We are doing a set of blogs to help you get the most out of your Resume or Curriculum Vitae as you might call it. Make sure you stay tuned for the next set of tips…

Visual Impact – Make sure that your resume has enough white space and is not too jam-packed.

A resume that is too spaced out with too few words can give the impression of someone inexperienced and insignificant. One that is too cramped can show you cannot prioritise and have not given too much thought to articulate your skills.

Use double line spacing between headings and the body of text and single line space within subheadings and make sure your indented text is in vertical alignment, similar use the same type of bullet points.

Every page is a full page, partial pages suggest lack of experience and that you are trying to drag out the information to make it appear you have more to offer than you really do.

Fonts, keep to the same size, and type; use serif fonts as they are easier to read e.g. Times New Roman, Arial, Century schoolbook and use italics, bold moderately e.g. job titles, to make them standout and avoid underlining. Ideally use 12pts – 14pts for font size.

Design and presentation

For those design orientated, it is vital that your resume is still well formatted and visually appealing with the relevant information needed.

Quantify Content – use numbers or percentages to add more credibility to your resume

Prioritise Content – make sure you list the important items first, prioritise the most important projects first and sections depending on which layout you have chosen for your resume.

Bullet Points – Use bullet points and action words to be clear and concise, highlighting your strengths and making your resume easier to read. No employer has the time and patience to read huge chunks of text. Describe your experiences in short, concise sentences.

Personalise – Tailor your resume for each role. The most common mistake made by job seekers is to create one generic resume. Make sure that your resume has the keywords that match the type of position you are looking for.

Tell the truth – Never falsely elaborate or leave gaps in your resume. If you went traveling say so, if you worked on a project only a little don’t say you ran the project as this will backfire.

How long should my resume be?

Use as many pages as needed to highlight your accomplishments and qualifications but set the upper limit at four pages, ideally three.

Personal interests and hobbies – Review how an employer would perceive your interests. Does your hobby/interest align with the personality and skill fit the employer is looking for? Leave out hobbies that would be more detrimental. (E.g., Business Development Manager/Client representative who is passionate about tattooing and piercing or partying?)

Action words – They can add emphasis to your resume and can help you catch the attention of a potential employer. Attached is a list of examples.

Supplement page (if relevant) – Supplement your resume with a project sheet and portfolio to elaborate on our skills and experiences. A project sheet can list types of achievements in a snapshot view.

Keywords – Can be in column format to save space

Follow our set-by-step series on how to win that interview and if you looking for a way to get ahead. Contact us at Arcadia Recruitment today, check out our jobs to find out how we can help if you are in our looking for a role within our specialization.

Written by Caroline Sanders – Director of Arcadia Recruitment