Resume design

By glancing at a CV, even before reading its contents, recruiters and employers can get a strong first impression of the candidate. The way the information is presented can say a lot about you: if you’re organized and serious, if you know how to focus on what’s important, if you’re consistent, and how much thought you’ve actually invested in the resume you send to prospective employers. Because of this, it’s important for the content to be aesthetically pleasing and readable.

 

Want to know how to build a resume? How to make it attractive and easy to read? Here are six important tips for creating visibility to make your resume stand out and significantly upgrade it.

Just before you submit your resume, remember that your primary goal is to make sure the person who’s supposed to read it actually does. To do this, make sure the text looks inviting and easy to read. Text that is written in a simple, reasonable font is the basis for a comfortable reading experience, as it requires minimal effort and maximizes the absorption of information.

 

Also, by default, the resume will be written in black text on a white background, but if you decide to add color to some or all of the text (for example, in the headings), make sure the color is noticeable enough and does not make things difficult for the reader.

The resume is the only source of information your employer has at this early stage, so they will try (even unconsciously) to create a first impression out of all the information they have: the written content, what’s between the lines, and the way the document looks. Following from the previous tip, maintaining uniformity also makes the document look easy to read, neat, and organized - features you’d naturally want to be associated with. Make sure to use a uniform font and size throughout, except for headings, which can be larger or in bold, provided consistency is maintained.

Bear in mind that employers or recruiting agencies are often required to screen countless resumes, so some spend an average of 10 seconds skimming the text in search of essentials. A long, uninterrupted block of text can seem intimidating and discourage the screener from reading it, especially since it makes it difficult to glean the key information.

 

Therefore, make it easy for them! Try to break the writing up into brief paragraphs or even bullet points, separated with the appropriate headings.

In the past, the strict recommendation was to limit resumes to one page. As a result, people with extensive education and work experience compressed a large amount of information into a single page, making the document cluttered and hard to read. It is now customary to write a resume of up to two pages, provided that the information given is sufficiently important and relevant. 

As mentioned above, the recruiter who reads your resume is likely to scan it quickly in search of key points. Fortunately, you have the ability to determine the key points, and direct attention to what’s important to you.

 

What should you highlight? Any information relevant to the job gives you a relative advantage or makes a good impression. For example, in the work experience section, highlight the most relevant experience for the job you’re applying to, and in the education section - the most relevant education.

The answer is - yes, but within the bounds of good taste, while maintaining some formality. A unique resume design is another channel of expression, where you can broadcast your taste and style. Solid, eye-catching design will not only make your resume stand out from the rest of the stack, but will also tell the employer that you have invested more time and thought in the visibility of the resume you’ve submitted.

 

However, keep in mind that incorrect design choices can make your resume stand out negatively. Bright colors that don’t blend harmoniously, fancy or curly fonts, emojis, smileys, and the like can detract from the formality required of such an important document, and signal immaturity and a lack of seriousness to the employer.

 

Also, consider the type of job you’re applying for and the type of recruiting company. Applicants for jobs that require creativity and design skills, for example, can afford to design the resume more uniquely than the average candidate. Therefore, when going for a special design, it’s worth exercising judgment and picking the right one.