The Importance of a Well-Formatted Resume

Your resume is more than just a document. It’s your first opportunity to make an impression. In today’s competitive job market, relevant skills, experience, and career achievements should get your CV over the line but sometimes something seemingly insignificant such as formatting can be what makes or break an application progressing to the interview stage. An impactful resume not only showcases your skills and achievements but does so in a way that is visually appealing, easy to read, and professional.

Recently, I provided feedback to a senior candidate with strong content in their CV but a formatting style was really distracting from the experience they were trying to highlight. I appreciate design may not be everyone's strong point but there was excessive use of tables, strange colour combinations, outdated fonts, varying font sizes and odd use of italics. I was very honest and asked them to make amendments but they ghosted me. I guess they didn't see the value. I wish them luck on their search and I hope this doesn't get in the way of future applications.

My point is, de-risk not being selected to interview because of this issue!

You don't want a questionably formatted CV to hint that you lack attention to detail or that you are unable to communicate clearly and concisely. If you’re updating your own resume, here’s why formatting matters and some tips to help you stand out.

Formatting Tips for a Standout Resume

• Choose Fonts Wisely: Stick to clean, modern fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica. Avoid overly decorative styles, as they can be difficult to read or seem outdated.
• Use Colour Sparingly: A touch of colour can enhance your resume's look, but overusing it can be distracting. Stick to neutral tones like navy or grey for headings if you decide to incorporate colour.
• Leverage Modern Templates: There’s no need to design a CV from scratch. Platforms like Microsoft Word offer free templates, and sites like Etsy provide low-cost, professionally designed options to help your resume stand out while remaining easy to read.
• Synthesise Content: Recruiters appreciate conciseness. Aim for a resume length that matches your experience level. These resume conventions may vary from country to country. For senior professionals, six pages should suffice in Australia but if you're applying to roles in North America, I wouldn't go beyond three. Focus on showcasing your most impactful achievements and skills but be mindful of these geographical differences.
• Space Matters: Ensure adequate white space throughout your document. Margins and spacing between sections prevent the layout from feeling cluttered and give your reader’s eyes a natural path to follow.

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