Resume Formatting Tips for Professionals

Choose a clean, ATS-friendly layout

Start with a simple, professional layout that both humans and ATS can parse. Use standard section headings like Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills so parsing software recognizes your content. Stick to a single-column format whenever possible; avoid complex tables, text boxes, graphics, or images that can break ATS parsing. Use common file types—PDF is usually safest for preserving layout, but follow the employer's instructions and submit DOCX if requested.

Keep margins between 0.5 and 1 inch and use consistent spacing between sections. This creates white space, improves readability, and helps your resume look organized on both screen and print.

Make content scannable and achievement-focused

Hiring managers skim resumes in 6–10 seconds, so make every line count. Use concise bullet points for each role (3–6 bullets for recent positions) and start bullets with strong action verbs like 'led,' 'managed,' or 'optimized.' Prefer quantified achievements over generic duties: 'Increased sales by 28% in 12 months' is stronger than 'Responsible for sales.'

Place the most relevant information near the top. For most professionals, a short 2–3 sentence summary or a professional title line above experience helps recruiters quickly grasp your value. Tailor keywords to the job description—mirror terminology used in the posting to pass both human review and ATS filters.

Polish visual details and consistency

Small visual choices affect perceived professionalism. Choose a readable, professional font such as Calibri, Arial, or Georgia at 10–12 pt for body text and slightly larger for headings. Use bold and italics sparingly to emphasize titles, companies, or outcomes; avoid underlines except for hyperlinks. Align dates and locations consistently (right-aligned dates work well) and use a single date format throughout (e.g., 'Mar 2020 – Jul 2023').

Keep color minimal—one accent color is fine for headings but ensure high contrast for readability. Proofread meticulously for typos, inconsistent punctuation, and formatting glitches. Finally, save a master version you update for each application, then export a clean copy for submission so hidden metadata or comments aren’t accidentally shared.