Resume Formatting Guide

Create a professional resume that showcases your skills and experiences effectively. Follow these guidelines to make a strong first impression.

Key Resume Sections
1

Contact Information

Include your full name, phone number, email address, and optionally your LinkedIn profile or portfolio website.

  • Use a professional email address (firstname.lastname@email.com)
  • Make sure your phone voicemail is professional
  • Only include relevant social media profiles
2

Education

List your current school, expected graduation date, GPA (if above 3.0), and relevant coursework.

  • Include your school name and location
  • List expected graduation month and year
  • Highlight relevant courses, honors, or awards
3

Experience

Include jobs, internships, volunteer work, and significant projects. Use action verbs and quantify achievements.

  • Start each bullet point with an action verb
  • Quantify results when possible (increased sales by 20%)
  • Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities
4

Skills

List technical skills, languages, certifications, and relevant abilities. Organize into categories if helpful.

  • Include both hard and soft skills
  • Be specific (Microsoft Excel vs. Computer Skills)
  • Only list skills you can confidently discuss
5

Activities & Leadership

Showcase extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, and leadership positions that demonstrate character.

  • Highlight leadership roles and responsibilities
  • Include relevant achievements or awards
  • Show commitment through duration of involvement

Formatting Guidelines

Layout & Structure
  • Keep your resume to one page
  • Use consistent margins (0.5 to 1 inch)
  • Leave adequate white space for readability
  • Use clear section headings
  • Reverse chronological order (most recent first)
Typography
  • Use professional fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
  • Body text: 10-12pt, headings: 12-14pt
  • Name can be 14-18pt
  • Use bold and italics sparingly for emphasis
  • Maintain consistent formatting throughout
Design Elements
  • Stick to black text on white background
  • Minimal use of color if any (subtle accents only)
  • Avoid graphics, photos, or decorative elements
  • Use bullet points for easy scanning
  • Ensure enough contrast for printing
Power Action Verbs

Start your bullet points with strong action verbs to make your experiences more impactful.

Leadership

LedManagedDirectedOrganizedCoordinatedSupervised

Achievement

AchievedImprovedIncreasedExceededDeliveredCompleted

Communication

PresentedWroteCommunicatedCollaboratedNegotiatedPersuaded

Technical

DevelopedDesignedCreatedBuiltImplementedProgrammed

Analysis

AnalyzedResearchedEvaluatedAssessedInvestigatedMeasured

Support

AssistedSupportedHelpedTrainedMentoredFacilitated

Sample Resume Layout

KOBIN KOTHARI

kobin.kothari@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/kobinkothari

Education

Bloomfield Hills High School / International Academy OKMA

Expected Graduation: June 2026

GPA: 3.8/4.0

Relevant Coursework: AP Computer Science, AP Calculus, Business Fundamentals

Experience

Web Development Intern

Local Tech Startup

Summer 2025

  • •Developed 5 responsive web pages using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
  • •Collaborated with design team to improve user interface

Skills

Technical: Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Microsoft Office Suite

Languages: English (native), Spanish (intermediate)

Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using an unprofessional email address
Including personal information (age, photo, marital status)
Listing irrelevant work experience
Using generic phrases like 'hard worker'
Typos and grammatical errors
Inconsistent formatting
Going over one page for entry-level positions
Not tailoring your resume to each opportunity
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