How Do I Format My Resume
The ideal format for your resume depends on your educational background and work history.
The majority of job-seekers will use one of these three standard resume formats:
What Is The Best Resume Format
The best resume format for most job seekers is the chronological format because its easy to read and logically places your current job first, followed by older positions.
Additionally, hiring managers are most familiar with this format and will know exactly where to find the information theyre looking for in your application.
However, in some cases, a combination or functional resume format might suit you better. If you have a nontraditional work history or need to emphasize your transferable skills, consider using a functional or combination resume instead.
Make Your Font Size 10 To 12 Points
Another factor in making your words clear and readable is setting an appropriate font size. Generally, you should stay between 10 and 12 points. If you have a shorter resume and are trying to fill space, select a 12-point font. Anything larger might appear unprofessional. If you have a lot of information on your resume, start with a 10-point font and increase it if you have space.
If your resume is still more than one page with 10-point font, avoid reducing your font further. Instead, see if there is an opportunity to make your ideas more concise. You can do this by removing any irrelevant or extraneous information, combining ideas or making your ideas briefer with shorter sentences and fewer filler words.
For example, heres a sentence in a resume that can be shortened:
Performed inventory audits every month and discovered issues with over-ordering executed an organization solution across all teams which resulted in a 10% increase in revenue over the next two quarters.
Make your ideas concise and remove filler words to include only the core value of your statement:
Performed regular inventory audits, identifying and solving over-ordering issues to achieve 10% revenue increase.
Here are a few other ways you can use to make a shorter resume:
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Who Should Use A Functional Resume Format
A functional resume format can be helpful for students or recent graduates whose work experience is sparse or non-existent, freelancers or professionals in creative industries who have varied work experience but solid portfolios, those who have multiple gaps in their work history, armed forces veterans who are transitioning into civilian professional roles, or those who formerly held high-level positions and are now applying to lower-level roles.
However, unless you fall into one of the above categories, youll likely be better off using one of the other formats as recruiters generally dislike the unnecessary use of functional resumes and theres a higher chance that they may not pass an ATS scan.
What Are The Most Popular Resume Formats
The three most common resume formats are chronological, functional and combination. When deciding which resume format you should use, consider your professional history and the role youre applying for. For example, if you have limited work experience, you might instead focus on academic work, volunteer positions or apprenticeships with a functional resume instead of a chronological resume, which prioritizes job history.
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Use Bullet Points For Your Work Experience
All the details of your work experience should be formatted in concise bullet points that highlight some of your key professional accomplishments.
Each bullet should start with a specific action verb that highlights what you did while at your previous or current job. You should also include hard numbers when possible to illustrate the exact impact you made while working in each role.
For example, mention the estimated dollar amounts you saved, number of sales you made, or customers you helped.
Heres an example of a resume experience section that uses good resume formatting:
How To Make Your Resume Ats
Applicant tracking systems are the bots that most companies are using to screen your resumes even before a human sees it.
According to a recent survey, 89% of all companies with more than 500 employees are using ATS or HRIS for hiring purposes.
So, before you get to impress humans, you have to impress their machines first.
How do you plan on doing it?
Well, its not too difficult if you check out a few of the basics.
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Best Resume Formats For Experienced Professionals
The chronological resume format is also the best option for experienced professionals applying for a job within the same field of expertise.
It makes it easier to get the message across that you are already an expert.
But then again, you should not miss out on the opportunity of doing something different if theres an option.
Using a combination resume layout can be more useful if the job is skill-based.
Which Resume Is The Best
Now that you are fully aware of the different types of resume formats, you must be wondering which one you should go for. Well, generally, it is recommended to go for the traditional format, i.e., reverse-chronological, as it is easily readable by the ATS .
According to research, around 55% of the global companies rely on recruitment software, whereas 19% are interested in adopting this system. Not to forget, more than 98% of Fortune 500 companies make use of recruitment software. Moreover, reverse-chronological resumes are easier for you to format later on.
On the other hand, if you have recently changed your career, have worked on learning new skills for it, and are completely ready to try out a whole different designation, the functional format is the right one and the best resume format for you. The employee will be impressed by it, but there is a risk of ATS discarding your application.
To limit the risk, a combined resume is a much better option. You can prominently mention your skills at the top, relevant keywords, and most importantly, some of your work experience, which will convey to them that you are highly capable of working in a professional environment.
If you still have a doubt, go for the reverse-chronological one it is better to be safe than to take a risk.
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How To Choose A Resume Format
When choosing which resume format is best for you, there are a few crucially important considerations to keep in mind:
- Do you have enough relevant work experience to fully flesh-out a reverse-chronological format?
- If your work experience is not entirely relevant, are there relevant skills you can pull from previous jobs or other experiences â such as from internships or volunteer work – and emphasize as transferrable skills?
- Are you applying to a position within your current career path, or are you switching to a new field or industry?
These questions are highly important to ask yourself, as they will point you in the right direction when it comes to choosing the best resume format to fit your needs.
Reverse-chronological resumes are likely to continue to be the standard that employers and recruiters are looking for from job candidates.
However, they are not ideal for candidates who are switching career paths or are dealing with significant gaps in employment history.
Comparatively, functional resumes allow for candidates to de-emphasize their work experience, giving those with less relevant work histories or gaps in their employment the opportunity to showcase their other skills and talents that may not be readily apparent from a chronological listing of previous jobs alone.
How To Write A Functional Resume
The functional or skill-based resume format can be a bit tricky to use. Use it only if you have a good reason for it. What might that be, you ask?
This format zooms in on your skills and strengths with much less emphasis on your work history. Its purpose is to highlight transferable skills and achievements that are relevant to the role being pursued and that employers expect their future employees to have.
However, the functional resume is a lot less common than its chronological counterpart.
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The Perfect Resume Format For No Experience
Of course, thereâs another type of format that deserves a mention as well, since it is one that can benefit millions of recent college graduates and others with no experience.
Since none of the three most popular formats really provide a proper vehicle for these new entrants into the employment market, it is important to take a look at some formats that might be of value for those new would-be workers too.
There are two competing schools of thought when it comes to the college graduate resume format. Some experts believe that those entry-level applicants can be best served by adopting a resume format that focuses on skills and specific training right off the bat, with additional information about education. Prior employment and experience would be listed last.
If that sounds like the functional format, then youâve been paying attention! The problem is, though, that the functional format is really designed for people who have proven skills for most college grads and entry-level employees, that simply isnât the case.
We believe that the other option chosen by experts is preferable: a conventional resume that includes a summary statement at the top, with education information listed next. Work experienceâincluding , summer jobs, work on campus positions, or âcan bring up the rear. Most of the heavy lifting for that resume type would be done in the summary.
You can see our post for more information and examples to help you write a .
Why Its Called The Original Professional
Our Original Professional template was the very first in this collection, and it has stood the test of time . This template is for those of you who value strict and straightforward professionalism over fanciness.
We designed the Original Professional resume template to convey your work experiences, skills, and abilities in a clean and concise format, without the bells and whistles of our fancier templates.
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Which Resume Format Is Best For You
At ZipJob, we favor the hybrid format. It is a good balance of skills and work experience, and gives ample opportunity for relevant keywords. However, it might not be the best resume format for you.
As helpful as it might be to better understand the various format types, that information is of little use if you donât know when to use each type. Hereâs a closer look at how to determine which resume format will work best for your needs.
To determine the type of format that you need to use for your resume, you should evaluate your current goals and the type of information that you need to present to your potential employer or hiring manager. With that analysis in hand, your choice should be obvious.
Should I Use A Resume Example Or Not
By using a ready-made resume example written by career and Human Resources experts, you can be sure your resume will meet the current HR standards. If you choose not to use a resume sample, you will waste a lot of time writing a resume on your own while you could use this time to write a cover letter, or prepare for the job interview instead. You also risk making mistakes on your resume that can kill your chances of getting that job.
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What Do I Put On A Resume
Your resume should always include the most relevant information about you that fits the description of the job that you are applying for. Even though you have to treat each resume differently, we highly recommend you to always include the following key elements on your resume:
- A concise and professional summary
- Your work experience
- Your relevant professional skills
- Any achievements / awards
Your goal is to list the above key elements chronologically and in the right order. In our resume builder we have created a set frame that defines the best way to portray your skills and experiences. That’s why you can’t customize all sections in our templates. A resume that seems to be randomly assembled will not show off your skills in a strong and professional manner and it is utterly important that you treat your resume with professionalism. We’ve got that covered for you.
The Best Resume Format For Recent Grads 2022
Recent graduates are facing a tough moment to enter the job market as companies shrink the number of entry-level hires and interns they are willing to take on. However, its not all bad news. Although many companies have a temporary hiring freeze, they are expecting to reach pre-pandemic hiring levels by summer 2022, according to Forbes.
When it comes to the best resume format for recent grads in 2022, flexibility and skills are everything. That doesnt mean you should jump straight to a functional resume format. Hiring managers are wary of grads who try to cover a lack of work experience by focusing only on skills. If you have some previous internship experience, it can be enough to create a chronological resume format or a combined one if thats a better choice for your industry.
Great news for recent grads its becoming easier to find a job with less experience. According to Forbes, more than 70 percent of roles today have less requirements than one year ago.
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What Is The Best Resume Format In 2022
The reverse-chronological resume format is the standard and best resume format to use in 2022. In a reverse-chronological resume, you list your work experience and educational background, starting with your most recent jobs and ending with your earliest successes.
Heres why its the golden standard:
- It offers a quick overview of your key achievements and professional growth over the years, arranged in an easy-to-read order.
- You only need a few seconds to skim a reverse-chronological resumerecruiters dont have the time to read more complicated documents.
- Recruiters use a kind of software called the Applicant Tracking Software to help evaluate candidates, and ATS can struggle with extracting info from non-chronological resumes.
Are These Resume Templates Ats
Hloomâs has the best resume templates to tackle ATS. The strategic format, fonts and margins arenât hard for applicant tracking systems to accurately scan and rank. When writing your resume for an ATS, you should always use readable fonts, have a simple design and stay away from photos or graphics.
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How To Format Necessary Information: Tips & Method
Your resumes look and feel are critical since they show a direct reflection of you and how you want to portray yourself. Properly aligned information creates a professional look and helps distinguish you from others. Below are some small details of each section that anyone should keep in mind while formatting their resume file.
What Makes A Professional Resume Template
A professional resume template is characterized by a focus on the candidates skills and experience. One accent color may be used but overall, the emphasis is placed on the text with minimal distractions from icons or other flourishes. The resume format may have room for a headshot or logo but there should be enough white space on the page to effectively balance out large chunks of text. Candidates should focus on writing their professional experience and summary in a professional tone, using strong action verbsthat connote leadership and competence.
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Choose A Professional Font And Color Scheme
A resume is a professional document, and although you do want yours to stand out from the crowd, resist the temptation to use loud colors and off-the-wall fonts. Pick a font thats easy to read and looks professional, like Ariel, Helvetica, Calibri, or Garamond. You can use text colors other than black, but be sure they are still professional and legible.
Select A Professional Easy
The font used on your resume should be professional and easy to read. Generally, this means sticking to commonly used fonts like Times New Roman or Calibri.
The most important thing is that your font choice doesnt distract from the qualifications on your resume. So avoid using more eccentric fonts like Courier New or Impact .
Additionally, the font size used for the body content of your resume should be between 10 and 12 points, depending on the font youre using and your space requirements. Meanwhile, your name and section headers should be larger to help break up your resume into sections.
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Select A Professional Readable Font
When deciding what font to use for your resume, keep in mind that it should be clear and easy to read. Making sure employers dont have to work to understand words on your resume is the most important factor when choosing a font. It is also helpful if your resume is sent through an applicant tracking system. Many employers use an ATS, which doesnt always read and interpret intricate fonts well. You should also avoid light or thin fonts which can sometimes be difficult for people to read on a screen or paper.
There are two main categories of fonts serif and sans serif. Serif fonts have tails while sans serif fonts do not. Sans serif fonts are generally good fonts for resumes because they have clean lines that are easy to read. There are fonts like Georgia, however, that are still widely accepted among employers as simple and professional.
Here are several examples of the best resume fonts: