We personalize your experience.

We use cookies in our website to ensure we give you the best experience, get to know our users and deliver better marketing. For this purpose, we may share the information collected with third parties. By clicking “Allow cookies” you give us your consent to use all cookies. If you prefer to manage your cookies click on the “Manage cookies” link below.

Manage Cookies

Does Resume Formatting Matter?

Follow these three simple tips for resume formatting that will result in a compelling resume for hiring managers.

Ho Lin Profile
By Ho Lin 5 minute read

Our customers have been hired by*:*Foot Note

When you’re putting together your job application package, it is important to remember that hiring managers read a lot of resumes each and every day. One of the most popular misconceptions about resumes is that colorful paper or a flashy look will get your resume noticed above everyone else’s. The truth is that it is the content of your resume that matters more than anything else and gimmicks do nothing but cause distractions. Follow these resume tips and guidelines to format your resume in three simple ways that hiring managers will find compelling.

Build my resume

What is resume formatting?

The format of your resume includes the font you use, the layout you design and the overall appearance of your resume. You may decide to use bold font to highlight certain parts, or you may decide that separating sections using an extra space is sufficient to organize your information. How your resume will look on paper or screen goes into the formatting that you use.

Are there standard resume formats?

When you utilize the resources and resume tips offered by ResumeHelp, you will find that there are plenty of professional resume templates and samples to choose from. While there sre several resume formats you can use to build your document, there are certain characteristics that a format must have to be effective. For example, a good resume format is easy to scan and allows the most important information to stand out. For example, if you have a lot of useful work experiences to feature in your resume, you should a resume format that emphasizes them, such as the chronological format. If your resume format does not grab the reader’s attention right away, then your resume may not be read. You can use these tools to find the right resume formats and templates for you.

Build my resume

Does resume formatting matter?

Colorful paper and flashy gimmicks may not get your resume read by hiring managers, but good content set up in a presentable format always will. A successful resume is a good combination of strong information presented in a way that is easy to read. Without a good format and layout, the hiring manager will have trouble scanning your resume to find the key facts that will catch their attention.

In reality, the hiring manager is not going to take the time to do that, so your resume format needs to do that for them. A good format highlights key areas of your background and entices the hiring manager to keep reading. It is difficult for a hiring manager to get interested in a resume that does not try to sell itself right away. A good format presents all of the important information up front and convinces the hiring manager that your information is worth reading. Here are some resume templates that can help you build your resume.

Whether you are an entry-level employee or a seasoned professional, your resume needs to be formatted properly to be effective. The hiring manager who picks up your resume has no idea who you are, so your resume has to make that introduction for you. The format and flow of your resume is critically important in getting the interviews you need to advance your career. These resume tips will help you craft and structure your resume in a format that will help you land the job.

Ho Lin Profile
WRITTEN BY Ho Lin

Ho Lin is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and editor with two decades of experience in content strategy, creation, and development. He holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins University and his background includes experience aiding military veterans as they transition to civilian careers.

right resume

Build a resume in minutes with ResumeHelp