A typical reader only spends about 10-15 seconds skimming a résumé. Therefore, it is important to make sure your résumé looks polished, presentable, and emphasizes the most relevant content in a way that best grabs your audiences’ attention.
Formatting
While résumé writers always have creative freedom when it comes to the final product of their document, there are a few general rules you should follow when formatting your document.
| Margins should be equal on all sides of the page; between 0.5 inch and 1.0 inch | Font size should be between 10 and 12 point | Use a universal font like Times New Roman or Garamond |
| Avoid the use of templates containing tables and grids | Avoid abbreviations except for states and universal acronyms | Your name can be 1 to 2 points larger than the rest of the text |
| Maintain consistency with font and text styles throughout the document | Files should preferably be saved as a .doc or .docx file; PDFs should be used only if needed | Ensure there are no spelling errors or general mistakes – do not rely on spellcheck |
Organizing Content
The physical placement of content on the résumé is just as important as what is being written. Since we all read top to bottom, you want to make sure the most relevant information appears as high on the document as possible and descends in order of relevance to keep your reader engaged. Ask yourself the following three questions to determine how you should prioritize the order of content on your résumé:
| 1. What does my reader NEED to know? |
This information should occupy the first third of your résumé and include all the details your reader NEEDS to know about you to determine if they should continue reading the rest of the document. The information contained in this section should include:
- Contact Information
- Résumé Objective/Summary (if applicable)
- Education
- Skills and Certifications (if relevant to the use of the résumé)
| 2. What does my reader WANT to know? |
This information should occupy the second third/middle of your résumé and include all the details your reader WANTS to know about your skills and experiences as they relate to the opportunity. The information contained in this section could include experiences such as (but are not limited to):
- Relevant Work/Internship Experience
- Shadowing Experience
- Research Experience
- Academic Projects
| 3. What might my reader find NICE to know? |
This information should occupy the bottom third of your résumé and should include all the details your reader might find NICE to know. This includes extra skill sets beyond the minimum requirements or unique experiences that set you apart from other applicants. The information contained in this section could include experiences such as (but not limited to):
- Leadership/Volunteer Experience
- Campus Involvement
- Presentations and Conferences
- Skills and Certifications (if not immediately relevant to the use of the résumé)
Résumé Categories
Résumé categories (or Section Headers) are title lines that attract your reader’s eyes to relevant content areas of your résumé. We have outlined some examples of these categories below, but this list is not inclusive of the many categories you could choose to use. While some of these categories are required, others are just strongly recommended or optional. To learn more about which categories you could consider using on your résumé, schedule a 20-minute Undergraduate Résumé Critique appointment with a member of our staff.
Required Sections
These sections should always be included on your résumé:
| Contact Information | Education | Skills |
Experience Sections
Past experiences are always something you want to display on a résumé as they can demonstrate the skills and competencies you possess. These experiences come in many shapes and forms and are not limited solely to work experience. These are examples of various section headers you could include on a résumé:
| Objective/Summary | Related Coursework | Honors & Awards |
| Work Experience | Related Experience | Extracurricular/Co-Curricular Activities |
| Certifications | Academic Projects | Volunteer Experience |
| Leadership Experience | Military Experience | Research Experience |
| Internship Experience | Teaching Experience | Clinical Experience |
| Job Shadow Experience | Presentations | Publications |
| Conferences | Activities | Interests |
Do Not Include
The following sections should not be used on a résumé:
| References | Headshot | Age/DOB | Marital Status |
