How to Format a Resume: Quick Guide for a Clean, Job-Ready Layout

Struggling with resume formatting?

You’re not alone. Many job seekers spend hours tweaking fonts, margins, and layouts — and still end up with a resume that looks messy or outdated. Worse, some designs get rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before a human ever sees them.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to format your resume quickly, professionally, and in a way that works for both hiring managers and ATS. No graphic design skills needed — just clear, modern structure that gets you noticed.

Step 1: Choose Readable Fonts That Pass the 6-Second Test

Recruiters skim resumes in about 6 seconds, so make it easy for them.

Use sans-serif fonts like Calibri, Verdana, Arial, or Tahoma. These are clean and easy to read on screens.
Avoid overused fonts like Times New Roman or any decorative fonts.
Keep body text between 10–12 pt (e.g., Verdana works at 10 pt; Calibri might need 11 pt). Headings can be 1–2 sizes larger.
Maintain consistency: same font family and size rules throughout.

Pro tip: A clean, readable font shows professionalism and helps guide the reader’s eye — a small detail that can make a big difference.

Step 2: Use a One-Page Layout (Unless You Have 10+ Years of Experience)

If you have less than a decade of experience, a one-page resume forces you to focus on the most relevant information.

Stick to 1-inch margins (or slightly narrower, but not cramped).
Keep plenty of white space — crowded resumes are harder to read and feel overwhelming.
Use left alignment for text. Skip “justify” because it creates uneven spacing.

Step 3: Structure Your Resume for Easy Scanning

A proven, ATS-friendly structure looks like this:

Header – Name, contact info, LinkedIn URL
Summary – 2–3 lines explaining your value and what you bring
Skills – 6–8 keywords that match the job posting
Experience – Reverse chronological, using bullet points
Education – Degree, institution, year (skip the year if it’s long ago)
Optional – Projects, Certifications, Volunteer Work

Keep section headings in UPPERCASE and bold so hiring managers can jump to what they want quickly. A dark blue heading can also help them stand out.

Step 4: Master Bullet Points — Action + Result

Bullet points keep content easy to digest and create natural white space.

Each bullet should:

Start with a strong action verb
End with a result or measurable impact

✅ “Created a training program that reduced onboarding time by 30%”
❌ “Responsible for staff training”

Aim for 1–2 lines per bullet, up to 3 for major achievements. Too much text in a single bullet makes it harder to scan.

Step 5: Avoid ATS Traps

ATS software struggles with certain elements. To make sure your resume can be scanned and read properly:

Do NOT use:

Tables or columns
Headers and footers
Text boxes or graphics
Icons or photos

These can cause your resume content to be missed entirely by the system.

Step 6: Use Formatting to Guide the Reader

Strategic use of bold and italic can draw the reader’s eye to the most important details — your achievements and skills, not just your responsibilities.

For example:

Bold the names of companies and job titles
Bold the first few words of your key achievements
Italicise dates or locations if you want them visually distinct but not distracting

Step 7: Keep It Consistent

Inconsistent formatting — like mixing fonts, sizes, or bullet styles — signals a lack of attention to detail. This is a quick red flag for recruiters.

Before sending your resume:

Do a full scan for spacing, alignment, and style consistency
Ask a friend to check for small errors you might miss

Step 8: Margins & White Space Matter

Many job seekers try to cram in every detail by reducing margins and font size. But this backfires — a dense wall of text is exhausting to read.

Instead:

Keep margins comfortable
Use bullet points and paragraph breaks
Let the resume “breathe” visually

Step 9: The Fastest Way — Use a Proven Template

If formatting feels like a hassle, start with a template that’s already ATS-friendly and recruiter-approved. This lets you focus on your content instead of fiddling with design.

You can grab my Skilled Job Starter Kit, which includes:

A clean, ATS-friendly resume template
A LinkedIn checklist to boost your profile visibility
Interview answers that build confidence and get results

👉 Get it free here: theaho.co/free

FAQs

What is the best resume format for job seekers?
A one-page, reverse-chronological layout with clear headings and bullet points works best for most job seekers.

Can I use Canva or a graphic resume?
Not for online applications — ATS often can’t read them. Only use creative designs for in-person hand-ins or creative roles.

How do I format my resume if I have no experience?
Highlight education, skills, projects, volunteer work, and a strong summary showing transferable strengths.