With so many jobs attracting hundreds of applicants, it’s more important than ever to make your resume stand out among the crowd. Adding a little flair to your resume beyond just a by-the-numbers template can help catch a hiring manager’s interest. The longer their eyes are on your resume, the more likely you are to be scheduled for an interview.
However, adding style to your resume is something to consider with caution. There are instances where it’s better to reign in your creative and stylistic impulses and submit something more standard. Below are some tips to help you add just the right amount of style to your next resume.
This is the first thing to keep in mind when creating your resume is what is standard and appropriate for your industry. For example, if you’re applying for a graphic design position, you probably have a lot of leeway when it comes to stylistic choices in your resume. Creativity is a positive here, and having a resume that is flexible with the format may be welcome and appreciated.
However, if you’re applying for a more traditional role (such as an engineer, store manager, or bank teller), your options will likely be limited to small tweaks and flourishes. Look up example resumes for your industry, and don’t stay too far from the styles you see. The stylistic design changes you make should be limited to font choice and size, with perhaps some well-placed deviations in text alignment.
When it comes to choosing a font for your resume, it’s important to select one that is professional, readable, and supported by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Here are some popular font choices for resumes:
Avoid using more than two fonts on your resume, and ensure the font size for everything except headings is between 10 and 12 points.
It’s important to balance the amount of white space on the page with the amount of content you want to include. If you’re using a non-traditional resume layout, keep your margins between half an inch and one inch wide. This will help ensure your resume looks visually appealing and easy to read. You can reduce the margins if you need extra space but don’t make them smaller than half an inch. This will help ensure that your resume looks polished and professional.
Finally, don’t insert any text into the margins. This can make your resume look cluttered and unprofessional.
Nobody wants to see a brick wall of text when they look at a resume — break it up with design elements that enhance your finest points as an employee.
There are some design elements that hiring managers generally don’t like to see on a resume:
Before submitting your resume, ask someone to look over it for you. Ask them to specifically let you know if any of the design elements feel confusing or overwhelming. It’s easy to let things get out of hand and to spend too much time trying to make something memorable and get a little lost in the weeds. This is where an outside perspective comes in especially handy.
Your resume should be eye-catching but not jarring and visually pleasing. Yet keep it easily scannable. If there are any bumps that need to be smoothed over, a proofreader can help you catch these things before you hit “send” on that email.
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An experienced undergraduate biology professor with a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology with an emphasis on molecular biology and genetics. Proven track record in providing an engaging student environment, delivering rigorous curricula, and conducting impactful research. Average student recommendation rate of 98%. Won a Teaching Innovation Award for the biology department.
Professor, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
August 2019 – present
Associate Professor, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
August 2016 – May 2019
Doctorate in Molecular Biology, August 2010 – May 2015
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