Arguably, the most important aspect of your resume is the way in which it is formatted. Others would say that your content is the most important. I say it is the format. Why? You can have the greatest content EVER in the history of resumes, but if it does not get read, what good is it?
Have you ever felt like your resume was not getting read? Have you applied to job after job with not even a rejection letter to let you know that someone looked at your resume? In many of these instances, the reason your resume is not getting read is because of the format.
What does format mean? The format encompasses these factors:
Font style and size
Margins
The amount of words
The way in which the words are placed
Bullet points
Paragraphs
Section division
Length
Use of bold, underlining and italics
All of these factors or even one of these factors can prevent your resume from being read.
Font style and size refers to the type of letters used and the size of those letters. Many people like to use small letters because you can get more words on the page. However, more words are not the best thing for your resume. In the case of a resume, less is better. You just have to know what to say.
Margins can be a real killer. If the margins are too big, you will have too much white space. If the margins are too little, you will have too many words.
The amount of words is really a big thing. Do you use 25 words to say something that could have been said in 10 words? What really needs to be said?
The way in which the words are placed can make as much difference as the road not taken.
Do you use bullet points? Do you know why bullet points are used? Do you negate your bullet point with too much text?
Are your paragraphs full of sentences? Do the sentences connect (do they lead to an ultimate destination for the reader)?
Section division is also important. How is your resume organized? Are the sections in the order of importance on your resume?
Does your resume read like a novel? Does it go on and on and on? Do you start with your experience at the beginning of your career back in the 70s or 80s? What possible relevance could that have in 2014?
Do you use bolding, underlining and italics in a thematic way throughout your resume? Or do you use it for emphasis anywhere you please because this word or phrase in important (to who)?
If any of these factors are ignored, the odds of your resume being read, regardless of the content, significantly decrease. If all of these factors are ignored, what’s the point of even sending your resume anywhere?
Look over your resume and check the formatting. You’ll be so glad that you did.
Proverbs 14:12
