume, use smart layout and custom sections.

The two resume examples feature the same amount of information, yet the second one is much more engaging and comfortable to digest.

Pro tip: after you filled all the sections of your resume, look at it with your eyes squinted. If your resume feels like a big cluttered black spot, start decluttering it.

Declutter your resume with minimalism approach

Make a point of using as few words to describe your experience as possible. The worst thing you can do is trying to sound smart.

Bad example: developed an elaborate testing environment throughout a wide array of 22 company and partner software assets

Good example: Launched a test-to-production environment for 22 software products

Use well-tested fonts and combinations

Don’t be afraid to use several fonts on your resume, especially if you want to bold certain parts of your resume like headers or titles.

Just remember to limit yourself to only three fonts per resume , and try using font pairs that were already tested together by designers and user experience experts.

Make colors work for you

Here’s a really elaborate, but effective trick you can use to earn some extra points: try using the company’s brand colors on your resume.

Surely don’t put a company logo or use the exact color palette, go for a subtle effect .

It’s a bit of reverse psychology: in-house recruiters that know brand colors too well may subconsciously gravitate towards resumes with familiar colors.

Proofread your resume at least 3 times

Even the most elaborate and engaging resume can quickly become a recruiter’s kryptonite when a single typo creeps into your sentences.Make sure to proofread your resumes at least three times before you send them out. If you’re using our resume builder, it will automatically check every resume you create or upload for typos.

Study specific cases of resumes that stood out from competition

Writing a resume that stands out with no work experience.

• Put Education and Projects section on the top left and top right
• Hide GPA if it’s below 3
• Add a link to personal industry-related projects or Github if you’re in development
• Include a short objective to frame the recruiter’s expectations
• Use custom sections (e.g. Projects and Certification) to stand out from hundreds of applicants
• DON’T mention passion in your objective.

Successful example: [internship at Tesla]

Tips for making your resume stand out for senior employees

• Use custom section to stand out from your competition and add personality to your top-management experience (e.g. “A Day In My Life” and “Life Philosophy”  sections)
• Frame your experience with a well-researched custom headline on top
• Add links to a business-related profile (LinkedIn)
• Frame Skills sections in a unique way (e.g. name them “Workflows”, “Strengths”)

Successful example: senior manager resume at Verizon

How to create a standout resume with bad work history

• Go for a functional layout resume where skills and workflows are prioritized over the experience section
• Create a proxy item in your experience section, e.g. “Freelancer”, or “Agency” and list your temporary experiences within it
• Write an engaging Summary section to address the recruiter’s questions about your inconsistent work history and turn it to your advantage (e.g. several areas of competence)
• DON’T mention passion in your objective. Just don’t.

Standout resume for different positions

Over years we’ve shared and updated a library of 530+ professional resume example guides with best practices and tips for specific job titles.

Simply type in the job title you’re applying for, and you’ll get a resume guide similar to this one with actionable tips specific to your dream job.

BROWSE RESUME EXAMPLES

• Small details matter: make every section stand out for the compound effect
• Extensively research the company you’re applying for and use your findings in different sections
• Add custom sections to stand out and boost engagement with recruiters
• Visuals and readability matter more than you think. Watch your white space, fonts, and formatting

Did you like the guide? Anything else that we’re forgetting and you might want to add? What are your tips for creating a stand-out resume? Jump in the discussion below.

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• Modern Resume Formatting: A...

Modern Resume Formatting: A Visual Guide

10 min read · Updated on May 15, 2024

Here are tips on formatting a modern and visually appealing resume.

Are you putting together your resume? To begin, you'll want to gather the following information: 

Employer names

Educational history

Volunteerism

Professional engagement

Transferable skills

Unsure of how to proceed with formatting from there? No worries. We've got you covered. 

Read on to learn the ins and outs of how to format a resume with tips to support you as you take the first steps towards creating your resume with a modern and visually appealing look. 

How to format a resume: the 3 common resume formats

With the many online resume templates available today, there are several resume formats to choose from. However, just because you see them and they're available online doesn't mean you should use them. Aside from very rare circumstances, there are really only three resume formats you should be considering:

Reverse-chronological

Functional/Skills-based

Hybrid/Combination

Chronological resume format

A chronological resume, also referred to as a reverse-chronological resume, places your most recent work history first and works backward from there. Employers are most interested in your career's current achievements, so this format allows them to easily locate the information they're seeking.

The reverse-chronological format is the most widely used format, making it the preferred choice among recruiters and hiring managers. It's also the format that an employer's applicant tracking system , or ATS, can properly parse information from. Due to these factors, it's often recommended that you use a chronological format whenever possible during your job search. 

Functional resume format

Also referred to as a skills-based resume, a functional resume focuses more on the qualifications or skills a person has rather than their work history. This format is commonly used by career changers who might not have a lot of experience in their new field of choice or by individuals who have extended gaps in their employment history. 

Many employers view the functional resume with suspicion since it gives a sense that the candidate might be trying to cover up or hide something. However, it's still a viable option for some job seekers, but in very limited settings.

Hybrid resume format

A hybrid resume, also referred to as a combination resume, incorporates elements from both the chronological and functional resume formats. The goal is to equally highlight work history and skills. 

This resume format can be a good option for career changers who want to emphasize their transferable skills before diving into their work history. It can also work well for those who have an unusual career path that might be difficult to outline or explain in a chronological format. With equal emphasis on both skills and work history, it can be easier to focus on and highlight what is relevant to the job you're applying to. 

Pro tip: When considering how to format a resume, you should avoid using any type of creative resume format, as those tend to be confusing to both human readers and applicant tracking system software. Unless the prospective employer specifically asks for certain elements in your resume, go with one of the three format options listed above. A simple resume format is best! 

How to format a resume: style guide

Once you've chosen the format you plan to use for your resume, it's time to start creating it. Let's dive into how to format a resume in terms of style related to items like white space, font, resume length, and section headings. 

Create white-space

Too much text is overwhelming to the reader and may even stop a potential employer from reviewing your information. Each page of the resume should have sufficient white space around all four sides of the document. So, be sure not to push the margins to the edge. If and when a person prints the document, you want to make sure there are no technical challenges.

Margins should be set at one inch all around as the maximum, with a half-inch as the minimum. 

You also want to have enough white space throughout your resume between lines of text and resume sections. 

Choose line spacing that is between 1.15 and 1.5-point between text. After headings, use double-line spacing. 

Use common fonts and font sizing

While a script font may be a beautiful choice for handwriting, and Comic Sans may be appropriate for your child's birthday invitation, they aren't appropriate for a resume. 

In fact, the ATS can have difficulty reading these fonts. In addition, a human being may not find these fonts as easy to read. 

Stick with common fonts such as Cambria, Calibri, Arial, Lato, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. 

In terms of sizing, use 10.5 to 12-point font for text within each section of your resume. Use 14 to 16-point font for titles and headers. 

Use clear section headings

Most resumes have similar components: 

A title or headline

A professional summary

Areas of expertise

Professional work experience

You might also include optional sections, like volunteerism, special projects, and technical skills. 

When deciding how to format a resume, remember these headings must be definitive and have to stand out amidst the other text in the document. Avoid using alternative names for these sections, and don't be afraid to use a shaded box, bold text, and white space around each heading, as long as it falls within the text formatting options that an ATS can read. 

Stick with one to two pages

Your resume should be no more than one to two pages in length unless you fall under a few unique categories. 

A one-page resume is ideal for entry-level candidates with little to no relevant experience or career changers where a one-page resume is sufficient to cover transferable skills and experience. 

A two-page resume is ideal for experienced professionals or entry-level candidates and college students with relevant work histories through experiences like internships, assistantships, work-study, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities. 

In rare instances, you might be able to use a three-page resume if you're applying for a senior-level or executive position and you have a bunch of career extras like publications, patents, public speaking engagements, or research to highlight. 

Those applying for jobs in academia and the U.S. federal government tend to have longer resumes due to application requirements, so a three-page or much longer resume is expected in these fields. 

Use bullet points

Bullet points are an excellent way to break up content, making it easier for the reader to scan and comprehend the information quickly. Bullets also help your resume look neat and clean. 

Use bullet points for your job accomplishments and any lists you might include, like certifications, skills, or core competencies. 

Be consistent with the format of your resume

As you craft your resume, use consistent formatting throughout. In other words, whatever type of bullet you choose, stick with it and use it consistently. The same goes for font type and size for section headings and the same font type and size for the text between section headings. 

You should also format dates consistently. For example, whatever date format you used in your Work Experience section, be sure to use the same format in your Education section.

How to format a resume: text content

One of the most critical elements of your resume is the text content. The text you choose to include within each resume section is what tells the story of your work history and needs to speak to employers. Below, we dive into some tips to help you craft the text for your resume in a way that stands out.

Add a professional summary

When creating a resume, this three to five-line section should be placed immediately following the header and contact information. This short professional summary is how you introduce yourself as an ideal candidate while focusing on the benefit you'll bring the employer. A professional summary paragraph allows you to immediately showcase what talents and abilities you bring to the table.

Include a core competencies list

A core competencies list sits just below your resume summary and above your work experience. It should include 9-12 skills or competencies (15 max) that you possess, and they should align with the job. 

This type of list allows employers to quickly hone in on whether you have the minimum skills needed for the job and is a way to incorporate keywords to get past the employer's ATS.

Believe it or not, adults have short attention spans. In fact, if they see large, bulky, and never-ending paragraphs, they are less likely to read the information — and that information is important! 

When deciding how to format the information on your resume, put each phrase into bullet points, as mentioned above, and use very brief and concise statements. Only include what's necessary to tell the story. 

Highlight the important information

When considering how to format a resume, you want to ensure the information included stands out. Even if your information is in bullet format, it may still be difficult to quickly identify the pertinent skills and accomplishments that are important to the potential employer. 

If a bullet contains an impressive award or measurable accomplishment that illustrates your qualifications, then draw attention to this detail by bolding the text.

This type of strategic highlighting is illustrated below. While both phrases contain the same information, someone quickly scanning your resume will go to the bold information and note that you were exceptional at sales in this position.

Big block of text:

Boosted sales by 83% within six months through effective target marketing, in-person sales meetings, consistent follow-up strategies, and team collaborations.

Big block of text with bolding that helps achievement stand out:

Utilize quantitative information whenever possible.

Our minds automatically respond to numbers, percentages, and dollar signs. Rather than using words to describe these achievements, use numbers and symbols to highlight your results. 

Whatever you can do as an applicant to keep your reader's eyes on your document means you have a better chance of being noticed and landing an interview.

Include additional sections of value

It's common for individuals to include optional sections in their resumes. Some of the reasons for this include helping to fill in employment gaps, address skill gaps, and add value from significant achievements and associations. 

Outside of the standard Resume Summary, Core Competencies, Work Experience, and Education sections, you might also include any of the following sections based on your unique circumstances:

Volunteer Experience

Hobbies & Interests

Technical Skills

Special Projects

Affiliations

Certifications

Related reading: Words and Phrases to Remove From Your Resume Right Away

Formatting your resume the right way ensures career success

Now that you know how to format a resume for success. Remember, creating an eye-catching resume in today's marketplace is vital to your job search success. After you create your document, send it to a trusted colleague or business partner for advice or work with a professional resume writer . 

Ensuring that your resume is visually appealing and emphasizes the right elements will bring you one step closer to your future career success! 

Not sure if your resume is grabbing the right attention? Utilize our free resume review to see if your resume is visually appealing enough!

This article was originally written by Heather Rothbauer-Wanish and has been updated by Ronda Suder.

Recommended Reading:

11 Steps to Writing the Perfect Resume

Why a Simple Resume Layout is a Successful Resume

10 Powerful Changes for Your Senior-Level Resume

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Selecting the Right Resume Format for Your Job Hunt

QR Codes on Resumes: To Include or Not?

Receptionist Job Description: All Key Roles & Duties

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How to Make Your Resume Stand Out (with Examples)

In today’s competitive job market, first impressions are everything — and oftentimes, your resume is the first thing a potential employer sees. Find out how to stand out from the crowd here!

In today’s competitive job market, first impressions are everything, and your resume is usually the first thing a potential employer sees. If you want to secure an interview, it’s essential to make your resume stand out from the rest and ensure that it doesn’t get lost in the applicant tracking system (ATS). In this comprehensive guide, we’ve rounded up all the tips you need to make your resume stand out, complete with examples to help you refine your resume and set yourself apart as a desirable candidate.

How to Make a Stand-Out Resume in 2023

You only have about seven seconds to catch the attention of potential employers when they look at your resume. This means your resume needs to be spot-on if you hope to get an interview. Here are some quick tips for making a stand-out resume:

• Keep it concise and targeted to the job for which you’re applying
• Use action verbs to start each bullet point in your work experience section
• Highlight your accomplishments and use numbers to describe them
• Use bullet points instead of paragraphs for better readability
• Choose a clean and professional font, and use bold and italic formatting to draw attention to key information
• Include relevant keywords from the job description to help your resume pass through ATS software
• Add a personal touch that showcases your unique skills and experiences
• Use white space effectively to create a visually appealing and easy-to-read layout
• Proofread and edit your resume thoroughly to eliminate any typos or errors
• Use a resume template to save time and ensure a polished look

Read on for specific steps to create a resume that’s dressed to impress and gets your foot in the door for an interview.

Step 1 in Making Your Resume Stand-Out: Create a Perfect Resume Header

The resume header is the first section that appears at the top of your resume, and it provides the reader with key information about you as a job candidate. Here’s what to include:

• Any relevant academic and industry credentials, like CPA or RN
• Your professional title, such as "WordPress Developer"
• Your city and state (they don’t need your full address); if you are relocating to a new city, put the new city on your resume
• Your phone number, preferably a mobile number where you can receive texts
• Your email address, making sure that it’s professional and easy to read
• Links to your portfolio and LinkedIn profile

The resume header is important because it immediately tells the reader who you are, what you do, and how to contact you. By including your job or professional title, you let the reader know what kind of role you’re applying for, where you are located, and how to contact you for an interview.

In addition, formatting your resume correctly is vital to ensuring ATS systems can read it. You should not, for instance, put your resume header into an actual header of a document created in Microsoft Word. By using a VisualCV template, you’ll ensure your resume is not only formatted for ATS software, but also catches recruiters’ eyes with an easy-to-read, visually appealing design.

Example of Resume Header That Won’t Stand Out

John Smith Phone: 555-555-1234 Email: [email protected]

This header is basic and lacks any additional details or context.

Jane Doe Unemployed Email: [email protected]

This header includes irrelevant information about the job seeker’s employment status and uses an unprofessional email address.

Robert Brown Experienced Business Professional with a Proven Track Record of Success

This header is too long, too generic, and too difficult to read. It also lacks contact information.

Ashley Kim Developer San Francisco Bay Area

This header fails to state what type of developer and lacks contact information.

Example of a Resume Header that Stands Out

Jane Smith UX Designer | Creative Strategist New York City 555-555-1234 [email protected]

This header includes the job seeker’s professional title and a brief summary of their skills and experience, along with location and contact information.

John Doe Web Developer | JavaScript | React | Node Portland, OR [email protected]

This header includes the job seeker’s professional title and relevant technical skills.

Roberta Brown Copywriter | Branding | Social Media | SEO Chicago, IL 555-555-5678 [email protected] Portfolio | LinkedIn

This header includes the job seeker’s professional title and specific skills related to marketing, plus links to her portfolio and LinkedIn.

David Kim Senior Software Engineer | Java | Spring | AWS San Francisco Bay Area [email protected]

This header includes the job seeker’s seniority level and specific technical skills.

Mark Lee Accounting Manager | CPA | GAAP | Financial Analysis Los Angeles, CA 555-555-7890 [email protected]

This header includes the job seeker's professional title, relevant certifications, and technical skills.

Step 2 in Making Your Resume Stand Out: Write a Perfect Resume Summary

A resume summary, aka career profile or career snapshot, highlights your experience and skills. It’s arguably the most important part of your resume, given its prominent placement at the top and the limited time you have to grab a recruiter’s attention.

The resume summary serves as a personal branding statement that highlights not only your qualifications and skills but also the unique value you bring to the table. Keep it short and intriguing, and follow it with bullet points of notable accomplishments that are relevant to the job you want. If it’s intriguing enough, potential employers will want to read on and learn more — and, hopefully, schedule an interview with you.

Example of a Resume Summary That Won’t Stand Out

• Hardworking individual seeking a challenging position in the field of marketing.
• A creative professional with expertise in marketing strategy development.
• Detail-oriented marketing professional with strong project management skills.
• Self-motivated marketing expert with a passion for delivering high-quality results.
• Experienced marketer with a proven track record of successful campaign management.

Example of a Resume Summary that Stands Out

The resume summary is the elevator pitch for your career. It’s a brief introduction of your skills, experiences, and what you can bring to the table. A perfect resume summary should be concise, clear, and showcase your unique value proposition, like these:

• Innovative and results-driven marketing manager with 8+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams, implementing effective branding strategies, and increasing revenue by 25%. Proficient in digital marketing, social media, and market research. Recognized for exceptional project management skills and a track record of delivering successful campaigns.
• Award-winning marketing manager with a proven track record of driving growth through successful campaigns. Results-oriented marketing professional with extensive experience in brand development, market research, digital marketing, social media, and content creation.
• Creative and strategic marketing leader with a passion for delivering high-quality results. Accomplished marketing executive with a track record of delivering innovative and impactful marketing strategies.

Step 3 in Making Your Resume Stand Out: Quantifiable Achievements in Work Experience

Adding quantifiable achievements to your work experience section helps to showcase your impact on the organization. Think of it not as a list of tasks you completed or responsibilities you held, but rather as a summary of the results you delivered.

Example of Resume Work Experience That Won’t Stand Out

Marketing Manager XYZ Company May 2018 - Present

• Managed marketing campaigns
• Created social media content
• Conducted market research

Example of Resume Work Experience that Stands Out

Notice the difference it makes when you quantify your experience with real results and communicate you are a results-driven professional:

• Increased organic website traffic by 45% by implementing SEO strategies and optimizing content
• Generated $2.5M in revenue by launching new product lines and executing targeted email marketing campaigns
• Led market research projects that resulted in identifying new customer segments and increasing market share by 20%

Step 4 in Making Your Resume Stand Out: Add Awards and Recognitions

Adding awards and recognitions is an effective way to demonstrate your excellence in your field and distinguish you from other candidates.

Example of Awards and Recognitions That Won’t Stand Out

• Employee of the month
• Completed an online course on marketing
• Perfect attendance award
• Completion of routine company training
• Participation in a team-building exercise
• Member of a company committee or club
• Attendance at a professional development seminar
• Completion of a mandatory training module
• Membership in a professional organization without active participation
• Participation in a company-sponsored event or charity fundraiser

Example of Awards and Recognitions that Stand Out

• Recipient of the “Best Marketing Campaign” Award at the 2021 American Advertising Awards
• Winner of the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 Award in Technology
• Received the President’s Award for Outstanding Leadership and Innovation
• Winner of the “Innovator of the Year” award at the Annual Industry Conference
• Named “Salesperson of the Year” for exceeding sales targets by 40%
• Recognized with the “Customer Service Excellence” award for consistently high customer satisfaction ratings
• Received the “Rising Star” award for outstanding performance and potential
• Winner of the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award for successful business ventures
• Recipient of the “Excellence in Research” award for outstanding contributions to the field
• Winner of the “Best New Product” award at the International Product Expo

Step 5 in Making Your Resume Stand Out: Select the Right Template

The right resume template can make your resume visually appealing. A professional and clean template can make a positive impression on the recruiter. On the flip side, a cluttered and unprofessional template with different fonts and colors will not pass through ATS systems properly, nor will it get the attention of anyone manually reviewing it.

Example of Resume Template that Won’t Stand Out

• Overly simplistic or plain designs with minimal formatting
• Outdated or old-fashioned templates
• Templates with overly decorative elements that distract from the content
• Generic templates that lack personality or creativity
• Templates with poor color choices or mismatched fonts and sizes
• Templates with poor spacing or alignment that make the content difficult to read

Example of Resume Template that Stands Out

A clean and professional template with a modern design and the correct fonts, font sizes, and styles will help to set your resume apart. VisualCV offers a wide range of templates that can help you highlight your achievements and experiences with a unique aesthetic, including:

• Clean and modern templates with sleek designs
• Customizable templates that allow for personal branding
• Templates with unique formatting or layouts that showcase creativity
• Templates with bold or eye-catching color choices that are still professional
• Templates with clear and consistent typography and spacing for easy readability
• Templates with graphics or icons that complement the content and enhance the visual appeal

For a wide range of visually appealing resume templates, check out VisualCV’s template library . Some of our favorites include:

• Arya : A modern template that’s colorful yet elegant
• Baker : A clearly organized, two-column template that gives your resume personality
• Gallant : An eye-catching template with bold coloring and sleek lines

Step 6 in Making Your Resume Stand Out: Tailor Your Resume

Tailoring your resume to the job you’re applying for is a critical step in making it stand out from the pile and letting employers know you’re a great fit for the role.

Example of Generic Resume that Won’t Stand Out

Objective : Seeking a job in marketing

Experience : Marketing Intern, ABC Company Sales Associate, XYZ Corporation

Skills : Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite Excellent written and verbal communication skills Detail-oriented

Example of Tailored Resume that Stands Out

This tailored resume for a marketing manager role speaks directly to the role with quantifiable results from past efforts:

Experienced marketing professional with a track record of driving successful campaigns and increasing revenue seeking a challenging marketing manager role in the fashion industry.

Experience : Marketing Manager, Fashion Company A Digital Marketing Specialist, Fashion Company B

• Achieved a 30% increase in sales by developing and executing successful marketing campaigns
• Increased ROI by extracting key data from Google Analytics that led to actionable insights
• Led successful project management and team leadership initiatives, resulting in timely project completion and increased team productivity

Step 7 in Making Your Resume Stand Out: Format Your Resume

Formatting your resume is crucial in catching the hiring manager’s attention. A poorly formatted resume can make it difficult for the reader to navigate and quickly assess your qualifications. On the other hand, a well-formatted resume can make a great first impression and increase your chances of landing an interview.

Example of Poorly Formatted resume that Won’t Stand Out

• Cluttered with too much text and information
• Lacks clear headings and sections
• Uses inconsistent fonts, sizes, and styles
• No white space, making it difficult to read

Example of Well-Formatted Resume that Stands Out

• Utilizes a clean and modern design
• Includes clear headings and sections
• Uses consistent fonts, sizes, and styles throughout
• Incorporates white space for easy readability
• Showcases important information such as skills and accomplishments with bullet points and bolding

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out with No Work Experience?

If you lack work experience, highlight any relevant coursework or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your skills and interests. Include any volunteer work, internships, or part-time jobs that you have held, and explain how they have prepared you for the role you are applying for. You can also showcase any relevant skills, such as proficiency in a particular software or language.

How to Make Your Senior Resume Stand Out

Making a senior resume stand out involves highlighting leadership skills, extensive experience, and achievements. Showcase unique qualities that set you apart from other candidates, such as successful team management, innovative problem-solving, and a track record of driving revenue growth. Using a clear and concise format and focusing on measurable results can also make your senior resume stand out.

How to Make a Standout Resume with No Achievements

If you don’t have any achievements to showcase, focus on highlighting your skills and experiences. Consider highlighting any relevant volunteer work, coursework, or internships. Use action-oriented language to describe your duties and responsibilities in a way that shows your potential value to a potential employer.

Creating a standout resume requires careful attention to detail and a focus on highlighting your unique skills and experiences. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a resume that showcases your skills and accomplishments in a compelling way. Remember to tailor your resume to the job description, use strong action verbs and metrics to demonstrate results, and choose a professional and well-formatted template.

With VisualCV’s range of templates, you can create a job-ready resume that will impress employers and help you get an interview. Start creating your standout resume today with our easy-to-use resume templates, and take the first step toward landing your dream job.

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How to Make a Resume Stand Out Visually

When you’re in the throes of a potentially stressful job search, formatting your resume is probably the last thing you care to think about—but it’s essential! If your resume isn’t designed to be clear, professional, and easy to scan, you’ll quickly find your hard work left behind.

The good news is that designing an attractive resume doesn’t have to be a heavy lift. By sticking to the 10 key design principles below, you’ll know exactly how to make a resume stand out visually.

1. Maintain White Space

First things first: What matters most in a resume isn’t necessarily what’s there, but what  isn’t . And, what we mean by that is white space (also known as negative space )!

Too little white space will make your resume feel cluttered and disorganized, no matter how relevant the content itself might be. 

Leave generous white space—more than you probably think necessary—so that the recruiter’s eye won’t have to strain looking at your document.

2. Choose Legible Fonts

A resume isn’t the place for over-the-top or experimental fonts, no matter your industry. Even for highly creative fields like arts and design, it’s best to stick with fonts that are simple and universally easy to read. 

Pro tip : If you’re designing your resume in  Shutterstock Create , pull fonts from the Sans Serif or Serif categories.

Get more specific font recommendations for resumes here:

• The Best Fonts for Resumes in 2022

3. Consider a Headshot

To headshot or not to headshot? It’s a question posed by resume makers around the globe! And, one best answered by considering your local customs. 

In some countries,  professional headshots  are expected on resumes/CVs (if not required); in others, like the United States, they are generally discouraged in order to prevent hiring bias or job discrimination. 

Research what’s standard for your area before deciding one way or the other.

4. Keep It Scannable

The ultimate answer of how to make a resume stand out comes down to scannability.

After all, the person reviewing your resume has dozens—if not hundreds—of other resumes to sort through, so it’s not flashy colors or the latest graphic design trends that’ll make them stop and take notice!

Instead, it’s relevant information laid out in a way that’s reader-friendly and easy to scan.

Here are some  resume design tips  for keeping things scannable:

• Use different font sizes, weights, and colors based on level of text importance
• Consider adding a divider between sections to break things up visually
• Keep a strong sense of alignment based on columns or a grid
• Use bulleted lists and make each bullet point as concise as possible
• Remove all unnecessary text, keeping only the most relevant information

5. Use Subtle Decorations

Resumes don’t need a whole lot of bells and whistles to stand out visually. In fact, by keeping a minimalist design, you’ll show a level of professionalism and timelessness that’s often much more effective.

Subtle decorations might mean:

• A simple header or footer
• Light graphic elements in the background
• A border or frame around the resume
• A repeated shape, brush stroke, or other design motif

6. Call Attention to Key Items

Wondering how to make yourself stand out in a resume ? The key is to match your specific traits, skills, and experiences to the position at hand—and to do it as clear and obvious as possible! 

Visually speaking, it’s helpful to add graphic elements to call attention to your most attractive attributes. These elements can come in many forms:

• Different colors
• Subtle shading
• Arrows or callouts
• A box with a border, shadow, or color
• An underline or dividing line
• An icon, illustration, or graphic

Pro tip : One specific area of your resume that often deserves extra attention is your objective or summary. Use this space to provide a high-level look at your most impressive accomplishments.

7. Incorporate Numbers

Making yourself an attractive applicant comes down to more than just the graphic design! Be sure to spend some time perfecting your content, too—specifically in the area of data. 

The more you can quantify your previous experience (in terms of years, dollars, project numbers, deliverables, etc.), the more valuable you’ll appear to a potential employer.

Don’t have much experience? No worries! Here’s  how to create a great entry-level resume :

• How to Make a Resume with No Experience

8. Be Creative (But Not Too Creative)

The trick of how to make yourself stand out in a resume is a careful balancing act. You, of course, want to be memorable and unique . . . but never  so  unique that your resume is hard to read, confusing, or too easily labeled “unprofessional.”

This tip has some wiggle room, but the main point is to ask yourself whether the resume feels professional  first  and creative  second . That’s the ideal balance to strike.

9. Check the Visual Hierarchy

“Visual hierarchy” is one of those design words that can sound a bit intimidating, but the concept is actually pretty simple! Essentially, establishing a strong visual hierarchy means using design elements  intentionally  to give the eye a clear path to follow.

Visual hierarchy is the sum total of all your design choices—from typography and white space to color and alignment.

So, before you finish your design, do a quick visual hierarchy check by:

• Squinting your eyes and identifying where the focal points are. Is there a clear visual path to follow?
• Asking a friend or colleague to quickly scan your resume. Does it feel well organized and easily digestible?

10. Try a Resume Template

Do all of the above tips sound like a lot to take in? Then give yourself a boost by starting with a professionally created resume template!

After all, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to your job search. Even when you know how to make a resume stand out visually, sometimes it’s easier to leave it to the pros.

Shutterstock Create has  loads of resume templates  at the ready—each thoughtfully designed to check off the “best practice boxes” above. Just pick your favorite template and update it with your own professional details.

Follow this  guide to create your resume online , and good luck job hunting!

License this cover image mockup via Roman Samborskyi , forestgraphic , and Blake Alan .

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How to Make Your Resume Stand Out to Recruiters

Customers Interviewed by:

Hiring managers take as little as 6 seconds to read your resume —less time than it takes to tie your shoelaces. In the competitive job market, it’s critical to make your resume stand out from other applicants and impress the recruiter.

How do you make your resume stand out? Format, style, and content all play a role in helping you impress the hiring manager and secure an interview. 

Keep reading to learn tips to make your resume stand out from the competition.

What is a resume?

Your resume is a make-or-break document. It not only lists all your accreditations, skills, and experience but highlights your professional accomplishments, too. It can help you illustrate how you can be an asset to the organization.

You know your resume is important to your job search, so it’s normal to stress about its design , structure, and every action verb . The last thing you want is a forgettable resume that falls through the cracks of the hiring managers’ awareness.

With every new job description, you should change your resume to optimize for skills and keywords listed by the hiring manager. You should take the time to highlight the most prominent keywords in each job description, then adjust your resume to match. 

To speed up the process, use Jobscan’s resume scanner for a detailed match report. It shows you which keywords are missing, the level of keyword importance, and an overall score to optimize your resume for ATS.

What does a resume include?

Resumes fall into 3 formats :

• Chronological : Chronological resumes list your work experience in reverse chronological order, with your most recent work history at the top.
• Hybrid : Hybrid resumes feature your skills and accomplishments at the top, followed by your reverse chronological work history.
• Functional : Functional resumes focuses on skills and accomplishments and glosses over work experience. Hiring managers hate functional resumes , so we recommend choosing a chronological or hybrid format.

Whichever resume format you choose, it will include key resume sections to answer all the hiring manager’s questions, from your resume headline to skills and work experience.

Resume headline and summary

Your resume headline and summary are a quick introduction telling the hiring manager who you are and why you’re an ideal candidate. Your headline should include your professional title or the title of the job you’re applying for.

Your resume summary should include 2 or 3 brief sentences stating your key experiences, measurable achievements , and top skills or expertise.

Including the job title you’re applying for in your resume can increase your chance of getting in front of the hiring manager. Using the ATS, they search for the exact title to find resumes that match.

If you’ve never held the role you’re applying to, showcase your relevant skills in your resume that support the job title. Making the connections between other roles, transferable skills, certifications, and education can help the hiring manager picture how your achievements will apply to the role.

• Work experience

Your work experience section is the core of your resume. To make your resume stand out, be specific and intentional about how you tell the story of your career so far.

Here’s an example of a clear work experience that shows the previous role, the company, and employment dates to create a roadmap of a marketer’s career.

Your education can qualify you for a position over other candidates. Whether you have an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, it shows the hiring manager that you have specialized knowledge. Listing the right education for the job description can make your resume stand out.

This is an education section that lists the master’s degree first. The specific areas of study—middle level math and science—make the candidate stand out.

• Certifications

Certifications from online courses or supplemental training also have a place on your resume. Certifications complement the experience, education, and skills sections. They can show the hiring manager increased specialization and skill development.

This example of a certification section illustrates specialized skills that can make the applicant more attractive to a hiring manager for a project management or related role.

Hiring managers want to know if you have the in-demand skills to do the job. Skills and proficiencies shine a spotlight on what you will bring to the new role that directly ties into the responsibilities laid out in the job description.

Hard skills are technical skills specific to the job or industry. Examples of hard skills include:

• Project management
• Graphic design
• Computer software knowledge
• Search engine optimization (SEO)

Soft skills are no less critical. They’re people skills, character traits, or behaviors that indicate how well you work with others and handle stressful situations.

They’re sometimes called transferable skills , meaning they can transfer from any job and any industry. Some common soft skills that are in demand include:

• Collaboration
• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Growth mindset
• Adaptability

Read through and identify the hard and soft skills for each job description to ensure you’re adding them to your resume.

A time-saving tool is Jobscan’s resume scanner . Upload your resume and the job description, and the scanner will create a match report to tell you whether you have the right skills to get an interview.

For example, this report illustrates that Google Suite and MS Office skills are missing from the resume. But if you want a chance to secure the interview, you need to add those skills that the hiring manager is searching for.

Tips to make your resume stand out

You need to make your resume stand out from the rest by following a few simple guidelines.

Include only relevant information

Clutter of unrelated skills, education, or experience can take up valuable space on your resume. Instead, focus on information relevant to the job description.

A good way to tell if something is relevant is to study the job description to understand the scope of the role.

Use the same language in your resume as in the job description and you’ll be a strong candidate for the job.

Highlight accomplishments, not just responsibilities

Your day-to-day responsibilities don’t tell the hiring manager much about who you are as an industry professional. Instead, emphasize accomplishments . Measurable performance can help the hiring manager imagine how your achievements can help their organization.

Vague language won’t help you land the job. Use numbers, percentages, or data to back up what you’re saying on your resume, like in the example below.

Your responsibilities show what you did, but measurable achievements show how well you did it. This shows the impact you had in your last role.

Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for

A one-size-fits-all resume doesn’t exist. You need to tailor your resume to the job description, the industry, and the company.

Why does tailoring your resume matter? Most companies are using ATS to help streamline the hiring process. ATS, or applicant tracking systems , is a software that adds your resume to a database. The hiring manager will search the database for suitable candidates by entering keywords from the job description.

Hiring managers input specific keywords, and the ATS will parse your resume to detect them. If you’re missing relevant keywords or skills that the hiring manager searches the ATS to find, they won’t see your resume at all.

To optimize your resume faster and more effectively, use Jobscan’s resume scanner to generate a detailed match report. It pulls critical information from the job description, like keywords and skills the hiring manager is looking for.

Then, it compares the job description to your resume to illustrate what details you’re missing. With this information, you can design tailored resumes that stand out for each job application.

With Power Edit , a Jobscan Premium feature, your match report will offer phrasing suggestions to best integrate important keywords into your resume.

How to make your resume stand out visually

Your resume should be visually appealing , but don’t overdo it. Fancy graphics can confuse the ATS and cause your resume to get lost in the database.

Before you design a stylistic resume, know that a clean resume makes a significant impact on the ATS and hiring manager.

Use standard resume headings

Section headings break up the information to make it easy to skim. But if you don’t use them correctly, the ATS won’t read them. Poor heading choices include:

• Autobiography
• My Career Journey
• What I Know

Stick to standard resume headings like:

• Summary or objective

This example uses bolding to help make the document more scannable for the hiring manager. The headings aren’t a place to show off your creativity. Basic headings are mandatory for the ATS.

Use standard resume margins

Avoid trying to pack in more content by widening the margins. It won’t be an ATS-friendly resume, and the hiring manager will never see it.

Instead, stick to the standard guidelines for resume margins. One-inch margins make the ATS happy and are readable for the hiring manager.

• In Microsoft Word, one-inch margins are the default, and you can ensure you’re choosing the right measurement by selecting Layout/Margins/Normal.
• In Google Docs, you can confirm your margin measurements by selecting File/Page Setup.

Best fonts to help your resume stand out

What are the best fonts for your resume? The ATS and hiring managers prefer clean, crisp, and legible fonts.

The most common and preferred fonts for your resume include:

Using color to help your resume stand out

Is it okay to use color on a resume? Yes, using color sparingly can add visual appeal to your resume.

Color can help your resume:

• Draw attention to the headings
• Show off your creativity
• Fit with the company’s culture

If you’re applying for a creative role or your research suggests the company would appreciate engaging visuals, adding a hint of color can benefit you.

Some industries are more conservative, so dark shades like navy blue, forest green, or maroon are more appropriate for jobs in:

• Engineering

Here’s an example of using color to make your resume stand out without overwhelming the hiring manager.

Read more : Should You Use Color on Your Resume?

Use templates to make your resume stand out

Resume templates can still be personalized and attention-grabbing. You can make your resume stand out by customizing a template to include all the relevant information in a structured, ATS-friendly resume format. Templates save you time and helps ensure your resume is clean and readable.

Use Jobscan’s free ATS-friendly resume templates and start building your resume that gets noticed by recruiters!

Common resume formatting mistakes

The format of your resume is critical for the ATS. Your resume needs consistency and simplicity for the ATS to decipher the content. Some common mistakes people make on their resumes for ATS include:

• Not using the right date formatting: acceptable formats are MM/YYYY, like (04/2023) or fully spelled month and year, like April 2023.
• Using acronyms or abbreviations: don’t use them alone—the hiring manager will often search the entire term, as in “client relationship management” over “CRM.”
• Adding graphics: the ATS can’t extract information from design elements and, once uploaded to the ATS, they can scramble your resume formatting.

How to make a resume stand out to hiring managers

When your resume reaches a person, you have to pique their interest in under 6 seconds. So, how can you make your resume stand out to the hiring manager? 

Know what the hiring manager is looking for

Every hiring manager has different goals. Even if you’re applying to several identical roles, each organization will emphasize a need for unique qualifications.

Reading the job description isn’t enough to understand the hiring manager’s needs. Go to the company website and read the mission statement, the company’s core values, and the team members’ biographies to help your resume fit the culture.

Most job descriptions are comprehensive—providing information about:

• The company mission
• The must-have qualifications
• The nice-to-have proficiencies

Going the extra mile can take more time, but catching the most minor details is worth it.

Keep it concise

An overcrowded resume is challenging to read. White space makes your resume easy to skim and lets the hiring manager find information quickly.

Read the job description carefully, and if there are details in your resume that don’t support what the hiring manager is looking for, remove them.

A time-saving way to compare is Jobscan’s resume scanner . After scanning your resume and the job description, it will generate a match report to illustrate where you’ve integrated keywords and where they’re missing.

This example keeps every point short, but impactful. You want every point to have a purpose, so be ruthless with your editing.

Review and proofread

You’ve hit all the keywords, your resume is formatted, and everything is relevant and clean—don’t let a spelling or grammatical error make your resume stand out in a negative way.

Whether you run it through a grammar checker, read it out loud to yourself, or let your friend check it for an objective read-through, review it until you’re confident there are no mistakes.

Ask yourself a few questions in your review:

• Are you using strong action verbs?
• Are your accomplishments measurable?
• Is everything relevant?
• Is it designed with the ATS in mind?
• Will it be appealing to the hiring manager?
• Is it concise and clean?

When you answer “yes” to these questions, you’re ready to submit your resume.

How do I make an impressive resume with no experience?

It’s common to ask how to make your resume stand out with no experience. You can make your resume impress the hiring manager, even without experience, by highlighting a few key points:

• Relevant education
• Relevant experience
• List your relevant skills
• Include a strong resume summary

Use a resume template to help guide your formatting and create an stand-out resume.

What is a good objective for a resume with no experience?

If you’re a new grad or starting in the workforce looking for an entry-level job , you can still create a solid resume objective that stands out to hiring managers:

• Read the job description to identify important keywords to use in your objective.
• Use impactful action verbs and measurable accomplishments related to your relevant part-time job, volunteer experience, or course projects.
• Promote yourself, show off your character, and highlight your skillset, even if you have no practical industry experience.

How do I make a resume?

Building a resume from scratch is time-consuming, and you can’t be sure your resume is ATS-friendly.

You can use an ATS resume template that suits your industry and personal preferences and easily add your personal information, work experience, education, certifications, and skills.

You can also use Jobscan’s free resume builder . There are no hidden costs and it allows you to build an ATS-compatible AI resume in no time!

Find our resume examples to help you make your stand-out resume with ease.

More expert insights on this topic:

How to Write a Summary for a Resume with No Experience

86+ Resume Summary Examples To Inspire You

54 Examples of Effective Resume Objectives

Kelsey is a Content Writer with a background in content creation, bouncing between industries to educate readers everywhere.

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How To Make Your Resume Stand Out (With Examples)

• Resume Tips
• Best Resume Writing Services
• Things To Avoid On A Resume
• Resume Paper To Use
• What To Include In A Resume
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Resumes are more than just words; they are also about style. The keywords you utilize to highlight your accomplishments and qualifications are what will help get your resume securely through the resume reader . How you present those keywords stylistically and structurally is what will grab the reader’s attention.

Keep reading for ten tips on how to make your resume rise above the competition.

Key Takeaways:

Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying to.

When writing you resume, use industry-specific keywords and buzzwords.

Make sure you resume is well organized and easy to read.

Have someone proofread your resume to catch any mistakes that you may have missed.

10 Tips To Make Your Resume Stand Out

Why it’s important for your resume to stand out, final thoughts, expert opinions.

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Let’s start with a gentle reminder that you don’t have to add all of these tips to get your resume picked out from the rest. Pick the tips that resonate most with you and add a touch of your style.

Ensuring your resume reflects the true you versus a computer is often accomplished by not forgetting your personal touch. With that in mind, here are ten tips on how to make your resume stand out from the rest, both stylistically and structurally:

Use resume buzzwords. The first hurdle you have to overcome when writing a resume is making sure your resume makes it through the resume readers and answers the main question: do you have the qualifications necessary for the job ?

Organize your resume well. Once you’ve completed your resume buzzword brainstorm, you’ll need to use them in the correct format. You’ll want to make your resume well organized and specific to your situation.

Are you a recent graduate or an experienced worker back in the job search ? What about a Veteran? Are you applying for a federal job ? These types of situations require specific resume organizations.

Show evidence. Now that you’ve picked out which buzzwords to use and how you’ll organize your resume, you’ll need to fill in each section. When you do, make sure you show evidence for the skills and accomplishments you claim on your resume.

To best show evidence for your accomplishments and deliverables, put numbers to them. If you managed a team, how many people were on your team? If you improved site traffic, by what percent did you improve it over time?

Keep it short. Most resumes should only be about a page long. If you need to make it two pages, you can but try to make it short. Only include information that can help you stand out from the other candidates.

Make your resume a compelling story. While a daunting sheet of paper, a resume is just a formal story of your work experience . Read over it with that lens and make sure the story makes sense.

Are there any major gaps in it? Does each chapter of your work history make sense and flow into the next?

Add a cover letter. If a resume summary doesn’t explain the transitions or your qualifications enough for the job, definitely don’t forget to write a cover letter .

However, no matter what your current job situation is, adding a cover letter will help you appear more dedicated to the job application. It also gives your resume a more personal voice.

Tailor it to make it job specific. Another way you can make your resume stand out is to make your resume specific to the job application . One of the last things hiring managers want to see is a resume that is so generic, you likely used the same one for every single job application.

Make your resume easy on the eyes. An easy way for your resume to find its way to the bottom of the pile, even if it did make it through the resume scanner , is by having your resume so cramped and difficult to read. You should avoid:

Small fonts

Multiple colors

Too many differing fonts

Removing all your margins .

Remember that your resume readers may not have 20/20 vision and may just chuck your resume away because they don’t want to squint to read it. Consider a few graphics and different ways of organizing and consolidating your information to make it fit better.

Be careful about the graphics you use. With graphics in mind, take special care with how many graphics you use . Unless you are applying for a design position, using too many graphics can sometimes hurt your resume because resume scanners cannot read those resumes as easily.

Proofread. Finally, when you have finished writing your resume, and you think it’s perfect, take a look at it again. You can also have someone else look at it. View it as a practice run for the hiring manager . You should also run the resume through programs like Grammarly to clear it of basic mistakes.

Writing resumes is a tricky business — you want your resume to have the right keywords and phrases so that it can make it through electronic resume readers , but you also want it different enough to catch the hiring manager’s eye.

Your resume is a document that showcases your qualifications for a job. You will want to include your education, experience, skills and other achievements that you have made.

Having a resume that stands out will make a hiring manager stop and take a second look and will see what sets you apart from other candidates. Having a resume that is not visually appealing, has mistakes, or is too long can be the difference from you being considered for a job or not.

Making your resume stand out can be difficult if you’re new to the job application game or if your industry is saturated with candidates. Our guide can help you stand out from the rest.

At the end of this article, just remember that you know yourself best. Use that knowledge and the tips above to deliver a stellar resume.

How do you get your resume noticed?

Murray Schulman Independent Business Owner

Recruiters receive stacks of online resumes. My advice is to keep your resume short and concise. Be bold and powerful from the start. Catch the recruiter’s attention in the first few lines of your resume. Don’t get passed over.

How do you make a resume stand out?

Kolby Goodman Career Coach The Job Huntr

When writing your resume, always remember your audience: your next manager. Too often I see resumes written to remind the candidate of what they can do in a job. Tell your next company not just what you can do, but how you can impact them.

You are presenting yourself as an asset to your new company. Businesses tend to measure the impact of a potential asset in one of 4 ways: making money, saving money, saving time, and reducing risk. If you can align experience and expertise to showcase how they move the needle in one of these areas, you will be leapfrogging your competition.

If you have a hard time taking credit for your work, get proactive in soliciting feedback. Go to the people you’ve worked with ( boss , co-workers, clients/customers) and ask them this simple question “How have I been able to help you?” The responses to this question will help you get some perspective about how your contributions and impact are being felt by others.

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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How to make your resume stand out: unveiling the secrets

Grab the reader’s attention quickly 

Showcase your value like a pro , learn the insider tricks you never knew , increase your chances of success, keep your resume short and sweet, tailor your resume to the job posting, choose the right language and tone, find a unique “hook” for your summary, optimize your resume for the ats , quantify your accomplishments , always be specific about your duties , curate a killer list of hard and soft skills , edit your resume after you write it, use that white space , stick to one or two fonts , space it out, choose a classic template.

A professional, engaging resume is your secret weapon when job hunting. Whether it’s time to get a step up on the career ladder or you’re going for your first position, this is the document that will get your foot in the door. Get it right, and your phone will be ringing off the hook with interview offers. Get it wrong, and the silence will be almost excruciating. So, that begs the question, do you know how to make a resume stand out?

If this crucial conundrum has got you stumped, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Resume.io, we have everything that you need to empower your job search. We’ve got a massive library of writing guides along with cover letter examples and resume examples . In the following guide, we will be delving into these key topics to help you out: 

• Why your resume needs to stand out from the competition
• Writing: expert-backed resume writing tips to help you get started
• Design: how to make your resume stand out with epic design hacks
• The mistakes you should avoid when making your resume

Why your resume needs to stand out from the crowd

Before we unveil the secrets of making resumes that stand out, let’s talk about why it’s important. When you’re applying for new jobs, the finer details matter. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the reasons that you need to create a captivating resume: 

Want to grab the reader’s attention? You better be snappy. Eye-tracking research reveals that hiring managers spend an average of seven seconds reviewing each resume. That’s not a whole load of time to make the right impression. Recruiters see a bunch of generic resumes every day. So, when you’re applying for your next job, you need to stand out. 

When you send out your application, it’s all about what value you bring to the table. Like many professionals, you could be under-selling yourself. If you’re afraid of tooting your own horn, you could be losing out on some truly remarkable job opportunities. Learning how to make your resume stand out is a simple way to highlight your value to recruiters. 

Ever wondered why some people land endless job interviews and others are left in the dust? Your resume is the way you introduce yourself to the hiring manager or potential employer. If you have overlooked this part of your toolkit in the past, it’s time to change your ways. Learning expert-backed tips and advice will give you a competitive edge. 

Of course, the number one reason you need your resume to stand out is to increase your chance of getting a new job. It can take sending out up to 100 resumes to get an interview. When you’re searching for your next opportunity, that can sound overwhelming. However, resumes that stand out are more likely to get the hiring manager’s attention for the right reasons. If you’ve struggled to get to this stage in the past, it may be time for a revamp. 

Writing it: expert writing tips for resumes that stand out 

As we’ve covered, it’s important to know how to make your resume stand out from the crowd. If you’re looking for some pointers to help you along the way, we’ve got everything you need. First up, let’s focus on how you write a professional resume. The content of this document needs to perfectly captivate who you are and what you bring to the table. To kick things off before you put pen to paper, take a look at these core writing tips: 

If you’ve worked in your industry for years — or even decades — you might have a long story to tell. However, the hiring manager doesn’t have hours to read your resume. For the best results, we recommend that this document be either one or two pages long. One page is preferable, but, in some circumstances, two pages are acceptable. Consider what you need to include on your resume and what information is superfluous. 

Whenever you are thinking about including a certain thing, ask yourself: “What does this information add to my resume?” If you can’t answer that easily, you may be cramming your resume with details that don’t add value. It pays to be selective about what you share.

Far too many candidates are guilty of using a “one size fits all” approach to applying for jobs. If you send the same tired resume out to every employer, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Hiring managers can spot this type of resume in seconds. If you want to boost your chances of success, you should tailor your resume to the requirements of the job.

To get started, go back to the original job advert and make a note of the specifications. You should also do some research on the business and the particular role in question. All of this information will help you to align your professional resume with the hiring manager’s needs. Look for obvious overlaps between your experience and the demands of the job. Highlighting this common ground is a surefire way to make your resume stand out.

Language has power. The tone you use can impact how the reader perceives you. For example, if you use a negative tone, the hiring manager may presume that you will complain and moan when you’re at work. On the other hand, if you use a positive tone, they may expect you to have a sunny attitude towards the work you do. When you’re writing your resume, make sure you adopt a formal and positive tone. 

Equally, the style of language you use can make a big difference here. Keep in mind that a resume is a professional document, and your language needs to match that vibe. You’re not writing a message to a friend or emailing someone you know well. Instead, you need to choose words that convey professionalism. While you may not be used to this style of writing, it’s smart to perfect it. That way, you can make the right impression on the reader.

Your professional summary is the most creative part of your resume. This is a short paragraph that is located at the top of the page. In just a few sentences, you need to encapsulate who you are as a professional and why the hiring manager should care. It’s a tall order. One of the best tips you can use here is to find your “hook”. In other words, the thing that makes you unique. Answer the following questions to get started: 

• What skill have you mastered and can you quantify it?
• What is your biggest and most impressive achievement?
• Have you worked with big names and, if so, who?
• Do you have any particular awards or commendations?
• If you could tell the hiring manager one thing, what would it be?

When you have answered the above questions, you may have some talking points. You can use these in your professional summary. Focus on one key point over the rest. You don’t want to overwhelm the hiring manager with too much information. When you place the spotlight on just one trait or accomplishment, it’s likely to be more memorable. 

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are a huge deal. The majority of businesses now use this software to filter incoming applications. The system ranks resumes based on how well each of them aligns with the job criteria using keyword ranking. Think of this as a gate. If you want to make sure that a human sees your resume, you need to get past the ATS first.

Optimizing your resume is the name of the game and there are a few ways you can do this. First up, you need to follow a solid structure and ensure that the content is easy to read. Remember, you are writing for software, not just the human eye. Make sure that every element of your resume is where it expects it to be. You should also pepper your resume with keywords and phrases. To do this, take a look at the job posting and highlight any words that stand out to you or align directly with the core duties of the position. 

“Show don’t tell” is a golden writing rule. When you’re trying to persuade a hiring manager that you’re the perfect candidate, you need to showcase your expertise well. Rather than simply listing your accomplishments , you should always quantify them. To demonstrate this, let’s take a look at two versions of the same summary: 

“Qualified sales executive with years of industry experience”

“Qualified sales executive with 16 years of industry experience and a 97% customer satisfaction rating” 

Do you see how the second version adds more value than the first? When you’re writing your professional resume, quantify your claims. After you have written your resume, go back and see where you can add some extra detail. 

While we’re on the subject of being specific, here’s another tip you should use. One traditional marketing principle says that adding details to your points makes them more memorable than generic statements. So, when you’re writing about your past experiences, add details about your specific duties and achievements. This approach may help the hiring manager remember your application over the competition.

Next up, let’s talk about your skills section. Many candidates make the mistake of just making a generic list of skills on their resume and hoping for the best. So, when we talk about how to make your resume stand out, there’s a simple trick you can use. Including a balanced mixture of both hard and soft skills here will pique the hiring manager’s interest.

Hard skills relate directly to the position and are often technical. You can refer back to the job specification to give you an idea. In fact, it’s wise to use the same language and terms that the posting uses, as it will help you get past the applicant tracking system (ATS). 

Soft skills, on the other hand, allow you to work well as part of a team and get the job done efficiently. They could be “communication,” “time management,” and “organization”. Hiring managers are looking for well-rounded candidates, so you need to include these too.

Spoiler: Your first draft of your resume won’t be the best one. When we talk about how to make your resume stand out, one of the main things you need to remember is to edit. This is where the magic happens. When you have a rough copy of your resume, take the time to fine-tune it and make adjustments. 

Try to get into the head of the hiring manager. Read your resume as though you are them and look for any problems, information gaps, or inconsistencies. You might find that it is helpful to print your resume out and read it as a hard copy. Grab a marker pen and get to work. When you take the time to edit your resume well, it will stand out to the reader. 

Designing it: quick design hacks for resumes that stand out

Don’t overlook the look of the document. If you’re new to the world of design, we’ve got what you here: 

White space is vital. It makes your resume easy to read and stops it from looking “busy”. You may want to cram loads of information onto your resume, but you don’t want it to overwhelm the reader. Leave some space around the edges of each section. This visual trick allows the person looking at your resume to quickly scan it for the finer details. 

Professional resumes are consistent. Using a broad variety of font styles appears chaotic and is a quick way to put the hiring manager off. Generally, you should use one or two fonts on your resume. Pick typefaces that are legible and professional. 

Have you spaced your resume out correctly? If there is not an even amount of space between sections, something will look “off” about the document. While the hiring manager may not be able to put their finger on the problem, they will know that it’s not quite right. Take the time to ensure that the spacing of your professional resume is on point. 

If you’re wondering how to make your resume stand out, using one of our field-tested resume templates is the answer. Most of the time, it’s smart to opt for a classic design over anything too experimental. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Should you work in a creative industry, for example, you can use a resume design with a tad more flair.

Common mistakes that will hold you back

We’ve covered all that you need to know to create a resume that stands out. But before you get started on yours, there are some final things you should know. Let’s take a look at some of the most common mistakes you should avoid when creating your next resume:

• Not proofreading your resume. Spelling and grammatical mistakes are enough to put any hiring manager off. When you’re finished with your resume, take the time to proofread it well. You can also use a program, such as Grammarly.
• Using jargon or complicated language. Write for a reader who doesn’t understand your industry. You have no way of telling who will read your resume first. Make sure that a general audience can understand your application.
• Including charts, graphs, or images. You don’t need to include imagery on your professional resume. While you may choose to put a photo of yourself on your application, avoid adding charts, graphs, or any other type of picture here.

Key takeaways 

• You only have a matter of seconds to make an impression on the hiring manager. Having a resume that stands out will increase your chances of success.
• It’s important to use the right tone and language when writing your resume.
• Follow our advice on how to make your resume stand out from the competition.
• Using Resume.io is the easiest way to build a professional resume in minutes.

How To Make Your Resume Stand Out: Top Design Tips

Home » Resume Help » How To Make Your Resume Stand Out: Top Design Tips

Are you ready to kick your job search into high gear? Your resume is the key to unlocking countless opportunities, but in today’s competitive job market, it’s essential to make it stand out from the crowd. After all, you want to make a lasting impression on potential employers, right? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll share with you the top design tips to elevate your resume to a whole new level. From choosing a clean and professional layout to incorporating strategic color and visual elements, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also show you how to create balance and clarity with white space, ensure consistency in design, and even provide a handy resource – professional resume templates. So, if you’re ready to make a statement and land your dream job, let’s dive in and transform your resume into a true work of art.

Key Takeaways

Choose a clean and professional layout, use a readable font, incorporate color strategically, highlight your key skills and achievements, include visual elements, such as icons or infographics, organize your content with headings and subheadings, use white space to create balance and clarity, ensure consistency in design throughout the resume.

• Build your resume in just 5 minutes with AI.

Consider Using a Professional Resume Template

• Should I include a photo of myself on my resume?
• Is it necessary to include references on my resume?
• How do I effectively showcase my soft skills on my resume?
• A well-designed resume is crucial in a competitive job market.
• Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points effectively to organize content.
• Strategic use of font, font size, and color can enhance the visual appeal of your resume.
• Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for to highlight relevant skills and achievements.

If you want your resume to truly shine, opt for a clean and professional layout that will not only impress employers but also showcase your attention to detail and commitment to professionalism. The layout of your resume plays a crucial role in grabbing the attention of hiring managers and making a lasting impression. To make your resume layout stand out, start by choosing the best resume format that suits your industry and experience level. Consider using a chronological format if you have a strong work history, or a functional format if you want to highlight your skills and achievements. Whichever format you choose, make sure it is visually appealing and easy to navigate.

A clean and professional layout should have clear sections with consistent formatting. Use headings and subheadings to organize your information and make it easy for employers to find what they’re looking for. Incorporate bullet points to highlight key points and make your resume more readable. Remember to leave enough white space to avoid clutter and make your resume visually pleasing.

As you move on to the next section about using a readable font, keep in mind that the font you choose can also contribute to the overall look and feel of your resume.

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Check our job winning resume samples.

Choose a legible font that captures attention and keeps the reader engaged. When it comes to choosing a font for your resume, readability is key. You want to make sure that the font you choose is easy to read and doesn’t strain the eyes. Avoid using fancy or decorative fonts that may look stylish but sacrifice legibility. Instead, opt for clean and professional fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri. These fonts are widely accepted and are easily readable on both print and digital platforms.

In addition to choosing a readable font, it’s essential to consider the font size. Aim for a font size between 10 and 12 points to ensure that the text is neither too small nor too large. This range strikes a balance between readability and conserving space on your resume. Be consistent with the font size throughout the document to maintain a cohesive and professional appearance.

By using a readable font and appropriate font size, you will enhance the readability of your resume and make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to review your qualifications. Now that you have a legible foundation, it’s time to move on to the next step: incorporating color strategically.

To add a touch of visual interest, consider strategically incorporating color into your resume. Using color psychology can be an effective way to make a positive impression on potential employers. However, it’s important to use color in a thoughtful and deliberate manner.

Incorporating color in different resume sections can help highlight important information and guide the reader’s attention. For example, you can use color to differentiate headings and subheadings, making them stand out and easy to find. Additionally, using color to highlight your key skills and achievements can make them more memorable to recruiters.

When choosing colors for your resume, it’s crucial to find the right balance. Using too many colors can be overwhelming and distracting, while using too few can make your resume appear dull and uninteresting. Consider using a color palette that complements your personal brand and industry.

Here is an example of an effective color combination for a resume:

By incorporating color strategically, you can make your resume visually appealing and stand out from the competition. Now, let’s move on to the next section and highlight your key skills and achievements.

Now, let’s jazz up your resume by showcasing your impressive skills and noteworthy achievements. When it comes to standing out from the competition, highlighting your key skills and accomplishments is crucial. It’s not enough to simply list your previous job titles and responsibilities; you need to demonstrate the value you brought to those roles.

Start by identifying your most relevant experience and accomplishments. Consider the skills that are most sought after in your industry and make sure to emphasize those. Use specific examples to showcase your achievements, such as exceeding sales targets, leading successful projects, or receiving recognition for your work. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible, as numbers can have a powerful impact.

In addition to emphasizing relevant experience, it’s also important to tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for. Take the time to research the company and the role you’re interested in, and then highlight the skills and achievements that align with their needs.

By showcasing your accomplishments and emphasizing your relevant experience, you’ll make a strong impression on potential employers. In the next section, we’ll explore how to include visual elements, such as icons or infographics, to further enhance your resume’s design.

Enhance your resume’s visual appeal and make it more memorable by incorporating eye-catching icons or infographics that will capture the attention of potential employers. Using visuals in your resume can be a powerful way to stand out from the competition and showcase your creativity. However, it is important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding to include visual elements.

Pros of using visuals in your resume:

• Visual elements can grab attention: Icons or infographics can instantly draw the reader’s eye and make your resume stand out in a sea of text.
• Showcasing your skills visually: Visual elements can help you highlight your key skills and achievements in a more visually appealing and engaging way.
• Reflecting your personality: By incorporating visuals that align with your personal brand, you can showcase your unique style and personality to potential employers.

When choosing the right icons for your resume, consider the following:

• Relevance: Ensure that the icons you choose are relevant to the information you are trying to convey.
• Consistency: Stick to a consistent style and color scheme throughout your resume to maintain a professional look.
• Clarity: Choose icons that are easy to understand and won’t confuse the reader.

After incorporating eye-catching visuals, the next step is to organize your content with headings and subheadings to make it easy for employers to navigate through your resume seamlessly.

One way to effectively organize your resume is by using headings and subheadings to create a clear and visually appealing structure. This not only helps the reader navigate through your resume easily but also adds a professional touch to your overall presentation. By categorizing different sections of your resume, such as education, work experience, and skills, you can highlight key information and make it stand out.

When using headings and subheadings, it is crucial to use bullet points to effectively showcase your work experience. Bullet points allow you to present your accomplishments and responsibilities in a concise and readable format. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements to demonstrate the value you can bring to a potential employer.

To create a rhythm and flow in your resume, consider using a 2 column and 3 row table to organize your skills or qualifications. This format not only adds visual interest but also makes it easier for hiring managers to quickly scan and assess your capabilities.

In addition to using headings and subheadings, another important aspect of resume design is the use of white space to create balance and clarity. By strategically incorporating white space around your headings and sections, you can enhance readability and ensure that your resume is visually appealing.

Now that you have organized your resume content with headings and subheadings, it’s time to focus on creating visual interest and ensuring clarity through the strategic use of white space. White space refers to the empty areas on your resume that separate different sections and elements. Incorporating white space effectively can enhance readability, draw attention to key information, and create a sense of balance.

By allowing your content to breathe and giving it room to stand out, you can make a strong visual impact on the reader. Use ample white space around headings and subheadings to make them stand out and guide the reader’s eye. Additionally, consider using bullet points or short paragraphs with sufficient spacing between them to make your resume easy to scan.

Remember, cluttered resumes can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate, so be mindful of the amount of information you include and the spacing you use. Strive for a clean, organized look that showcases your skills and experiences effectively.

Now that you understand the importance of white space in creating visual interest and clarity, it’s time to ensure consistency in design throughout your resume.

To maintain a cohesive and professional appearance, it’s crucial to establish a consistent design scheme across all sections of your resume. This not only enhances the visual coherence but also creates a cohesive design that showcases your skills and qualifications effectively. A well-designed resume can make a lasting impression on potential employers and set you apart from other candidates.

One way to achieve consistency in design throughout your resume is by using a two-column layout. This allows you to organize information in a structured manner, making it easier for recruiters to navigate. For example, you can use the left column to highlight your contact information and skills, while the right column can be used for your work experience and education.

In addition to the layout, you can also maintain consistency by using the same fonts, colors, and formatting throughout your resume. This creates a unified look and ensures that the document appears polished and professional.

To illustrate this concept visually, consider the following table:

By following these design principles, your resume will have a consistent and visually appealing look that captures the attention of employers. Now, it’s time to transition to the next section about proofreading and editing for any errors or typos.

Proofread and Edit for Any Errors or Typos

Ensuring consistency in design throughout the resume is crucial for creating a professional and visually appealing document that captures the attention of employers. Here are four proofreading techniques to help you avoid common resume mistakes:

• Read it aloud: Reading your resume out loud can help you catch errors or awkward phrasing that you may not notice when reading silently. This technique can also help you identify any repetitive words or phrases that can be replaced with stronger alternatives.
• Take a break: After you have finished proofreading, take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes. This will help you spot any errors or typos that you may have missed during your initial read-through.
• Use spell-check and grammar-check tools: While these tools are not foolproof, they can help you catch some of the more obvious mistakes. However, it is important to manually review the suggested changes to ensure they make sense in the context of your resume.
• Have someone else review it: Another set of eyes can often catch mistakes that you may have overlooked. Ask a trusted friend, family member, or professional mentor to review your resume for any errors or inconsistencies.

By following these proofreading techniques, you can help ensure that your resume is error-free and effectively communicates your qualifications and experience. Once you have finished proofreading, consider using a professional resume template to further enhance the visual appeal of your document.

Boost your chances of impressing employers by utilizing a professional resume template that will instantly captivate their attention and leave a lasting impression. When it comes to creating a standout resume, the design and layout play a crucial role in grabbing the employer’s attention. Using a professional resume template ensures that your resume has a polished and well-structured appearance, which can make all the difference in a competitive job market.

Professional resume templates are specifically designed to showcase your skills and qualifications in the best possible light. They offer a clean and organized layout that is easy to read and navigate. With a professional resume format, you can highlight your key achievements, job experience, and education in a way that is visually appealing and easy to understand. These templates often include sections for a professional summary, skills, work experience, education, and contact information, making it easier for employers to quickly assess your qualifications.

In addition to providing a visually pleasing layout, professional resume templates also ensure consistency and coherence in your resume. They help you maintain a professional appearance by using appropriate fonts, colors, and formatting styles. This attention to detail reflects positively on your professionalism and attention to detail, which can make a strong impression on potential employers.

By using a professional resume template, you can present your qualifications and achievements in a visually appealing and organized manner. This can help your resume stand out from the competition and increase your chances of landing an interview. Don’t underestimate the power of a well-designed resume layout – it can make all the difference in making a lasting impression on employers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your resume should be one to two pages long, depending on your level of experience. Use a clean and easy-to-read format that highlights your skills and achievements. Keep it concise and professional to capture the attention of hiring managers.

To customize your resume header, include your name, contact information, and a professional email. Choose a clean and legible font that complements your overall design. This will make a strong first impression on potential employers.

Including a photo of yourself on your resume? Seriously? Unless you’re applying to be a model, it’s best to skip it. Pros: personal touch. Cons: bias, discrimination. Alternatives: focus on skills and experience.

Including references on your resume is not necessary. It is common practice to provide references upon request. Focus on keeping your resume concise and relevant to showcase your skills and qualifications effectively.

To effectively showcase your soft skills on your resume, highlight achievements that demonstrate those skills. Use keywords such as “communication,” “leadership,” and “teamwork” to show employers how you excel in these areas.

After following these design tips, your resume will be like a shining beacon in a sea of blandness. The clean layout and readable font will symbolize your professionalism and attention to detail. Strategic use of color will add a touch of personality and make your resume memorable. Visual elements, like icons or infographics, will bring your achievements to life and make them stand out. The white space will symbolize balance and clarity, ensuring that your information is easy to digest. Finally, using a professional template will symbolize your commitment to excellence. With these techniques, your resume will be a symbol of your unique qualifications and will surely catch the attention of hiring managers.

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Recommended Reading:

• Hobbies and Interests to put on a CV
• CV personal qualities and skills
• Skills to include on a CV
• How to write references on a CV
• How to write achievements on a CV
• Personal details on a CV
• How to start a cover letter
• LinkedIn Background Photo

Published by Sarah Samson

Sarah Samson is a professional career advisor and resume expert. She specializes in helping recent college graduates and mid-career professionals improve their resumes and format them for the modern job market. In addition, she has also been a contributor to several online publications.

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How to Make Your Resume Stand Out, According to 24 Experts

Most hiring managers and HR personnel have ways of weeding out candidates as quickly as possible.

That is why we asked experts to provide practical advice on how to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

Table of Contents

Don’t include an objective

Be sure to add a career summary, add a skills section, don’t include dates with your education, include only relevant and more recent jobs, stop trying to make the resume look like a work of art, stop believing a resume should only be two pages, identify what you really need, avoid long paragraphs as your ‘objective’, keep the font simple, make sure your formatting is professional and appropriate for what you’re seeking, make sure your resume is error and mistake-free, realize that the most important piece of information on there is your name, make sure your resume is tailored for what you’re seeking, ensure your resume is ats fully-compliant, use the right mix of quantitative and qualitative information, consider page length, the key to a standout resume is the focus, focus on what you can do for the position you’re applying for, create a visually appealing format, provide a branding statement, include keywords from the job description, add a cover letter, the resume should be tailored very specifically for a select audience, keep resume content heavily results-focused and not task-focused, watch the length and avoid drowning the reader in long narratives, make sure that you give priority to relevant experience and skills, create a targeted resumé, show the employer your unique value, use a modern, professional format, but keep your formatting clean and consistent, tailor your resumé to the job, keep it to one page, highlight proficiencies, consider adding your hobbies, don’t go wild with your resume format, use a big headline, put things where they belong, if possible, pass your resume along internally, include measurable achievements, show achievements, include facts and figures to quantify your achievements, avoid jargons and have someone proofread it for you, use a reverse-chronological resume rather than a functional resume, focus on accomplishments, always list your education on the resume even if you feel it is not relevant, add some colors to the top corner(s) of your resume, vary the overall design of your resume depending on the job you’re applying for, submit a different resume for each different role you’re applying for, easy-to-skim, job-winning content is the key to standing out when applying for jobs online, get creative, provide clear, concise bullet points of roles/responsibilities, keep it organized, clean, and clear, highlight your experience for the position you’re applying for, use industry, and job-specific keywords and common industry phrases within your resume, check your format, ensure your resume is tailor-made for this particular role you are applying for, utilize headers, format professionally, add a professional headshot, frequently asked questions.

Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish

Owner, Feather Communications | Author, Getting Back in the Game: How to Build Your Resume After Taking a Break

No one cares about your objective. The company cares about what you can do for them. How are you going to make their job easier? Stating that you are looking to “ …grow your leadership abilities while enhancing their organization… ” isn’t helping your cause.

Provide the company with a high-overview of you as a job candidate. It only needs to be a three to five-line summary that gives several skill-sets and aligns with keywords in the job search. Please know that this is the first part of the resume.

If you don’t have a qualifications/skills/core competencies/areas of expertise section, you are missing out. And, more importantly, companies are missing out on you. This is the place to utilize those keywords used in the job posting.

Unless you graduated from college last Saturday, the year you graduated no longer matters. In fact, at some point, that information could start to hurt you and could potentially bring about age discrimination. And, if you are yet to graduate from college, put your estimated date of month and year of graduation on your resume.

While I loved my job as a bank teller in high school, that was more than 20+ years ago and is no longer relevant. You don’t need to include very single job that you have ever had on your resume. Think relevance over quantity of past job experiences.

Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D.

CEO, D. Boyer Consulting | Author, Human Resource Professionals in Government Contracting Guidebook

No one sees the original resumes once they are uploaded in the Automatic Tracking Systems (ATS) – those original resumes get parsed over to Boolean searchable SQL databases and converted to text files – recruiters may never see the ‘pretty.’

It’s perfectly ok to go to a third page if your experience and history are rich and diverse. Use the third page for certifications, training, awards, and recognition. You can always print a double-side first and second page to take to job fairs.

Know the difference between a bio (one-page intro), a resume (2-4 page job history for 10-15 years), and a Curriculum Vitae (Latin for life-story) which can run 20-30 pages long (academic institution job search).

When you are writing the ‘ Objective ’ at the top of the resume, all you need is the job title for which you are applying. Avoid the long boring subjective paragraph that recruiters roll their eyes at and skip over.

Summarize your ‘general’ type of jobs in years of experience list at the top of the resume, e.g., 5 years, Supervisory Management, 10 years, Technical Analyst (military, federal government), etc.

It can either be Arial or Times New Roman between 10 and 12 points tall; do not make larger fonts for your name or locations or objective lines – this doesn’t help and makes the resume look amateurish.

Ron Auerbach, MBA

Career Coach | Consultant | Author, Think Like an Interviewer: Your Job Hunting Guide to Success

So the first impression they will get is the overall visual look. And if that doesn’t impress them, they won’t look at the content, no matter how great it is. FYI, this is why a lot, if not most resume templates you find on the Internet fail so miserably.

Free of typos, grammatical issues, and other mistakes. Why is this so important? The reason is very simple. You are being judged by your actions and inaction. So having mistakes or errors on your resume equate to your either being this way on the job, which isn’t good! Or it means you missed it, which isn’t good either!

Worst of all is you did notice the problem(s) and did nothing about it! On the job, do we want people to notice but leave problems alone? No way!

When there’s a stack of resumes on someone’s pile, making sure that yours stands out from others is important. So you want your name to be the biggest thing on there. That way, it screams out, “This is my resume!”

So while you can create an excellent generic resume, it may not work in every case. So you do need to tweak and/or make major revisions accordingly. The same with a resume you’ve used lots of other times for that kind of work of that specific job.

The requirements and/or specific role you’ll play can vary company-to-company. Thus, you must revise things as needed in order to successfully get through the screening.

The last thing you can afford when you’re job hunting is your resume automatically being rejected or not being accurately read. So making sure you have your resume in an ATS-compliant fashion is key to getting it noticed.

Something else you should do to stand out is incorporate keywords they’ll be looking for. And inserting those keywords into various sections of your resume so, no matter where they’re looking, you will have the kinds of things they’ll want and will be impressed by.

FYI, despite what some advocate, you do not always need to include numbers of some type to impress. Qualitative data, when presented in the right way, can work equally well. Sometimes, even better! For example:

• “Increased revenues by 35%” 

Notice how I used numbers here. Now, this may really impress. Then again, it’s a matter of how they’ll react to 35%. Is this really a big enough increase to be considered “impressive?” That is the unknown question! So you might actually stand out better with being qualitative rather than quantitative here. For example:

• “Dramatically increased revenues”
• “Significantly increased revenues”

Notice how I’m leaving numbers out here and using a qualifier in the description to showcase the increase. And with “dramatically” and “significant” being subjective whereby each reader has their own range of what numbers it could be, you’re playing into this as a way to impress.

So it’s an excellent way to get around numbers that you may think are impressive but they do not. Thus, do not underestimate the power of being qualitative!

A resume, no matter what level of responsibility and/or experiences you have, should be above two pages. First of all, going beyond two pages is too much for them to be reading when they have lots of applications to go through and other tasks on their platter. So help them out by reducing not increasing their workload!

Secondly, two pages are more than enough space to convince them you’re qualified and worth considering for employment. If you cannot do so with this many pages, you never will!

So you do not need to go overboard in your background and qualifications, which is where a lot of job seekers going for C-level positions make a mistake.

You only need to give them enough to show you’re worth bringing in for an interview. Then you can fill in the rest with your full background!

Krystal Yates

Certified HR Expert | Founder, EBR Consulting, LLC

Creating a resume that stands out is much easier than most people think. A good resume must include three components:

• It must get you past the applicant tracking software (ATS)
• It must tell the reader why you are a good fit for their job
• It must be visually appealing

Too often, we overcomplicate the resume but forget these three basics.

That means that first, you must decide what your next position looks like. Spend some time to figure out exactly what you want from your next job, then ensure your resume tells that story. While that advice feels counterintuitive to many, it works very well.

In the past, a resume was a job history, now it is your brochure. Instead of broadly telling the reader everything you’ve done in the past, focus on how you solve the problem of the reader (the hiring manager). This should be easy to do since you know exactly what types of positions you will be applying for.

Review two or three similar job postings and pull out the terminology you see used over and over. These are the keywords you want to include in the resume to get you past the ATS.

The good news is, there is no one right way to do this. Decide what appeals to you. After all, this reflects you. Make sure the document is easy to skim and that you’ve used a font that is easy to read. If using color, ensure it still looks good printed in black and white.

Ebony Joyce

Chief Resume Writer | Founder, Next Level Career Services, LLC

No one else has the same brand as you. Your branding statement isn’t simply a list of accomplishments, but a three-to-five-line statement that tells who you are and sums up your value proposition. What sets you apart from others? What added value will you bring to the organization?

So, dig deep to formulating the qualities that differentiate you from others. The best way to land your next opportunity is to do a great job writing this section and make your resume stand out.

Using the job description as a guide is one best way to make your resume stand out. Job descriptions are written with certain keywords and when recruiters and hiring manager see keywords those are the resumes that get attention.

While it may be time-consuming, take the time to make a minor tweak to customize your resume for each individual job is a way to stand out since many applicants won’t take this time to do so.

If a job application says to submit a resume most people will do just that, submit a resume. So just the mere fact that not everyone includes cover letters with their resume is reason enough for you to submit one.

The cover letter is your opportunity to express your personality and provide a supplement to your resume that briefly expands upon your skills. Recruiters are going to appreciate the extra time you took in crafting a cover letter and set yourself apart from the applicants.

Related: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be , How to End a Cover Letter  

Adrienne Tom

Interview Coach | Executive Resume Writer, Career Impressions

General, one-size-fits-all resumes rarely work. Make it easy for each employer to see how you would provide value to their open position by aligning all resume content with job requirements. If a detail or point is not related to the target job – remove it or replace it!

Employers are not interested in all of the basic job duties you performed in each past position. Instead, they want to know “ what’s in it for me if I hire you?” .

To create interest and support your candidacy for the open position you must provide proof of the skills and capabilities you claim to possess. The proof is best shared through results.

In addition, quantify achievements to boost the quality of your resume content and provide more depth and breadth to expertise. For example, instead of just saying “created cost-savings” , take content one step further and provide quantified details such as “saved $16K in annual operating costs by introducing new streamlined inventory management procedure.”

Employers are often short on time and what to know ‘what’s in it for me?” – fast – when they scan a resume. Keep content in check by aiming for an average of 2 pages, focusing on the quality of content and not quantity.

Mix up content delivery by sharing details in both short paragraphs and bulleted statements and aim to keep the information as succinct as possible for easier readability.

Finally, eliminate unnecessary filler words like “a, to, by, and the” to sharpen content focus.

Related: How Long Should Your Resume Be

Rob Morgenroth

Executive Vice President, Mason Frank International

Despite the limited space you have on a resume anyway, you’d be surprised how much detail on it goes unread. Most hiring managers or recruiters will be skim-reading a huge pile of applications, looking for skills, experience, and qualifications that match exactly what they’re looking for.

It’ll then be narrowed down to decide who to invite to interview, but it’s vital you make an impression to survive that first cut.

A potential employer isn’t interested in clichés about you being a team player or great communicator at this stage. Those are just basic things everyone in the world of work is expected to have, so if you’re listing those, you may as well list other non-factors such as ‘punctual’ or ‘hard-working.’

Your personality, ambition, and general cultural fit will be determined during the face-to-face or phone interview itself, so at this stage, it’s about making sure you’ve got the right role-specific buzzwords on your resume.

Keep anything else as brief as possible. Highlight the qualities that match what the employer is looking for and remember to cover soft skills sparingly. Using bullet points can be a good way to avoid the temptation of providing too much unnecessary information, but be wary of how you format this.

One of the most common mistakes I see is giving the same amount of prominence to a job with zero transferable skills.

Standing out can be difficult if the vacancy attracts a high caliber of the applicant, but starting your resume with your most relevant strengths will give you the best chance possible of making it to the next round.

Holly Leyva

ACRW-Certified Professional Resumé and Cover Letter Writer | Customer and Career Services Division Manager, Virtual Vocations

Many job seekers create a general resumé and send that out to every employer, but not only will this not score well on an ATS system, but it makes it difficult for the hiring manager to easily see why you’re a good fit for the job. I recently posted for a customer service position and received over 100 resumés.

Many had professional titles completely unrelated to the job I had posted, so I didn’t even give those a second look. They immediately went into the discard pile because it was not clear that they had applied to the job I had posted.

For best results, create a targeted professional headline on your resumé that reflects the position for which you are applying, and make sure your summary is targeted, as well.

Instead of talking about skills and tasks that everyone is going to have, show the employer what you have done and the impact you’ve made in your prior roles on your resumé.

This will prove what you can do and why you’re better than the other applicants. This should be done in both the summary section and in the professional experience section—and be sure to use metrics and data whenever possible!

For a professional, easy-to-scan resumé, use plenty of white space and limit your sections of text to two or three lines maximum. Long, dense sections of text are too hard to read, making it difficult for employers to easily see your value.

Look through the job description and pull out specific keywords and skills that employer has mentioned, and incorporate these keywords into your resumé. Be sure to use them in context, rather than just in a list of skills, however, so the employer can see what you’ve accomplished and how you’ve made an impact using the skills they require.

Sean Sessel

Director, The Oculus Institute

In today’s age, far too many people submit resumes that are 2, 3, or even 4 or more pages long. Not only does nobody want to wade through that, but it demonstrates an inability to be concise.

Personalities

• The Creative Visionary
• The Analytical Strategist
• The Compassionate Caregiver
• The Entrepreneurial Spirit
• The Environmental Steward

Instead, show your ability to extract the core important information by keeping only things that are relevant and limiting your resume to one page.

Nowadays, many resumes are scanned for keywords and key phrases by computers before an actual human being ever sees them. That’s why I have my clients include a section called “ Proficiencies ” that includes languages, software, certifications, and any defined skill set that would come up as a keyword or key phrase.

Related: How to Include Language Skills (Proficiencies) on Your Resume

Resumes can be extremely dry, so it’s a good idea to humanize yourself by including a one-line section at the end called “Hobbies” where you share some of your interests.

When your resume actually does get to a human being, this section will allow them to relate to you and imagine themselves working with you, which is what really matters at the end of the day.

Debbie Winkelbauer

CEO, SurfSearch

You won’t stand a chance if your resume is never seen! We get hundreds of resumes sent to us every week and most are loaded directly into our applicant tracking system .

Resumes that have text boxes, photos, side columns, and fancy fonts don’t always load into the applicant tracking system correctly.

I imagine that is true with company websites as well. We do not have the time to contact these candidates about this so candidates might not realize their resume was never considered because it did not get into the system.

Eli Howayeck

Career Coach | Founder and CEO, Crafted Career Concepts

Avoid the fluffy paragraph or key word stuffing at the top of your resume. Use a headline instead that is short and concise. The rule of 3’s applies. What three themes do you want the reader to take away from your headline?

Resume readers read rapidly. Don’t annoy the reader (and the decider of your destiny) by making them search for the things they need to know. Chronological is best, name at the top, education towards the end (unless you’ve recently graduated).

Find someone well respected within the organization to pass your resume along internally. If your resume gets passed to the hiring manager (or HR) from multiple sources, it’s more likely to make an impact.

Jeri Walker

Career and Job Search Strategist | Founder, Your Best Designed Career  

Outside of using simplified formatting and keywords to get your resume past the ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), one of the most important components in getting your resume noticed is including measurable achievements on the top fold of your resume.

Because when a hiring manager is looking for their ideal candidate, they want to know what problems you can solve and how you can make their lives easier.

What results can you deliver? How have you impacted the bottom line of your past employers? Hiring managers know that if you have driven results in the past, then you will do the same for them.

Achievements can be difficult for people to come up with because they feel like they are bragging about themselves and they’re not comfortable with it, but it’s really important for your reader to know how you can solve problems.

And achievements can be measured in many ways, it’s not just about increasing sales. It can be how you’ve decreased costs, increased efficiencies, improved processes, surpassed deadlines or saved a client account.

Get creative and put some thought into the various achievements you have made that are relevant to this position and list 3 or 4 of them in bullet form at the top of your resume.

Also, once you’ve come up with the most important achievements and have placed them at the top of your resume, you should sprinkle all the rest of them throughout your job experience section as well. Seeing achievements on a resume is much more compelling and meaningful than just bullet points of your job duties.

Always remember, it’s about that hiring manager and what they need so be sure to demonstrate how you will help them on your resume so that you will be their ideal candidate.

James Burroughes

Managing Consultant, Traverse Success Coaching

Cutting and pasting your job description or a list of responsibilities only tells the hiring manager that you can recite what you should be doing and could apply to anyone doing that job. Not how well you did it.

Your CV must be different. It needs to demonstrate specific instances and examples of accomplishments that show the difference you have made in your work and therefore the likely difference you will make in a new role.

With a little thought, you find most achievements can be boiled down to a number in some form. These could be reducing the time taken for a task, cutting costs, or driving sales. Make sure they show a black and white result that can’t be refuted. Managers love this.

Too many resumes have jargon, abbreviations, and company-specific language which means nothing to a reader outside your business. If someone you know can’t understand what your Golden Gift Award is, or your PDB increase by 12% is, it’s too “ jargony “. This will mean you stand out for the wrong reasons. Keep it simple and explain things accordingly.

Frank Grossman

Founder, Resumes That Shine

Resumes are scanned with automated systems called ATS systems that cannot digest functional resumes. If your resume does reach a hiring manager, you still will not be considered because managers feel you are hiding something when you use a functional resume.

Most resumes people send me list job titles and the job candidate’s job description. Hiring managers either know your job description or they can look it up online. They cannot look up your accomplishments in the job.

Employers may require a college degree to consider you, for example, even if you have experience. Your major may not matter.

One of my job candidates at an employment program was denied an interview because her resume did not list her college degree, even though the employer knew her!

Additional resume tips I give job candidates that want to stand out include:

• Do not show your street address and zip code on your resume. We are naturally curious and will look up the address to see where you live. Then, we may make incorrect assumptions about your salary needs, ethnicity, criminal past, etc.
• Use a personal brand statement instead of the words “profile” or “summary” under your contact information so employers know what folder to put your resume in right away.
• Add a summary under the branding statement  including a sentence about your job title and industry, a few hard skill highlights and two or three accomplishment highlights.
• Include a core competency matrix of 9, 12, or 15 hard skills in three columns to help ATS systems find your resume.

HR Manager, Tree AMS

When it comes to resumes, HR professionals often have endless piles to go through. Thus, knowing how to make your resume stand out from the rest is key.

Of course, it shouldn’t come off as tacky; instead, you can use professional colors such as blue or maroon. Seeing your resume stick out from the corner might capture the attention of the employer. This demonstrates your wit and that you have put some thought into your resume.

For example, if you’re going for a graphic designer role, you should definitely showcase your design skills by personalizing your resume design. Alternatively, you can also pick a professional theme that suits your industry.

Refer to the job description and state relevant skills and experiences in your resume accordingly. This indicates to the employer that you’ve meticulously reviewed what’s expected of you.

Steph Cartwright

Certified Professional Resume Writer, Off The Clock Resumes, LLC

How you look and apply for jobs matters. A graphic resume with flashy colors, charts, icons, and other graphic elements will certainly stand out when networking and physically handing your resume to a hiring manager; however, these resumes won’t get through employer software if you’re applying for jobs online.

If you’re targeting your resume to demonstrate the skills listed on the job posting in action throughout your work history and using bullet lists to draw attention to major contributions toward organizational goals, your resume will get through the Applicant Tracking software and stand out the right way when seen by a decision-maker.

Joe Flanagan

Senior Career Advisor, MintResume

If you’re in a creative career, such as graphic design or video production, your resume can be much more creative and unique than someone applying for a job in accounting.

Research the prospective employer’s website to see just how out of the box they’re comfortable with. Using that as a guideline, get creative with color, image, layout or verbiage that’s in keeping with the potential employer’s style and approach.

Resumes for jobs in the arts or creative work can differentiate you by using approaches that are much more out of the box.

Talent Acquisition Manager, PrimePay

You want to make sure you’re not providing too much or not enough information – a good balance is key! I also really enjoy when candidates list out their specific achievements/accomplishments in each role, to really showcase what they’re most proud of themselves for!

I recruit mostly sales representatives, and really enjoy reading when candidates exceed quota, win awards/trips, or place at the top of their teams!

Erin Murphree

You can make your resume stand out in different ways- positively or negatively. When it comes to standing out in a positive manner, take these tips into account!

• Provide complete basic information such as your contact information, education, and work experience. If you just graduated from school, list the projects you did while in school. Were you a part of any clubs on campus? What type of leadership roles have you held?
• Tailor your resume towards the job you are applying to.
• Begin each bullet point with power verbs like initiated, improved, demonstrated, etc.
• Add quantitative results especially when it comes to a metrics-driven position.
• Highlight awards, accomplishments and recognition.
• Utilize keywords that are relevant to the job opportunity and company.
• Make sure all information is accurate and matches your LinkedIn information.
• Be concise and use bullet points.

Jason Patel

Founder, Transizion

Think of aesthetics and readability first. Why? Hiring managers, small business owners, and department heads don’t have time to waste, which is why they’ll initially review resumes for seven to nine seconds.

If your resume doesn’t pass this quick test, it’ll be discarded. The best way to pass this test, or, at least, not fail quickly,

Specifically, keep your bullet points aligned, keep your grammar and formatting even, and make sure your spacing is neat.

To do this, break up your resume into discernible sections so that you can review it for mistakes and the hiring manager likes its aesthetic. A neat and clean resume signifies the applicant is someone who takes the time to clean up her work and pays attention to detail .

CEO & Founder, UpKeep | Awardee, Forbes 30 Under 30 for Manufacturing

Almost every hiring manager knows hiring is tough. With hundreds of applicants and resumes, it’s no longer simply about having the skills and background listed in a job description, but being able to stand out from the crowd.

Hiring managers read hundreds of resumes a day. At the end of the day, the longer a resume is, the better, right? Wrong! You can read a job description and know exactly what our hiring managers are looking for by looking at the required skills.

If you have experience with any of the skills or requirements listed in the job description, don’t be afraid to add the company’s language to your resume directly.

This highlights your resume to show companies that you’ve got the skills and experience for what they might be looking for and that you’ve read the job description thoroughly!

If you don’t have the skills, requirements, and experience yet, don’t hide it. Share with your potential employer as to why now is the time to learn? How have your past experiences prepared you to take on this new challenge?

Related: How to Get an Entry Level Job with No Qualifications or Experience

Business Development Consultant, My Trading Skills

Don’t overdo it, and make sure that these terms are well-distributed throughout the resume and fit naturally into sentences.

Use the most modern, appropriate, appealing and most preferred resume format for your industry.

This entails demonstrating the specific set of skills and knowledge that will help you succeed in the role if hired.

Have a header below your name and contact information that succinctly captures who you are bearing in mind the position you are applying for.

Bottom Line: To ensure that your resume stands out, have a succinct and definitive header, use the most appropriate resume format, make the resume specific to the role you are applying for, and use industry keywords naturally throughout the resume.

Nate Masterson

CMO, Maple Holistics

You want your resume to physically stand out from the rest of the applications that hiring managers are sifting through. That being said, you want to ensure that it displays your professionalism.

Your layout is as much as part of your ‘brand’ as the actual information on your resume.

Employ different sized fonts to help titles and relevant roles catch the eye and use paragraphs to your advantage to make things clear.

One of the biggest mistakes that potential applicants make when applying for multiple jobs, is sending the same resume to each application.

Make sure that you tailor your resume for the specific position that you’re applying to.

There will be nuanced differences in roles and an easy way to recognize this is by using keywords from the original job posting in your resume. While all the jobs you’re applying for might be the same, companies look for different things to ensure that you’ve acknowledged this in your resume to help you stand out.

Garrett Mynatt, M.A.

Professional Photographer

Including a quality headshot will do a couple of things that not only help you stand out but also reinforce you are the right person for the job.

You want to have a headshot that you are proud of and one that represents you authentically within your field, so an outdoor guide on white background may not be authentic to them, much like an accountant’s headshot probably doesn’t need to be on top of a mountain.

By including a headshot it shows you are in fact a real person but more important than that it represents you as the confident expert you are, which creates a connection with the person on the other side. You have now gone from being another number in the pile to a familiar face.

As an added bonus, create consistency by using the same headshot across all public platforms, the more consistent you are the more trust is formed, and don’t we all want to work with someone like that?

Should I Hire a Professional Resume Writer?

A professional resume writer can be a good option if you’re struggling to create a resume that effectively showcases your skills and qualifications. Here are a few things to consider if you decide to hire a professional resume writer:

• A professional resume writer can help you create a resume tailored to your specific industry and career goals. • A professional resume writer can provide valuable feedback and advice on your resume’s content, format, and design. • A professional resume writer can save you time and help you avoid common mistakes that could hurt your chances of getting an interview.

However, using a professional writer can be expensive, and you must do your research to find a reputable and qualified professional.

Should I Include a List of References on My Resume?

It’s not necessary to include a list of references on your resume, but it’s a good idea to have a list ready in case you’re asked for it during the interview. Here are some tips for creating a strong list of references:

• Choose people who know your work well and can speak about your skills and qualifications. • Ensure you have their current contact information, phone number, and email address. • Let your references know that you’re applying for jobs, and give them a copy of your resume and a description of the jobs you’re applying for. • Thank your references for their time, and keep them updated on your job search.

Should I Include My GPA on My Resume?

Including your grade point average on your resume is usually only necessary if you are a recent college graduate or your GPA is particularly high (over 3.5). However, if your GPA is below 3.0, it may be better to leave it off your resume.

Here are some tips on how to decide if you should include your GPA on your resume:

• If you’re a recent graduate, including your grade point average can show your academic achievements and potential. • If you already have work experience in your field, your work experience may be more important than your GPA, and you may not need to include it. • Suppose you don’t have a strong GPA. In that case, it may be best to omit it and focus on other areas of your experience and qualifications.

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Blog Beginner Guides 16 Resume Design Ideas From a Hiring Manager

16 Resume Design Ideas From a Hiring Manager

Written by: Victoria Clarke May 25, 2023

A resume serves as a concise summary of an individual’s skills, qualifications, and professional background, presenting them in a way that resonates with potential employers. 

From the perspective of hiring managers, good resume design streamlines the recruitment process. A well-organized and visually pleasing resume allows hiring managers to quickly assess a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and suitability for a role. 

Creating a resume that stands out requires careful attention to detail and a focus on effectively communicating your qualifications and experiences with the help of a winning layout, an effective resume font and everything in between.

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite resume templates , design ideas and tips from hiring managers across industries to get you started on the journey of crafting a winning resume.

Click to jump ahead:

• 16 winning resume ideas

10 resume design tips from hiring managers that will get you hired

What should a resume include, do’s and don’ts of infographic resume design.

Short on time? Here’s the condensed video version:

16 winning resume design ideas

Struggling to make your resume stand out? It’s a common challenge. But the good news is, a well-designed resume can make a big difference.

In this section, I’ll walk you through 16 practical resume design ideas that can help you create a strong and visually appealing document.

• Create a beautiful resume design with an eye-catching border
• Use data visualizations to show off your soft skills 
• Make sure your resume design fits your industry
• Stick to a consistent color palette throughout your resume design
• Keep it simple
• Highlight your contact information with a different background color
• Use multiple fonts for your resume design
• Always include some power words in your resume
• Design a data-driven infographic resume
• Use bold colors to highlight important power words
• Include direct links to your social media platforms
• Feature icons to illustrate your interests outside of work
• Write a resume introduction that fits your experience
• Include a simple timeline to visualize education or experience
• Use icon headers to draw the eye to important information
• Use a visually appealing resume to showcase the value of your skills

1. Create a beautiful resume design with an eye-catching border

I think it’s safe to say that most resumes are going to be printed on a crisp piece of white paper. And the most color that they will use is probably a light gray or a dark blue. Just like the fifty other resumes that a manager has on their desk.

Adding an interesting border, like in the resume design example above, can really help your resume to stand out. You can also inject a little bit of your personality into the resume without pulling the reader’s attention away from the important information as well.

I would recommend using a flat color, a simple texture or muted pattern for your border. Anything else, like a photo or gradient, will be more distracting than helpful.

I think it goes without saying it is best to consider the nature of the company you’re applying to when selecting an appropriate border for your resume. Your approach should be more conservative if you’re applying for a bank or other more formal company.

But a creatively driven company, like Venngage, will likely appreciate something more adventurous, like the beautiful resume above.

Just so you know : Some of our templates are free, some are paid. Click any template, sign up for free and use our free online  resume maker  to easily customize the template (no design experience required!).

2. Use data visualizations to show off your soft skills 

Talking about what soft skills you possess is a little difficult on your resume. If you’re going to advertise them, back up your claims with evidence during your interviews.

I believe a data visualization, like in this resume design, is a fantastic way to highlight your soft, and hard skills. A unique data visualization will not only catch the eye of the reader, but it will also present your information in a unique way, making for a more successful CV .

In this resume template, they use a pie chart at the top and a bar graph in the body of the resume. Both of these visualizations will help the hiring manager get to know the applicant a little better and provide them with the information they need to make an informed decision.

Additionally, I really like that in this resume design example they included some keywords that describe the candidate from the beginning.

3. Make sure your resume design fits your industry

Not every design tip that I will talk about in this part of the article is praised in every industry. And I think the resume design above is a great illustration of this point.

A resume like this is perfect for creative industries but may not be appreciated in corporate industries like a bank.

A creative resume like the one below is perfect for a professional photographer because it allows them to show off their work.

However, if you’re an amateur photographer applying for a Customer Support role it might not add value to your application.

So if you plan to create a resume like this, make it appropriate for the job or industry you’re applying to!

4. Stick to a consistent color palette throughout your resume design

If you want your resume to succeed, I would strive to make consistent design choices throughout. Make it your mission to use the same fonts, types of icons and colors in each section of your resume.  

In this resume design template, the designers stuck to a beautifully consistent color palette . With light pinks interacting perfectly with the darker purples. Additionally, because they used a white background the colors really jump off the page.

The consistent color palette not only looks great but makes this beautiful resume very easy to read as well.

Now if they didn’t use the same colors for the headers, subheaders and data visualization, this resume would look chaotic and unprofessional.

5.  Keep it simple

It can be hard to summarize everything you’ve practiced, learned and accomplished during your time at a company. However, it is important to not say too much on your resume and risk overwhelming the hiring manager with the amount of information you are presenting.

To combat information overload when creating your resume, use a basic resume template with a simple, clean design. This will challenge you to condense your points to focus on what really needs to be said in order to position yourself as an ideal candidate for the role.

For example, this basic resume template only highlights two past jobs:

Sometimes less is more. The simple layout makes this basic resume template easy to read and the core skills easy to detect.

Just make sure to adjust your resume when you’re applying to different jobs–swap out the skills listed for others that more closely match the job description.

6. Highlight your contact information with a different background color

As I said above, your contact information should be very easy to find. Preferably it will be placed in its own section of the resume for easy access.

I mean, you don’t want to miss out on the job of your dreams because the manager or software can’t find your phone number!

One of the simplest ways to draw attention to your contact information is to use a different background color.

For example, the simple resume example below uses almost 1/4th of the page for their contact information:

They made it stand out from the rest of the resume just by changing the background color to a nice shade of beige. This might not seem like an earth-shattering addition, but it will help a reader quickly consume and use your resume!

7.  Use multiple fonts for your resume design

Using a single font throughout your resume is one of the worst things design decisions you can make.

There are literally thousands of fonts out in the world you can use. Honestly, with that many choices, there’s no excuse for using a single font on any design project, but especially a resume.

If you’re not comfortable picking fonts yet, check out our font guide first!

In this resume template, they use a combination of three different fonts and italics to make things interesting:

One for the headers(1), another for the sub-headers(2) and a final one for the body text(3). A combination that features serif and sans serif fonts like this makes the resume easy to skim and jump from one piece of information to the next.

This professional resume template uses a different font for the header and subheaders, but the differences are subtle to keep the overall look conservative and clean.

8. Always include some power words in your resume

As a baseline, you should always strive to include words used directly in the job description for the role you’re applying for. As the hiring manager has these words in mind when screening resumes, it is a surefire way to make your resume pop.

To help your resume really stand out, I would recommend using power words throughout the descriptions.  According to TheBalanceCareers , these power words should include:

• Action verbs
• Company values
• Skill words
• Specific keywords
• Industry buzzwords

In the resume introduction above they used a nice mix of all of those types of power words.

Using these powerful words will not only help your resume stand out to hiring managers but also make it through the software they use to filter candidates.

Just remember to not go overboard and include too many of these power words. It may cause your resume to look inauthentic, and end up in the trash can.

9.   Design a data-driven infographic resume

If you were not away, Venngage started as an infographic resume company! Back in the day, we would create an infographic resume from the information on your LinkedIn page.

Obviously, we have come a long way since then, but we still know how powerful an infographic resume can be.

A combination of data visualizations, icons, and more can make your resume design wholly unique and easily digestible. In the resume template below they used not one, but four data visualization to tell their professional story:

This approach is a great way for someone with not a ton of experience to fill out a full resume. As you can see above, they used a timeline to outline their education, travels, and internships. And then a bar chart to explain some of the skills they learned while in college.

Overall, I think it’s a resume that will definitely get you a job interview ! You’ll appear creative and innovative, two skills that are highly celebrated in the modern workforce.

Related Reading:  How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions Like a Pro !

10. Use bold colors to highlight important power words

In a previous tip, we briefly talked about how important power words are. These are words that could make or break your resume. So if you skipped that part, go back and read it now!

If you want your power words to stand out even more on your resume, use a different font color like below:

This designer made sure that the reader will see those power words by highlighting them with a nice lilac. This beautiful resume really stands out from the pack.

Not sure what colors to use in your resume? Check out this in depth color guide !

I really like this approach because those keywords will stick with a manager throughout the hiring process. Plus, if they are just skimming the resumes those power words will immediately jump out and grab their attention.

If you are creating a resume for a more conservative workplace, you could adapt this approach and simply bold the text you want to stand out.

11. Include direct links to your social media platforms

In the contact section of your resume, use links that a manager can easily copy and paste into their browser. Remember that you want to make your resume easy to use and interact with.

I would also recommend adding any links to your work on other sites like LinkedIn, Medium, Behance, Dribbble or even your own WordPress or Wix website. The resume design example above actually includes a direct link to their Behance profile.

A curious hiring manager might want to check out your past work before looking at the rest of your resume. Again, make it almost too easy to learn more about you with a simple link.

If your work is good enough, it might just get you the job. Or at least make your name stand above all the other applicants.

Remember, the links you should provide will vary based on industry and job role. Be sure to only include links to your social media profiles that support your candidacy for the role you are seeking. Yes, the photos of your puppy on your Instagram are cute, but sharing a profile of this nature is likely appropriate for a Community Manager but not a Software Developer.

12. Feature icons to illustrate your interests outside of work

Most companies these days don’t just care about your experience, they also want to see if you’re a good culture fit.

At Venngage we truly value finding candidates that will enrich our culture by aligning with our core values. This is because we can always teach you a skill or process, but not how to be a team player. Or a fun person to work with!

I know that including a concept as large and abstract as your personality on your resume can be a little tricky. That’s why I recommend using a few simple icons to illustrate your hobbies and interests. Like so:

As you can see in this resume design example, the designer included a bunch of icons to show what she likes to do during her free time.

Hiring managers can learn a lot about a candidate with this information, so don’t forget to include it. And with a few well-placed icons you can make a visually appealing resume.

13. Write a resume introduction that fits your experience

According to the fine people at ResumeCoach , there are 3 main types of resume introductions that you can use.

The first one called an Objective Introduction , should be used if you don’t have a lot of experience in the field or industry. This kind of introduction can be thought of as an abbreviated cover letter as well. The resume example below lists some very interesting information about the applicant:

Next, we have the Qualifications Introduction , which is exactly what it sounds like. With this kind of intro, you should only list your relevant soft skills and abilities. The resume design example below uses their management experience as a focal point as they applied for a more senior role:

And finally, we have the Summary Introduction , which is basically a brief synopsis of your relevant jobs and experience. This introduction is built for people with a ton of direct experience and accomplishments in the industry.

The resume design example below includes a nice mix of accomplishments, qualifications, and experience:  

Just remember to include only things that are very relevant to the job that you’re applying for. Also, don’t write a novel on your resume, keep any introduction short and sweet.

14. Include a simple timeline to visualize education or experience

One of the best ways to visualize your past experience or education is with a simple timeline .

Most people are very familiar with timelines and will be able to consume the information efficiently.

I should be noted that any timeline you add to your resume should be relatively minimalist.

The timeline in this resume example strikes the perfect balance between informative and interesting. If the timeline design gets too complicated, it will distract from your written information.

You can even use a timeline infographic to organize your education if you have multiple degrees like they did above.

WATCH: How to customize this resume template [Venngage tutorial]

15. Use icon headers to draw the eye to important information

Icons can be used in a bunch of different ways on your resume. We have already outlined a few interesting ways you can incorporate them in previous sections.

But I think the best way to use icons is as headers for important information in your resume.

Not sure what I’m talking about? Take a look at how this designer used icons across his resume:

For every ability, skill, educational milestone and more they attached a related icon. This won’t only help the reader gain some quick insight but also draw their eye to each piece of information.

Plus it makes the resume look extremely unique!

16. Use a visually appealing resume to showcase the value of your skills

A well-designed, visually appealing resume can help to highlight your skills. Good design helps your resume look cleaner and draw the hiring manager’s eye to the bits you want to showcase. A poorly designed resume can be distracting.

Above are all the different elements of design one can include to make the optimal resume, it is crucial to consider the elements, or principles, of visual design. The principles of design work together to create a visual piece that is aesthetically pleasing and optimizes the user experience. If you haven’t picked up on it yet, the experience of the hiring manager viewing your resume is highly important for your success.

Some principles of design you should consider when making a visually appealing resume include:

• White space

Not sure where to get started? Here are 35+ resume examples to boost your job search.

Let’s dive into the essential parts of a resume that every hiring manager is looking for.

1. Contact information

The first part of your resume should always include your name and contact information. You want to make it as easy as possible for a hiring manager to find you on professional websites (such as LinkedIn) or contact you with any questions or comments.

So don’t hide this pertinent info at the bottom of your resume or in some other odd space. Be sure this information is both clear and obvious to the reader, like in this template where it’s clearly presented in the top right:

The resume contact information section should include your:

• Phone Number
• Home Address
• Email Address
• Social Media Usernames (if applicable)

Only include your website or social media handles if it relates to your job function i.e. a social media marketer would want to add their social usernames and a writer would want to link to a portfolio.

That said, you should always mention your LinkedIn profile.

2. Resume introduction

Once a hiring manager has skimmed through the contact information, your resume introduction is probably going to be the first substantial thing they read. This is your first opportunity to pitch yourself as an ideal fit for the role–imagine this as the “hard copy” of your elevator pitch.

You should only include things that really set you apart from the rest of the applicants, such as:

• Direct Experience
• Responsibilities
• Soft & Hard Skills
• Accomplishments

For example, this tidy infographic resume neatly sums up the applicant’s experience in the intro:

The resume introduction sets the tone for the story you are trying to sell through your resume. When approached correctly, you can entice the hiring manager to continue reading your resume. So make it count.

3. Relevant Skills

This section is meant to be short and to the point, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. Especially if you work in an industry that has an emphasis on technical skills to succeed. These are known as hard skills because they are easily defined and measured.

For example, if you want to be a professional designer you must have a ton of experience with the Adobe suite. But a writer may need WordPress experience. This resume design idea uses a cool graph to illustrate skill level:

You also can highlight soft skills on your resume if they are related to your current or future position. As you probably guessed, soft skills are the opposite of hard skills and are not easily defined or measured.

Highlighting your skills and abilities is important because it is a snapshot of what positions you as an ideal candidate for the role. This section plays a supporting role to the claims you made in your resume Introduction. As hiring managers are often reviewing dozens of resumes at a time, it is crucial to have a precise Introduction and Skills Overview to catch their attention at first glance.

4. Education

The first entry in your education section should always be the most recent you completed. So if you got an advanced degree, that should come first, followed by your undergraduate degree.

Like the contact section, there are a few things that you should always include in the education part of a resume.

These four pieces of pertinent info include:

• School Name
• School Location
• Degree/Major/Minor
• Years Attended

You really don’t need to include more than that. The hiring manager will ask questions if they want to learn more about your education and such.

5. Job experience

Another essential part of a resume is job experience. Like in the previous section, you should start with your most recent job and work backward.

It’s good to include descriptions of what each recruiting opportunity entails, and be sure to use these descriptions to prove how they qualify you for this position . Avoid omitting experiences you do not perceive as relevant to the role, as the benefits of transferable skills may surprise you. However, you may skip the full description of roles from many years ago and just list the basics (who, what and where).

For each job you want to highlight on your resume, include these four things:

• Company name
• Dates of employment
• List of responsibilities & achievements

Each of these responsibilities or achievements should be presented as a bullet point like above. Otherwise, your resume will be very hard to read!

To save time, you could always turn to one of these 12 resume makers to ensure a professional-looking resume that highlights your qualifications and increases your chances of landing job interviews.

A well designed infographic resume can be a big differentiator and move you to the top of the pile in seconds for that dream job. Unfortunately, a badly designed one can also disqualify you just as fast. How can you  create a successful infographic resume ? Here are a few do’s and don’ts for creating your own infographic resume:

• Use bar or column charts to display your skills, expertise and years of experience
• Stick to simple and easy to understand charts
• Limit the length of your infographic to about one page
• Pick a color scheme that works for you and the reader
• Tell your own personal story to help hiring managers learn more about you
• Include a call to action

Don’ts

• Avoid using a line or area chart for displaying skills
• Avoid using overly complex charts or ornamental design elements that aren’t used to convey information
• Avoid creating a never ending scrolling infographic
• Avoid using more than 3 colors in your design

The takeaway: top resume design ideas

Keep these resume design ideas in mind when overhauling your CV:

• Use a basic resume template if you need help condensing information

That’s all the resume design tips I have for you today! Hopefully, some of these templates and tips will help you find the perfect job in the future.

And if you’re a hiring manager, don’t forget to check out top recruiting tips from 10 HR experts.

Sources for Infographic:

Ryan Moore, Director of Client Management at  PeakSales Recruiting

Jennifer Rogerson, Head of HR at  Best Company

Charlette Beasley, Career and Workplace Analyst at  FitSmallBusiness.com

Peter Yang, Chief Executive Officer at  ResumeGo

Ed Moss, Hiring Manager at  Angel List

Nate Richardson, Search Engine Optimization Analyst at  BambooHR

Joanna Zambas, CV Specialist and Career Expert at  CareerAddict

Iris De Geest, Content Marketer at  Survey Anyplace

Anja Zojčeska, Recruitment Marketing Specialist at  TalentLyft

Samuel Johns HR Specialist and Hiring Manager  Resume Genius

Need some more resume design examples or cover letter suggestions? Start with these two articles:

• 20+ Infographic Resume Templates and Design Tips
• 20+ Creative Cover Letter Template Design

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8 Resume Design Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out

How can one eager and able applicant stand out in a sea of competitors?  It’s a difficult task, but not impossible.

You’ve surely spent hours writing, editing, and proofreading your resume – making sure it is clear, concise, accurate, and free of errors.

Hint: If you haven’t yet put in the time, stop right now and focus on the content first.

But how long have you spent on your resume design? While you may think that visual appeal is not so critical when it comes to resume writing, think again. You should seize every opportunity to catch the eye of the hiring manager (there are good ways and bad ways to catch someone’s eye, of course, but more on that in a moment).

As your primary marketing piece, your resume says a great deal about you. A sharp-looking document shows that you have the ability to present yourself with professionalism and style. If you are applying for design-related jobs or positions requiring a flair for visuals, an attractive resume is even more important.

Resumes are often staid: White paper, black font, and nothing too fancy. In fact, most resumes are indistinguishable from one another in a sea of ecru vs eggshell (calling to mind the business card scene in American Psycho ).

So, how can one stand out without going overboard?  Check out these 8 resume design tips.

Get it Together

Make sure your content is compelling first, then worry about the design and layout. While appearance can set you apart, it’s hard to impress if you don’t have substance to go with that style. Plus, it’s a lot easier to work with a complete document. Otherwise, you may be forced to redo design and formatting work as you add or change positions or bullet points.

Use a Template

If you’re not a designer and don’t have time to spend on formatting, the fastest way to a good-looking resume may be through a template. You’ll find some decent free resume templates through Microsoft Word. A quick search will lead you to a wealth of other options as well (these are nice downloadable templates via Primer Magazine ).

Of course, a lot of the other free resume templates out there are ugly and/or dated looking. If you go with a template, make sure that it follows all of the guidelines listed below.

Find a Great Font

Times New Roman is the go-to for many, since it is the default on Microsoft Word. However, your selection of font options is endless, free, and available all over the web. In fact, the choice can seem overwhelming.

If you can’t pick a favorite, your best bet is to stick with simple, thin fonts. There are a few pre-loaded on every computer. Great examples include Georgia, Book Antiqua and Tahoma. All look great both on-screen and on the page, with clear and consistent spacing (something that Times New Roman doesn’t have).

Steer clear of fussy or dated-looking fonts at all costs ( Comic Sans is not your friend ).

When it comes to font size, don’t go any smaller than 9 points or larger than 12 points in the resume body. You want to remain easily readable and maintain a professional look.

Contact Information

Your name and contact information should appear prominently at the top of the page without exception. Think of it as the personal letterhead at the top of your professional resume. It should stand out, make a good first impression and gain credibility that will bring the reader into the rest of your document. After all, you don’t want there to be any confusion about how to respond to set up an interview.

Make It Skimmable

Remember that many hiring managers will first view your resume on the computer screen. People read differently on a computer screen than on paper. They skim and scan instead of reading every word. That means it’s critical to make sure that your resume is skimmable — and it should only take you a few minutes to make a dramatic difference in readability.

• First, clearly mark your headings. Each heading should be in whichever font you’ve chosen, but bolded or italicized, and 2 font points larger. This makes them easily identifiable for the hiring manager (or, in most cases, the recruiter or HR person responsible for first viewing resumes).
• Let the headings have some white space around them as well. A cramped resume is no one’s friend — and not very easy on the eyes.
• Keep your paragraphs and bullet point entries short. Big blocks of text can be off-putting.
• Selectively emphasize keywords or phrases in bold. Don’t overdo it, though. If too much text is bolded, nothing stands out.
• In general, avoid setting type in all caps . Because the letters start to look the same, words in all caps are harder to read. In small doses, text in ALL CAPS is acceptable, but only if you space out the letters.

Color is OK!

If wielded with a light hand, color can add a needed point of interest that will draw in the reader. A black-and-white resume is the norm, but adding one touch of color is not unheard of. Consider adding a different color monogram, or making your headings a dark blue instead of black. Keep in mind that if you’re sending the resume electronically,  the recipient may not print it out in color despite your intentions.

Don’t Get Too Artsy

Even in the case of an artist or designer’s resume, one should resist the urge to use any sort of clip art, confusing lines or borders, or fancy bullets. Your aim is certainly to stand out, but fancy extras only serve to confuse. A thin, simple border line under your name and address can serve as a nice divider, and further serve your aim to make the resume an easy read.

If your page looks overly cluttered and you don’t have suitable margins, this can be a real turn-off to the reader. There is a fine line between appropriately stylistic and cluttered/overdone. Some great examples of simple but attractive resume designs can be seen at JobMo .

Artistically, it’s best to err on the side of caution (especially if you’re applying to positions at conservative companies), but do be sure that your resume stands out as a top of the line representation of YOU.

Link Them to Work Samples

Is the resume format too limiting for you? If you’re a designer, writer, or other creative professional, you may benefit from going beyond the standard resume.

If you really want to wow them with your creativity, use a link or QR code on your resume to direct hiring managers to an online portfolio. Let your talent speak for you by showing off your best work.

Check out Behance , Carbonmade, or Shownd to quickly and easily set up an online portfolio.

Pamela Skillings

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How to Make Your Resume Stand Out, According to HR Executives

A pplying for your dream job can be stressful. And while candidates have the advantage in today’s competitive job market , it’s still hard to land coveted positions. So how do you make your resume stand out among hundreds of applicants?

Hiring managers don’t have a ton of time to thoroughly look over each resume, which means you have to be judicious about what to include. From choosing the right font to deciding whether or not to include that internship, creating a resume in 2019 isn’t easy.

Beyond the basics , a resume should be the space to communicate your story, says Julie Kim, a Senior Recruiter at Jun Group, an advertising agency based in New York City. Your resume should reflect more than just what you did. A good resume includes specifics on what you’ve actually accomplished throughout your career, says Traci Schweikert, Vice President of Human Resources at POLITICO.

If you’re looking to make your resume stand out , consider these six tips from HR executives.

Customize your resume for your industry

People are often encouraged to include personality in their resume, but unless they are applying for a job in a creative industry, they may want to rethink that strategy. “A lot of pictures and fonts and colors and a whole lot of personality just doesn’t align with the jobs we have here,” says Schweikert, whose team recruits for positions in sales, product and marketing. “If I was in an organization that, for example, was in web design, then I would want to see those design elements in a resume.”

Kim agrees that resume layout is wholly dependent on the position you are applying for. “If you are applying for a designer role, I want to see something creative there. If you’re applying for a finance role, I want to see numbers,” she says.

Include keywords from the original job posting

One of the best ways to make your resume stand out is to use the job posting as a guide. Schweikert says that she often tells people that is the first place they should look when revamping their resume.

“We’ve written the job description with certain words,” Schweikert says. “And when we see a resume with those words on it, those are the resumes that instantly get our attention.”

Some companies actually conduct keyword searches when sorting through resumes, Schweikert adds, which means those terms are even more important to include if you want to secure an interview. It may sound tedious, but taking the time to customize your resume for each individual job you apply to is a surefire tactic to stand out among the pack of applicants, she says.

Be clean and concise

It can be difficult to view your resume from a hiring manager ‘s perspective — but one thing many employers agree on is that simplicity goes a long way.

For starters, you never know exactly how a hiring manager will be reading your resume; they may pull it up on their phone, or go through an applicant tracking system. Schweikert suggests sticking to clean and simple resumes, since they are legible across all platforms. Hyperlinking to your portfolio or LinkedIn profile instead of including that information elsewhere on your resume is also an easy way to preserve space, she says.

Format and font are important, too. Kim says that she likes to see all titles in bold, because they catch her eye. And again, unless you are applying for a creative position, stick to a monochromatic color palette.

When applicable, consider using numbers to back up your success. “I love seeing numbers,” Kim adds. “I am personally a big number person and it can stack up your experience better than two paragraphs explaining what you do.”

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Write a pithy objective

Whether you’re switching careers or feel slightly underqualified for the job you are applying for, Kim suggests including an objective at the top of your resume. This will help hiring managers understand the thought process behind your decision to change industries or why you are applying for the job. She says you can fill the gaps in between your experience by detailing the inspiration and motivation behind your move.

This objective statement should be limited to two or three sentences explaining what you are trying to accomplish and what you can contribute, Kim says.

And don’t be discouraged by the job description: Schweikert notes that it is written for the perfect candidate — and hiring managers know that — so they likely expect that you won’t fit each bullet point on a posting. There’s also a relatively simple way to determine if you’re right for the role. “Most job descriptions are written [from] most important criteria to least important criteria,” Schweikert says. “So if you’ve got a lot of the first couple of bullets of the job posting, you are probably in a pretty good place.”

Research the company’s culture

Take the time to go beyond the job description and do your research on the company. Schweikert suggests simply going on the company’s career website to see what their values are. In addition to including your professional experience on your resume, think about including information relevant to that company’s culture.

For example, if you see that a company participates in a significant amount of charitable work and you have volunteer experience, consider adding that to your resume, Schweikert says. And even if the company doesn’t mention anything about volunteering, you may want to include it anyway — about 80% of “hiring influencers” (employees who have the ability to influence the hiring process), indicated that they believe there is a relationship between volunteering and leadership ability, according to a 2016 Deloitte survey .

Reach out to your network

Arranging informational interviews with people you are connected to can also help your resume stand out, according to Schweikert. Most applications are submitted online, and the volume of resumes that hiring managers must sift through can be overwhelming at times — so establishing a personal connection can help you get noticed, she says. Plus, if you are invited in for an official interview , you can bring up what you discussed at the informational one. “You can say, ‘hey I did a lot of research on the organization and met with Susie Q and they shared this with me,'” Schweikert says.

After your informational interview, you can reach out to that contact and ask that they glance over your resume, making sure to pose as many specific questions as possible about how you should tailor your resume to the company or specific role, Schweikert adds. For example, if you are struggling to decide whether to include your college activities on your resume, reaching out to your connection for advice can provide invaluable insight on whether that might be important to that company.

Kim also encourages informational interviews, as they are a great opportunity to learn more about an industry, company or specific role. There is also significant value in having someone else look over your resume. “A second pair of eyes can bring a lot of fresh perspective,” she says.

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How to Make Your Resume Stand Out and Land Your Dream Job

In today's dynamic and competitive job market, learning how to make your resume stand out is the key to landing your dream job.

The good news is with a bit of effort and strategic thinking, you can create a memorable, eye-catching, strong resume that grabs attention immediately. In fact, many tried-and-tested strategies can help you make a lasting impression, even in a crowded field of applicants. 

So let's get into it and explore how to create a standout resume that'll be the key to getting your foot in the door and landing an interview.

What is a resume?

A resume is a critical tool for job seekers that summarizes your education, work experience, skills, achievements, and any other relevant information that might impress a potential employer. It's essentially a snapshot of your background and expertise. And it's an incredibly influential marketing tool when looking for a job—often the first thing an employer sees about you.

The most crucial aspect of creating your resume? Designing a document that presents you in the best light, stands out from the competition, and grabs the attention of those reading it.

What do most resumes include?

Before we get into some strategies to make your resume stand out, let’s walk through some key resume sections potential employers are likely looking for.

Typically, resumes include contact information, a professional summary or resume objective, work experience, education, skills, achievements, and any certifications. 

You see, the purpose of your resume is to showcase your skills, relevant experience, and qualifications to potential employers to make a strong case for why you are the best candidate for the job. So while the content and order of these sections may vary depending on you and the job you're applying for, including these critical sections can help ensure that your resume is comprehensive, professional, and effective.

What does a good resume look like?

Aside from including all the information highlighting why you're the right fit for a job, your resume should look good! 

A great resume has a clean and professional appearance. It should be easy to read and scan, with clear headings and sections. The font should be legible and consistent throughout, and the text should be aligned properly. 

Your resume should also use bullet points to highlight important information and achievements rather than paragraphs of text. And it's important to use a resume format appropriate for your industry and level of experience, so researching templates and examples can be helpful. 

Overall, the appearance of a good resume should be visually appealing and make a positive impression on the reader, like this one below!

How to Make a Resume Stand Out Visually

Visual presentation is one way to make your resume stand out. By making a few simple tweaks to the layout, fonts, and overall design, you can create appeal and grab attention.

Pay attention to simple details like margins, fonts, and headers to create a professional, easy-to-read resume that catches the reader's eye. You should also consider using a resume template to add a touch of visual interest. But be sure to choose a design that complements your skills and experiences, is appropriate for the job you're applying for, and is optimized for an applicant tracking system (ATS). 

So what are some key elements you can focus on to enhance visual appeal?

Let's start with the basics! Your resume margins should be set at one inch on all sides of the page (or pages). 

If your achievement bullets or other sections require more space, you can adjust them to 0.5 inches, but no smaller. Keep in mind, you don't want your content to appear cramped, difficult to read, or overwhelming for potential employers.

There are a lot of unique fonts out there that add complexity and intricate detail to design work. But, when it comes to the best fonts for your resume , there are a few general guidelines to keep in mind. 

• The font you choose should align with the role you’re applying to. For example, if you're applying for positions that are less creative in nature, such as engineer, IT manager, architect, human resources manager, or data scientist, it's best practice to use a font that appears more professional, like Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, or Georgia. If your profession is on the more creative side, so let’s say, animator, graphic designer, or video editor, you can incorporate fonts like Didot, Lato, or Montserrat.
• Except for your name and headers, the text in your resume should stay between a 10- and 12-point size. 
• It’s best to avoid extremely decorative, thin or light, heavily italicized, and overly thick fonts.

Resume headings are another key design element that can attract the right attention. Great headings will identify the resume components often expected and optimize the document for ATS. 

So what headings should be included?

• A header with your name and contact information
• A tailored short professional bio that speaks to your capabilities as they relate to the job you're applying for
• Your work experience (If you're creating a resume with no experience , you can omit this section and list your achievements under your education.)
• Any education
• Relevant skills and interests

Resume templates are used to enhance the visual appeal and comprehensibility. Templates often incorporate fonts, colors, and graphic design to create an appealing structure.

A well-designed template will also help highlight important sections like your experience and skills, making them easier for potential employers to spot quickly.

When choosing your resume template, consider the industry you're applying in and check out some examples to see what aligns with that industry and your personality. 

Explore 850+ standout resume examples across a variety of jobs, industries, specialities, and more with Teal's comprehensive list. Then use our AI Resume Builder to customize your resume templates—taking the time, guesswork, and research off your plate so you can focus on other aspects of your job search, like interview prep and networking! 

How to Make a Resume Stand Out to Hiring Managers

When it comes to getting hired for your dream job, one of the most crucial steps is making your resume stand out to hiring managers specifically. With so many applicants vying for positions, they're often inundated with numerous resumes for a single job opening. 

So what can you do? 

Well, your resume needs to be memorable to increase your chances of getting face to face. So let's explore some sure-fire ways to grab their attention and increase your chances of landing that interview—uniquely, creatively, and effectively.

Understand What The Hiring Manager is Looking For

All companies are unique, so they often look for different qualifications in candidates that align with their specific needs. Understanding what a hiring manager is looking for starts with carefully reviewing the job description and the company's culture and values.

A good job ad should provide specific details about the role's responsibilities, qualifications, and desired skills and experience. It's essential to pay attention to the language used in the job posting and the requirements listed to get an idea of what the hiring manager is looking for.

Additionally, researching the company's values, mission statement, and culture can provide insights into the type of person the company seeks. A company's website, social media presence, and press releases can give you a sense of core values, company culture, and how they present themselves to the public.

Include a Target Job Title

Your target job title, also called your resume title , is located near the very top of your resume. You should always have one, and it should also reflect the description of the job you're applying for, whether it's an office job or not. That means if you're applying for multiple positions, you should not have the same resume target title on each document.

While your current or previous position is significant to your work history, it's also important for your target job title to correspond with the job you're pursuing.

For example, let's say you're a copywriter; some target titles with descriptions that align closely with that role may be Content Writer, Marketing Writer, Creative Writer, or Content Strategist. By modifying your title to one that’s more specific and closely related, you'll make a better first impression with a potential employer and increase your chances of standing out as someone who understands the role and responsibilities! 

And remember, if you've never held that target job title, you can still make a connection to the rest of your resume by including relevant keywords and emphasizing skills, certifications, projects, and achievements that fit the job description of the position you're seeking.

Add Skills and Proficiencies

Your skills and proficiencies demonstrate what you bring to the table that goes beyond direct job responsibilities. 

Hard or technical skills are measurable and specific to your job. These are skills like data analysis, affiliate marketing, and Salesforce or WordPress. On the other hand, soft skills are those less-measurable, more universal interpersonal skills employers often seek, such as teamwork, communication, or strategic problem-solving. 

But remember, regardless of the particular skill, it's essential to craft an attention-grabbing skills section with proficiencies that are relevant to a professional setting, and align with the role you're applying for to stand out as someone qualified for a position.

Show Measurable Results

While hiring managers need to see your skills, education, and work history, it's crucial to remember they need to see your impact on a company, too.

According to LinkedIn , presenting quantitative metrics (numbers!) has a significantly more notable impact than outlining your job duties and responsibilities. Why? That data demonstrates your performance and potential to deliver those same results for another company.

For example, it’s fantastic to say you optimized a marketing email sequence, but what was the impact? To demonstrate the measurable results as well as the process of how you got to those results, you might say something like:

Increased onboarding sequence CTR by 8.3% and conversion by 5.4%, leveraging user behavior analysis to create tailored content addressing product adoption and usage.

The version above shows the direct impact of your work in a measurable way, making it easy for potential employers to understand the awesome results you can produce. 

Ensure it’s Concise

If you’re wondering, “ How long should a resume be ” you aren’t alone! Gone are the days of including every single detail of every role you’ve held. 

At Teal, we recommend keeping your resume to one page, especially if you’re early in your career. After 7-10 years, it might be time to add a second page. 

In addition to the formatting suggestions for margins, fonts, and templates above, what are some ways to ensure you create a solid resume that stands out but is also concise? 

• Only include pertinent information
• Keep your achievements as simple bullets rather than paragraphs
• Use only the best best action verbs for resume

Tailor Your Resume to The Job Description  

One of the most impactful ways to stand out as the ideal candidate you are is to tailor your resume to the job description. 

Tailoring your resume demonstrates you understand (and are qualified for) the role you’re applying to. 

So what's the best way to do this? Include keywords and important language from the job description in your professional summary and achievements. You can use AI tools like Teal and ChatGPT for job applications for repetitive tasks like pulling keywords from the job posting. 

The Teal Job Application Tracker and AI-powered Resume Builder pull the keywords from your saved jobs, so you can easily incorporate them into your resume. Sign up for a free Teal account today to see for yourself!

Make Your Resume Stand Out by Customizing it to Any Job

With our Resume to Job Description Match tool , you can easily determine how well-aligned your resume is to a specific job.

Simply add the text from your resume into the field below and get a customized match score with recommendations.

Try it yourself.

Add a Custom Cover Letter

According to Zippia , 38% of hiring managers say including a cover letter makes them more likely to pay attention to your application, and 45% say that not submitting one will potentially get your application rejected.

So what’s the best way to submit a cover letter?

Well, if you have the right tools, a personalized cover letter will grab attention by using the keywords and language from the job description to resonate with the reader. If you’re applying for several positions, this might sound like a lot of work. But it doesn’t need to be. 

The Teal AI Resume Builder has built-in AI functionality that creates personalized, AI-generated cover letters with the click of a button. And you can use it for every letter you submit.

Review with a Keen Eye

Reviewing your resume with a keen eye and making strategic adjustments to ensure it's error free can increase your chances of catching a hiring manager's attention.

Start by checking for typos, grammatical errors, or formatting issues that could negatively impact you—tools like Grammarly or Quillbot AI can help you do this quickly and easily. 

Additionally, read your content aloud. Is it clear? Is your language consistent? Are you using the same voice throughout?

Finally, make sure that your target title, professional summary, and accomplishments are correctly tailored to the job you're applying for, and highlight the keywords relevant to the role.

Follow up With the Hiring Manager After Your Submission

After you submit your resume, it's important to understand how to follow up on a job application with a potential employer to stand out from other candidates. 

A good rule of thumb is to send a follow-up email once a week for three weeks. This timeframe gives the hiring manager plenty of time to review and respond to your initial application while demonstrating your continued interest in the position. 

When you send your follow-up email, attach your resume and keep your follow-up message brief and professional.

Within Job Application Tracker are communication templates to use as a starting point for a follow up email after applying for a job. Make sure to tailor it to the specific role.

Create a Standout Resume Today

Once you understand how to make your resume stand out, it's time to start crafting the best resume to land your dream job.

A tool like the Teal AI Resume Builder can help you quickly and easily optimize your resume's appearance by customizing elements like your font and template. You can also use the AI functionality to tailor your professional summary and achievements to include keywords from specific job descriptions and so much more.

So don’t hesitate! Sign up for Teal for free today to get started and create a winning resume that stands out from the crowd.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific elements on a resume typically catch an employer's attention, how can i effectively showcase my soft skills on my resume, is it beneficial to include a personal branding statement on my resume.

Kayte Grady

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Modern Resume Formatting: A Visual Guide

10 min read · Updated on May 15, 2024

Here are tips on formatting a modern and visually appealing resume.

Are you putting together your resume? To begin, you'll want to gather the following information: 

Employer names

Educational history

Volunteerism

Professional engagement

Transferable skills

Unsure of how to proceed with formatting from there? No worries. We've got you covered. 

Read on to learn the ins and outs of how to format a resume with tips to support you as you take the first steps towards creating your resume with a modern and visually appealing look. 

How to format a resume: the 3 common resume formats

With the many online resume templates available today, there are several resume formats to choose from. However, just because you see them and they're available online doesn't mean you should use them. Aside from very rare circumstances, there are really only three resume formats you should be considering:

Reverse-chronological

Functional/Skills-based

Hybrid/Combination

Chronological resume format

A chronological resume, also referred to as a reverse-chronological resume, places your most recent work history first and works backward from there. Employers are most interested in your career's current achievements, so this format allows them to easily locate the information they're seeking.

The reverse-chronological format is the most widely used format, making it the preferred choice among recruiters and hiring managers. It's also the format that an employer's applicant tracking system , or ATS, can properly parse information from. Due to these factors, it's often recommended that you use a chronological format whenever possible during your job search. 

Functional resume format

Also referred to as a skills-based resume, a functional resume focuses more on the qualifications or skills a person has rather than their work history. This format is commonly used by career changers who might not have a lot of experience in their new field of choice or by individuals who have extended gaps in their employment history. 

Many employers view the functional resume with suspicion since it gives a sense that the candidate might be trying to cover up or hide something. However, it's still a viable option for some job seekers, but in very limited settings.

Hybrid resume format

A hybrid resume, also referred to as a combination resume, incorporates elements from both the chronological and functional resume formats. The goal is to equally highlight work history and skills. 

This resume format can be a good option for career changers who want to emphasize their transferable skills before diving into their work history. It can also work well for those who have an unusual career path that might be difficult to outline or explain in a chronological format. With equal emphasis on both skills and work history, it can be easier to focus on and highlight what is relevant to the job you're applying to. 

Pro tip: When considering how to format a resume, you should avoid using any type of creative resume format, as those tend to be confusing to both human readers and applicant tracking system software. Unless the prospective employer specifically asks for certain elements in your resume, go with one of the three format options listed above. A simple resume format is best! 

How to format a resume: style guide

Once you've chosen the format you plan to use for your resume, it's time to start creating it. Let's dive into how to format a resume in terms of style related to items like white space, font, resume length, and section headings. 

Create white-space

Too much text is overwhelming to the reader and may even stop a potential employer from reviewing your information. Each page of the resume should have sufficient white space around all four sides of the document. So, be sure not to push the margins to the edge. If and when a person prints the document, you want to make sure there are no technical challenges.

Margins should be set at one inch all around as the maximum, with a half-inch as the minimum. 

You also want to have enough white space throughout your resume between lines of text and resume sections. 

Choose line spacing that is between 1.15 and 1.5-point between text. After headings, use double-line spacing. 

Use common fonts and font sizing

While a script font may be a beautiful choice for handwriting, and Comic Sans may be appropriate for your child's birthday invitation, they aren't appropriate for a resume. 

In fact, the ATS can have difficulty reading these fonts. In addition, a human being may not find these fonts as easy to read. 

Stick with common fonts such as Cambria, Calibri, Arial, Lato, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. 

In terms of sizing, use 10.5 to 12-point font for text within each section of your resume. Use 14 to 16-point font for titles and headers. 

Use clear section headings

Most resumes have similar components: 

A title or headline

A professional summary

Areas of expertise

Professional work experience

You might also include optional sections, like volunteerism, special projects, and technical skills. 

When deciding how to format a resume, remember these headings must be definitive and have to stand out amidst the other text in the document. Avoid using alternative names for these sections, and don't be afraid to use a shaded box, bold text, and white space around each heading, as long as it falls within the text formatting options that an ATS can read. 

Stick with one to two pages

Your resume should be no more than one to two pages in length unless you fall under a few unique categories. 

A one-page resume is ideal for entry-level candidates with little to no relevant experience or career changers where a one-page resume is sufficient to cover transferable skills and experience. 

A two-page resume is ideal for experienced professionals or entry-level candidates and college students with relevant work histories through experiences like internships, assistantships, work-study, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities. 

In rare instances, you might be able to use a three-page resume if you're applying for a senior-level or executive position and you have a bunch of career extras like publications, patents, public speaking engagements, or research to highlight. 

Those applying for jobs in academia and the U.S. federal government tend to have longer resumes due to application requirements, so a three-page or much longer resume is expected in these fields. 

Use bullet points

Bullet points are an excellent way to break up content, making it easier for the reader to scan and comprehend the information quickly. Bullets also help your resume look neat and clean. 

Use bullet points for your job accomplishments and any lists you might include, like certifications, skills, or core competencies. 

Be consistent with the format of your resume

As you craft your resume, use consistent formatting throughout. In other words, whatever type of bullet you choose, stick with it and use it consistently. The same goes for font type and size for section headings and the same font type and size for the text between section headings. 

You should also format dates consistently. For example, whatever date format you used in your Work Experience section, be sure to use the same format in your Education section.

How to format a resume: text content

One of the most critical elements of your resume is the text content. The text you choose to include within each resume section is what tells the story of your work history and needs to speak to employers. Below, we dive into some tips to help you craft the text for your resume in a way that stands out.

Add a professional summary

When creating a resume, this three to five-line section should be placed immediately following the header and contact information. This short professional summary is how you introduce yourself as an ideal candidate while focusing on the benefit you'll bring the employer. A professional summary paragraph allows you to immediately showcase what talents and abilities you bring to the table.

Include a core competencies list

A core competencies list sits just below your resume summary and above your work experience. It should include 9-12 skills or competencies (15 max) that you possess, and they should align with the job. 

This type of list allows employers to quickly hone in on whether you have the minimum skills needed for the job and is a way to incorporate keywords to get past the employer's ATS.

Believe it or not, adults have short attention spans. In fact, if they see large, bulky, and never-ending paragraphs, they are less likely to read the information — and that information is important! 

When deciding how to format the information on your resume, put each phrase into bullet points, as mentioned above, and use very brief and concise statements. Only include what's necessary to tell the story. 

Highlight the important information

When considering how to format a resume, you want to ensure the information included stands out. Even if your information is in bullet format, it may still be difficult to quickly identify the pertinent skills and accomplishments that are important to the potential employer. 

If a bullet contains an impressive award or measurable accomplishment that illustrates your qualifications, then draw attention to this detail by bolding the text.

This type of strategic highlighting is illustrated below. While both phrases contain the same information, someone quickly scanning your resume will go to the bold information and note that you were exceptional at sales in this position.

Big block of text:

Boosted sales by 83% within six months through effective target marketing, in-person sales meetings, consistent follow-up strategies, and team collaborations.

Big block of text with bolding that helps achievement stand out:

Utilize quantitative information whenever possible.

Our minds automatically respond to numbers, percentages, and dollar signs. Rather than using words to describe these achievements, use numbers and symbols to highlight your results. 

Whatever you can do as an applicant to keep your reader's eyes on your document means you have a better chance of being noticed and landing an interview.

Include additional sections of value

It's common for individuals to include optional sections in their resumes. Some of the reasons for this include helping to fill in employment gaps, address skill gaps, and add value from significant achievements and associations. 

Outside of the standard Resume Summary, Core Competencies, Work Experience, and Education sections, you might also include any of the following sections based on your unique circumstances:

Volunteer Experience

Hobbies & Interests

Technical Skills

Special Projects

Affiliations

Certifications

Related reading: Words and Phrases to Remove From Your Resume Right Away

Formatting your resume the right way ensures career success

Now that you know how to format a resume for success. Remember, creating an eye-catching resume in today's marketplace is vital to your job search success. After you create your document, send it to a trusted colleague or business partner for advice or work with a professional resume writer . 

Ensuring that your resume is visually appealing and emphasizes the right elements will bring you one step closer to your future career success! 

Not sure if your resume is grabbing the right attention? Utilize our free resume review to see if your resume is visually appealing enough!

This article was originally written by Heather Rothbauer-Wanish and has been updated by Ronda Suder.

Recommended Reading:

11 Steps to Writing the Perfect Resume

Why a Simple Resume Layout is a Successful Resume

10 Powerful Changes for Your Senior-Level Resume

Related Articles:

QR Codes on Resumes: To Include or Not?

Selecting the Right Resume Format for Your Job Hunt

Host/Hostess Skills: Add to Improve Your Resume!

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5 Ways To Make Your Resume Visually Appealing

Looks do count for a resume. Your resume has to have a compelling message and be easy to read. If it doesn’t come off as visually appealing, it’s unlikely anyone will want to read it. Related: 6 Creative Tips To Make Your Resume Stand Out At the same time, be careful about using fancy charts, graphics, or logos on the resume as it could cause the Applicant Tracking Systems (the software that reads and ranks resumes) to not be able to read it. So, you’re probably wondering what exactly can be done to freshen up the look of your resume so that it’s more visually appealing. Here are five things you can do:

1. Utilize color and shading.

2. add testimonials., 3. consistently use bold type face for companies and accomplishments..

• Delivered 157% of quota ranking in top 5% out of 86 peers

4. Use digits for number, including when under 10.

5. include a section on career highlights., related posts, about the author, 11 ways to enjoy summer when you’re working a full-time job.

There you are: sitting on the beach, covered in sunscreen, reading your favorite book, drinking your favorite drink under the cool shade of an umbrella. Life doesn't get any better than this. Suddenly, a door slams, a phone rings, a printer turns on. You jolt back into consciousness. You're at work, sitting in your cubicle, without even a hint of sunshine streaming in from outside.

When you're working a full-time job, finding time to enjoy the warm, bright summer weather can be a challenge. This is especially true for young professionals , as many of them are used to having summers off (or, at the very least, having a flexible summer schedule). But there's no need to feel trapped behind your cubicle walls. Go out and enjoy summer!

Here are a few tips for making the most of your summer while working full time.

1. Grab Some Foldable Chairs

Keep a couple of foldable camping chairs at the office so you and a co-worker can catch some rays during lunch—whether it's in the park or the parking lot.

2. Keep A Beach Bag In Your Car​

Keep a bag full of summer supplies for your favorite summer activities . Having a bag (or, in my case, a backseat) full of towels, sunscreen, and swimwear keeps you prepared for anything. Friends hitting up the pool after work? You're covered. Once the clock strikes five, you can head to your destination of choice immediately.

3. Plan An Office Outing

Plan an office field trip to the beach, the park, or the pool. Just do something fun so your brain can recharge and refresh!

4. Organize Group Walks

Get a bunch of co-workers together and go on regular walks around town during lunch. (Or you could suggest a quick jaunt over to the ice cream shop.) This is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.

5. Eat Lunch At The Park

When you find yourself eating out, hit up places with a deck, porch, or patio of some sort. Obviously, eating out every day isn't really a feasible option for most of us, so look into alternative ideas as well. Pack a lunch and hit the park for your own little picnic.

6. Organize Office Sports

Whether it's setting up an official office sports team or just hanging out with your colleagues a few times a week, playing sports is a great way to get out and enjoy the weather. Have a field nearby? Try setting up some slow-pitch softball games. Or see if you can get a basketball hoop for the office so you and a few co-workers can shoot some hoops at lunch.

7. Join A Professional Group

During the summer, professional networking groups often have fun events like harbor cruises, pub crawls, and outdoor mixers. Find a professional group in your area and make networking fun this summer.

8. Have An Office BBQ

Get your grill on! Talk to your boss about setting up an office BBQ. Ask everyone to contribute their favorite dish, side, or drink. Fire up the grill and relax! Hey, it's summer after all.

9. Wake Up Early

Yes, yes, I know...waking up early is an incredibly painful and unbearable experience for some of us, but waking up even an hour earlier has its benefits—especially in the summer. Go for a morning run, putter around in the garden, or watch the sunrise with a loved one. Talk about starting the day off right!

10. Strategically Use Your Time Off

Strategically use your vacation days around holidays. This way, you can make a potentially long weekend longer without having to use too much of your precious vacation time . Half days are also pretty awesome. It's amazing how much you can do with four extra hours! If you want an early weekend but don't want to burn up your vacation days too quickly, try taking a half day on a Friday instead of using a full day off.

11. Bike To Work

If you're one of the lucky few who live within walking or biking distance of work, take advantage of it! Not only will you get plenty of fresh air, but you'll also save money on gas, which is always a plus!

There are plenty of easy ways to enjoy summer when you work a full-time job. So this summer, try out a few of these ideas and make the most of the sunshine and warm weather—while they're still around!

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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Ruling Further Slows Trump Election Case but Opens Door to Airing of Evidence

The Supreme Court’s immunity decision directed the trial court to hold hearings on what portions of the indictment can survive — a possible chance for prosecutors to set out their case in public before Election Day.

• Share full article

By Alan Feuer

The Supreme Court’s decision on Monday about executive immunity makes it all but certain that former President Donald J. Trump will not stand trial on charges of seeking to overturn the last election before voters decide whether to send him back to the White House in the next one.

But the ruling also opened the door for prosecutors to detail much of their evidence against Mr. Trump in front of a federal judge — and the public — at an expansive fact-finding hearing, perhaps before Election Day.

It remains unclear when the hearing, which was ordered as part of the court’s decision, might take place or how long it would last.

But it will address the big question that the justices kicked back to the trial court, which is how much of Mr. Trump’s indictment can survive the ruling that former presidents enjoy immunity for official actions they take in office. And it will be held in Federal District Court in Washington in front of the judge, Tanya S. Chutkan, who was handling the case before it was frozen more than six months ago as a series of courts considered his immunity claims.

Almost from the moment that Judge Chutkan was assigned the case, she moved it forward expeditiously, showing little patience for Mr. Trump’s efforts to delay it — or his complaints that it was getting in the way of his campaign.

At one point, she told the former president that his “day job” as a candidate would not affect her administration of the case, later declaring, “This trial will not yield to the election cycle.”

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