What Should Your Resume Look Like?

Sep 23

Your resume is often your first impression on a potential employer, so getting the look right is crucial. Your resume's design should reflect your experience and be tailored to the industry you’re applying for. Some jobs call for a simple, no-frills resume, while others might benefit from a more designed, artistic layout, particularly in more creative industries.

Here are some tips on tailoring your resume for different industries and situations, along with tricks for standing out while keeping things professional.

1. For Traditional Roles: Simple and Clean

If you're applying for roles in industries like finance, law, healthcare, or administration, a clean and straightforward resume is best. The focus should be on readability and clarity, allowing hiring managers to assess your qualifications quickly.

Key Tips for Traditional Resumes:

Use a Professional Font: Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, sized between 10-12 points. This ensures readability.
Single Column Format: Opt for a single-column layout, which flows from top to bottom, with clearly defined sections for contact information, experience, education, and skills.
Minimal Color: For section headers, use black and white with minimal, if any, accent colors. Subtle shades of gray can add a clean, modern touch without distraction.
Bullet Points: Use bullet points to summarize job duties and accomplishments. This helps the reader quickly digest your information.

2. For Creative Roles: Bold and Visual

If you're in a more artistic field such as graphic design, marketing, or media, your resume can showcase your creativity. While the content is still key, a visually appealing layout can help you stand out from the competition and reflect your design skills.

Key Tips for Creative Resumes:

Incorporate Color: Add bold color elements that match the aesthetic of your personal brand or the company you’re applying to. Be careful not to overdo it; stick to two or three complementary colors.
Graphic Elements: Use icons, charts, or visual dividers to differentiate sections. This can enhance readability while also demonstrating your design skills.
Custom Fonts: You can experiment with more artistic fonts for headers, but keep the body text legible with traditional fonts like Arial or Calibri.
Infographics or Skills Charts: Highlight skills visually through bar charts or graphs, particularly for roles in data visualization, design, or digital media.
Portfolio Links: If relevant, include links to your online portfolio, social media profiles, or websites that showcase your work.

3. Hybrid Approach: Balance of Creativity and Simplicity

Some roles fall between the highly traditional and highly creative, such as those in tech, education, or product management. For these positions, you’ll want to show some creativity, but not at the expense of clarity or professionalism.

Key Tips for Hybrid Resumes:

Clean Design with Subtle Visuals: Incorporate small pops of color or sleek borders to give your resume a modern feel while maintaining its structure.
Highlight Key Information: Use bold text for job titles or important achievements, and use color to subtly emphasize section headers or key points.
Moderate Use of Graphics: Include icons or small visual elements sparingly, ensuring the resume stays professional. You might use icons to denote contact information or skills.

4. General Resume Tips for All Industries

Regardless of the field you're applying to, these design principles apply to all resumes:

Consistency: Make sure the font sizes, margins, and bullet points are consistent throughout your resume.
White Space: Don’t clutter your resume with text. Leave plenty of white space to make the document easy to skim.
One Page: For most professionals with under 10 years of experience, a one-page resume is ideal. However, if you're more experienced or applying for an academic position, a two-page resume might be acceptable.
Proofread: Always double-check for typos, spelling errors, and formatting inconsistencies. Even a beautifully designed resume won't impress if it's riddled with mistakes.

Tricks to Make Your Resume Stand Out:

Tailor Each Resume: Customize your resume for each job application. Ensure the content and design reflect the company’s culture and the specifics of the role.
Strong Header: Use a bold header that includes your name and contact info clearly. Consider adding a personal tagline if it fits your field (e.g., "Marketing Specialist Driving Engagement Through Creative Campaigns").
Use Action Verbs: Start your bullet points with strong action verbs like "Developed," "Managed," or "Led" to convey leadership and proactivity.

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Conclusion

The look of your resume plays a significant role in how you’re perceived by potential employers. For traditional industries, simplicity and clarity reign supreme. In creative fields, bold design and personality can help you stand out. And for hybrid roles, striking a balance between professional and creative can be the key to success. No matter the job, tailor your resume’s design to reflect both your unique skills and the demands of the industry you’re targeting.

Your resume is your story—make sure it tells the right one.

Sarah Baldwin