What is the best font and size for a resume?

Several fonts work well for resumes, including: Never use a font size smaller than 10 points if you want hiring managers to read your resume, and don’t go above 12 points for any text except section headings. It’s acceptable to make your section headings one or two points larger than the rest of your text.

What are the proper margins for a resume?

Proper margins for a resume are 1 inch all around. A half inch is acceptable if you need extra space, but any smaller and your text won’t be legible. Margins bigger than 1 inch on all sides look unprofessional and take up valuable space you could otherwise use for content.

What is the proper layout for a resume?

A proper resume layout follows either a chronological, functional, or combination format. Choosing from these resume formats will guide you in organizing your job titles, work experience, and skills.

How should I write dates on a resume?

Always write dates with just the month and the year. You can either: - Write them out in full, like January 2021. - Abbreviate them, like Jan. 2021. - Use numbers, like 01/21. All three are acceptable. Use whichever format looks best in the template. Most importantly, once you pick a style, stick with it.

What words do employers look for in a resume?

Employers look for keywords that match the job description and words that emphasize the applicants’ strengths. Hiring managers notice power words that denote action, such as “supervised,” “planned,” “designed,” and “produced,” along with section headings and highlights that contain the words “awards,” “achievements,” and “accomplishments.” And don’t forget to add numbers when you can—they make accomplishments pop!

Do the resume headers have to be aligned?

While the text within each resume section should be left-aligned, headers are different. A header can be center-aligned or left-aligned, depending on the resume template. Both are acceptable. What’s important is, whichever alignment you choose, make sure you stay consistent. If you center-align one header, then all of them should be center-aligned.

How far should a resume go?

If you’re wondering how far back a resume should go, the general rule of thumb is no more than 10 or 15 years. This means that every time you update your resume, you should look for opportunities to shorten each section by cutting older, irrelevant jobs or out-of-date skills. For resume length, you should keep your resume down to one or two pages. While playing around with the formatting can shorten your resume, be careful. Font size can range from 10-12 pts., while margins should be around 1 inch on all sides.

How do you format a resume in 2025?

The best way to format a resume in 2025 is to use a resume maker. Formatting everything yourself from scratch is difficult. Making your resume in Word can lead to formatting frustrations, whether trying to keep your bullet points aligned or adding a new section. Resume builders automate the process from beginning to end, so no matter what changes you make to the resume, your formatting stays perfect.

Which format do most employers prefer for resumes?

Employers mostly prefer the reverse-chronological resume. This format puts experience at the forefront. Hiring managers like how easy it is to see a candidate’s work history summarized in bullet points. Chronological resumes have been used for decades and will likely remain popular for years to come.

What are the 5 resume format tips?

1. Use white space thoughtfully: A healthy amount of white space is good for helping the eye move around the page. A great resume will have a harmonious balance between text and white space. 2. Don’t go wild with your font choice: Professional resume writers pick their font types from a select pool of options and make them big enough to be legible but small enough not to overwhelm the page. 3. Use bullet points to make your resume more readable: Well-formatted resumes often use bullet points to make some information, such as measurable achievements, stand out. 4. Be consistent with the margins: Resumes that are formatted correctly arrange their text around perfectly set margins, which help employers find what they’re looking for, fast. 5. Be consistent with alignment: Text should be aligned the same (left, right, or center justified) from line to line in every section, though the header might be different, depending on the template design.

How to Format a Resume: Formatting Tips to Land an Interview

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Table of contents

Fast Facts
Correctly Formatted Resume Examples
How to Format Your Resume: 7 Steps
Should You Use a Single-Column or Two-Column Template?
Plug-&-Play Resume Formatting Template
Resume Formatting Dos & Don'ts
Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions

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Fast Facts

Use 0.5–1-inch margins to create enough white space without sacrificing important information.
Choose a readable 10–12-point font for body text, with slightly larger type for section headings.
Keep most resumes to one or two pages, depending on your experience and how much relevant information you need to include.
Use clear section headings, consistent spacing, and simple bullet points so employers can quickly find your qualifications.
Choose an ATS-friendly layout with straightforward formatting that applicant tracking systems (ATS) can accurately parse.

Hiring managers often review resumes quickly before deciding whether to keep reading. ATS software can also screen resumes for relevant keywords and organize candidate information before a recruiter sees them. That's why good resume formatting is about more than appearance.

A clear layout makes your qualifications easier to find, reduces visual clutter, and helps your experience and achievements stand out. Below, we'll show you how to format a resume step by step, from choosing a layout to setting margins, fonts, spacing, and bullet points.

Tired of losing your formatting every time you tweak your resume? Our AI Resume Builder keeps your formatting consistent as you add or remove content, update sections, or change the design.

Build Your Resume

Correctly Formatted Resume Examples

A properly formatted resume should make your most important qualifications easy to find at a glance. Browse our resume examples to see how different job seekers can organize their experience, skills, education, and achievements while maintaining a clean, consistent layout.

Use these examples for inspiration, then customize them for your experience and target role:

Use this template

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How to Format Your Resume: 7 Steps

Good resume formatting creates a clear structure that helps hiring managers find your qualifications quickly and makes your resume easier for ATS software to parse. Use these seven steps to build a consistent, readable layout.

Step 1: Choose the Right Format

For most job seekers, a chronological resume is the safest default because it makes career progression easy to follow. Functional or combination resumes can make more sense for career changers, people with employment gaps, or candidates with limited relevant experience.

The best way to format a resume is to choose a structure that highlights your strongest qualifications while remaining easy to scan.

Once you choose a format, select a resume template that supports that structure. Templates can save time by giving you a consistent framework for organizing your content.

Step 2: Set Page Margins & Spacing

Start with 1-inch margins on all four sides to add white space and keep the page easy to read. If you need more room, you can reduce the margins to 0.5, but avoid shrinking them simply to squeeze in more content.

Use consistent line spacing throughout the document. Single spacing usually works well for resume text, with additional space between sections and headings to prevent the page from looking crowded.

Aim for one or two pages, depending on your experience and qualifications. If you're struggling to fit everything, cut less relevant information rather than shrinking your font or margins just to make it fit.

Step 3: Select a Font & Typography

Choose a clean, readable font for your resume, such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman. Keep body text black or another highly readable dark color, although a restrained accent color may work in headings depending on the template.

Use a font size between 10 and 12 points for body text. Section headings can be one or two points larger to create a clear visual hierarchy.

Pro tip: Use one font throughout your resume rather than mixing typefaces.

Step 4: Establish Clear Section Headings

Use clear, standard section headings so employers and ATS can quickly identify each part of your resume. A resume outline can help you organize your content and decide what belongs in each section.

Most resumes include:

Contact information
Professional summary or resume objective
Work experience
Education
Skills

You can also add optional sections when they strengthen your application:

Awards and honors
Training
Certifications and licenses
Volunteer work
Special projects
Languages

Pro tip: Use standard section headings, and keep them visually consistent so readers can scan the page quickly.

Step 5: Align & Structure Your Text

Left-align most resume text to make it easy to scan from top to bottom. Your name and contact information may be centered or arranged differently depending on the template, but use the same alignment for similar elements throughout the document.

Use white space strategically between sections, job entries, and bullet points. Consistent spacing helps separate information without making the resume feel fragmented.

Step 6: Format Content With Bullet Points

Use concise bullet points to describe your experience and accomplishments. Start each work experience bullet with a strong action verb, such as "managed," "developed," "increased," "coordinated," or "launched," rather than writing complete sentences beginning with "I."

Whenever possible, show results with a number, percentage, or other measurable outcome. For example:

Instead of: Responsible for managing customer inquiries
Try: Resolved 40+ customer inquiries per day while maintaining a 95% satisfaction rating

Step 7: Optimize Your Resume for ATS

Applicant tracking systems scan resumes for relevant keywords and organize information for employers. To improve ATS readability, use standard headings, recognizable fonts, simple bullet points, and a straightforward layout.

Avoid relying heavily on text boxes, charts, decorative graphics, or complex formatting that some systems may struggle to interpret. If you need a hand, Resume Now's AI Resume Builder helps job seekers create professionally formatted resumes with guided, step-by-step tools.

Should You Use a Single-Column or Two-Column Template?

A single-column resume is the safer choice for most job seekers because it's straightforward, easy to scan, and generally easier for ATS to parse. A two-column template can create a more compact, modern layout, but complex formatting may cause problems with some ATS software.

A simple two-column design may work with some ATS platforms, but single-column formatting remains the lower-risk choice when you don't know how an employer's system handles columns.

Our free ATS Resume Checker can give you peace of mind by assessing your resume's ATS performance and offering tips to improve.

Plug-&-Play Resume Formatting Template

You don't have to build your resume layout from scratch. Copy and paste the template below into Microsoft Word or Google Docs, then replace the placeholder text with your own information and adjust the formatting to fit your experience.

Contact Info

FIRST AND LAST NAME

[City, State] | [Phone Number] | [Email Address] | [LinkedIn Profile]

Professional Summary

[Write two to three sentences summarizing your experience, relevant skills, and one or two qualifications that match the target job.]

Work Experience

[Most Recent Job Title] | [Month Year]–[Month Year]
[Employer Name] | [City, State]

[Start with an action verb and describe a relevant accomplishment or contribution.]
[Highlight a responsibility that demonstrates a skill required for the target job.]
[Include a measurable result, such as a percentage, dollar amount, time saved, or number of people served, when possible.]

[Previous Job Title] | [Month Year]–[Month Year]
[Employer Name] | [City, State]

[Describe a relevant accomplishment using a strong action verb.]
[Connect your experience to a skill or qualification needed for the target job.]
[Add a measurable result or specific example when possible.]

Education

[Degree or Credential] | [Field of Study]
[School Name] | [City, State] | [Graduation Date or Expected Graduation Date]

Skills

[Relevant hard skill]
[Relevant hard skill]
[Relevant soft skill]
[Relevant soft skill]
[Software, tool, or technical skill]
[Additional job-relevant skill]

Additional Sections

[Add relevant sections as needed, such as Certifications, Licenses, Languages, Volunteer Experience, Projects, Awards, or Professional Memberships.]

Resume Formatting Dos & Don'ts

Good resume formatting is consistent, readable, and easy to scan. Before submitting your resume, make sure your fonts, margins, headings, bullet styles, spacing, and alignment stay consistent from the first page to the last.

Keep your resume to one or two pages when possible.
Be consistent throughout your resume.
Use simple, standard bullet points.
Use concise, action-oriented statements to emphasize your strengths.
Organize your content under appropriate headings.
Choose a style suited to your industry.
Proofread your resume for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors.

Don't

Use gimmicky or colorful fonts.
Rely on tables or graphs to communicate essential information.
Add decorative graphics that could make your resume harder for ATS to parse.
Choose a resume template or format that doesn't match your goals and background.
Try to cram more information than necessary in your resume sections.
Justify your bullets. Keep them left-aligned so they're easy to skim.
Use all caps (unless it's an acronym or a proper name written that way).

Key Takeaways

Before submitting your resume, make sure its formatting is consistent, readable, easy to scan, and compatible with common ATS requirements.

Confirm consistency.
Make sure fonts, heading styles, spacing, date formats, and bullet styles match throughout.
Prioritize readability.
Keep body text between 10–12 points, maintain adequate white space, and avoid squeezing too much information onto the page.
Check your formatting after editing.
Adding or removing content can affect page breaks, spacing, and alignment, particularly when making a resume in Word. Give the finished document one last visual review before submitting it.
Review your structure.
Make sure your most relevant experience and skills are easy to find.
Ensure ATS compatibility.
Use standard section headings and avoid complicated design elements that could interfere with parsing.
Proofread the final file.
After saving or exporting it, review your resume to make sure spacing, alignment, and page breaks haven't shifted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct format for a resume?

The correct format for a resume depends on your experience and career goals. A chronological resume layout highlights your work history, while a functional resume emphasizes skills and a combination resume balances skills and experience. For most job seekers with a consistent work history, a chronological format is a straightforward default.

What should a properly formatted resume look like?

A properly formatted resume should have clear section headings, readable fonts, consistent spacing, and enough white space to make the content easy to scan. Use 0.5- to 1-inch margins, 10- to 12-point body text, simple bullet points, and consistent alignment and typography throughout.

What is the best font and font size for a resume?

The best resume fonts are clean, professional, and easy to read, with 10- to 12-point body text. Common choices include Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman. Use one typeface throughout the resume, and make section headings slightly larger to create a clear visual hierarchy.

How far back should a resume go?

A resume should generally cover about 10 to 15 years of relevant experience. Include older positions when they demonstrate skills or accomplishments that are directly relevant to the job you're targeting. You can shorten or remove older roles when they no longer add meaningful value to your application.

Should you put a photo on your resume?

No, you generally shouldn't put a photo on your resume when applying for jobs in the U.S. Photos aren't necessary for most applications and can take up space better used for qualifications and accomplishments. Include one only when it's specifically requested or customary in the relevant industry or location.

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Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years' experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers.

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Fast Facts

Correctly Formatted Resume Examples

Barista

Software Engineer

Daycare Worker

Graphic Designer

Home Health Aide

Pastry Chef

Registered Nurse