In a sea of applications, how do you make recruiters take notice of your resume? Plus, it's even harder for those fresh out of college since they don't have any job experience yet.
Kayla Myers, a senior advisor at Mentat, shared six tips on how to format your resume to make a good impression on Quora, via Inc. Mentat is a site that provides advisors to job applicants who will help them tailor their resumes and mentor them in their professional development.
1. Choose a professional resume format.
There are three main formats to choose from: functional, chronological or combination. The functional format focuses on showcasing the skills and experiences you have. The most common format, the chronological resume, highlights work history and lists your previous positions in reverse chronological order.
The combination format is a mix of the two that begins by drawing attention to your experiences, skills and abilities. Afterwards, it showcases your chronological experience.
2. Use the "F-Pattern."
The "F-Pattern" claims that content situated at the top and left side of the resume will most likely be read first. Keeping this concept in mind while creating your resume would help you make strategic choices about what skills and abilities you should emphasize and where to put it.
3. Bullet points are your friend.
Using bullet points will vastly improve resume readability and impact. There is nothing more off-putting than long paragraphs in a resume. Again, keep in mind the "F-Pattern" and use bullet points with strong action verbs for maximum impact.
4. Determine the right length.
Resumes should only include relevant experiences that you have for the job that you're applying for. Myers advised that a one-page resume should be sufficient for fresh graduates while a two-page resume may be effective for seasoned professionals.
5. White space is an advantage.
Myers suggested using white space to your advantage since it would help your resume have better visual flow for the recruiter or HR manager. She added that margins ought to be kept at a minimum of half an inch and use at least 8pt spacing in between.
6. Keep it simple.
Unless you're looking for a job in the creative industry, with which your resume should be a sample of your work, you should utilize simple formatting and design on your CV. Make sure it looks professional and is easy to read.
