Many job hunters make the mistake of trying to manipulate their information to fit a format they like, says Don Orlando, owner of the McLean Group, a Montgomery, Ala., resume-writing firm. Also use a simple typestyle and lots of white space for readability.įormat shouldn’t be your primary consideration when preparing a resume. If you need to emphasize a word, use capital letters to make it stand out, says Tracy Bumpus, executive director of Career and Resume Services in Austin, Texas. In fact, using such embellishments may make an e-resume harder to read once it’s transmitted. This is a classy treatment that attracts favorable notice.Įlectronic resumes are “Plain Janes” that don’t need boldface, underlining or other type enhancements. For instance, consider using light gray paper with a white border or light ivory with a darker ivory border. However, a little creativity is permitted. Your choice of paper color isn’t important, as long as it’s conservative–white, ivory or light gray. However, using horizontal rules to separate sections can give it an upscale look. Unless you’re seeking a position as a graphic artist, don’t put logos or artwork on your resume. Choose a sharp-looking typeface such as Bookman, Soutane, Krone or Fritz, or, if your font selection is limited, the more prevalent Times Roman, Helvetica or Arial typefaces. This doesn’t mean using an italic typeface, cute logos or an outrageous paper color. Give your document an up-to-date style that attracts attention. “Your resume must be current in its style, format and tone,” he says. Don’t have it typed on an outdated word processor and printed onto plain bond paper, and don’t model it after resumes from years back, says Martin Yate, author of “Resumes That Knock ‘Em Dead” (Adams Media Corp., 2000). To survive next to those of hundreds of equally qualified candidates, it must look sharp and dynamic.

Your print resume is considered your primary marketing document and its appearance is critical. Each version has different visual issues. You’ll need both a print and an electronic version of your resume. These challenges and resume writers’ advice on solving them follow. To ensure your resume makes the best possible impression, it’s essential to meet six challenges regarding its presentation, format and content.

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