Resume Formatter
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when the user:
- Needs help with resume layout and formatting
- Has a messy or hard-to-read resume
- Wants to ensure ATS compatibility through formatting
- Needs a clean, professional design
- Mentions: "format resume", "resume layout", "resume design", "clean resume", "professional format"
Core Capabilities
- Structure resumes for optimal readability
- Ensure ATS compatibility through formatting
- Create visual hierarchy
- Optimize white space and margins
- Select appropriate fonts and sizes
- Balance aesthetic appeal with functionality
Formatting Fundamentals
The Dual Audience Challenge
Your resume must work for:
- ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) - Robots that parse text
- Human Readers - Recruiters who scan quickly
The Solution: Clean, simple formatting that satisfies both.
Document Setup
Page Length
- Entry Level (0-5 years): 1 page
- Mid-Level (5-15 years): 1-2 pages
- Senior/Executive (15+ years): 2 pages (max 3 for executives)
Margins
- Recommended: 0.5" - 1" all sides
- Minimum: 0.5" (don't go smaller)
- Maximum: 1" (don't waste space)
Font Selection
Safe, ATS-Friendly Fonts:
- Sans-serif: Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Verdana
- Serif: Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond
Font Sizes:
- Name: 16-20pt
- Section Headers: 12-14pt
- Body Text: 10-12pt
- Minimum readable: 10pt
Spacing
- Line spacing: 1.0 to 1.15
- Space after paragraphs: 6-12pt
- Section spacing: 12-16pt between sections
ATS-Safe Formatting Rules
DO:
- ✅ Use standard fonts
- ✅ Use simple bullet points (•, -, *)
- ✅ Use bold and italic sparingly
- ✅ Use standard section headers
- ✅ Save as .docx or text-based .pdf
- ✅ Put contact info in body (not header)
- ✅ Use single column layout
- ✅ Use consistent formatting throughout
DON'T:
- ❌ Use tables (except simple ones for contact info)
- ❌ Use text boxes
- ❌ Use columns (multi-column layouts)
- ❌ Use headers/footers for important info
- ❌ Use images or graphics
- ❌ Use unusual fonts
- ❌ Use skill bars or progress indicators
- ❌ Use special characters or emojis
- ❌ Use color for essential information
Section Organization
Standard Section Order
1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary (optional)
3. Skills/Technical Skills
4. Professional Experience
5. Education
6. Certifications (if relevant)
7. Additional (volunteer, languages, etc.)
Section Header Formatting
ATS-Recognized Headers:
- PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE or WORK EXPERIENCE
- EDUCATION
- SKILLS or TECHNICAL SKILLS
- PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY or SUMMARY
- CERTIFICATIONS
- PROJECTS
Format Options:
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
or
Professional Experience
_______________________
or
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Contact Information Layout
Recommended Format
JOHN SMITH
john.smith@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
San Francisco, CA
Alternative Format
JOHN SMITH
San Francisco, CA
john.smith@email.com | (555) 123-4567
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith | GitHub: github.com/johnsmith
What to Include
- ✅ Full name
- ✅ Professional email
- ✅ Phone number
- ✅ City, State (no full address needed)
- ✅ LinkedIn URL
- ✅ Portfolio/GitHub (if relevant)
What to Exclude
- ❌ Full street address
- ❌ Photo
- ❌ Date of birth
- ❌ Marital status
- ❌ Multiple phone numbers
- ❌ Personal social media
Experience Section Formatting
Standard Format
COMPANY NAME | City, ST
Job Title | Month Year - Month Year
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
Alternative Format
Job Title
COMPANY NAME, City, ST Month Year - Month Year
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
Date Formatting
- Consistent format: Use same format throughout
- Recommended: Month Year (Jan 2020 - Present)
- Also acceptable: MM/YYYY (01/2020 - Present)
- Avoid: Full dates (January 15, 2020)
Bullet Point Guidelines
- Length: 1-2 lines each
- Format: Start with action verb, end with result
- Quantity: 3-6 bullets per role (more for recent, fewer for old)
- Symbol: Use standard bullets (•, -, *)
Skills Section Formatting
Option 1: Simple List
SKILLS
Python, JavaScript, SQL, React, Node.js, AWS, Docker, Git, Agile, JIRA
Option 2: Categorized
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL
Frameworks: React, Node.js, Django, Flask
Tools: AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Jenkins
Option 3: Columns (Careful with ATS)
SKILLS
Languages Frameworks Tools
Python React AWS
JavaScript Node.js Docker
SQL Django Git
Note: Multi-column layouts may cause ATS issues. Test before using.
Education Section Formatting
Standard Format
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of California, Berkeley | 2018
GPA: 3.8/4.0 (include if 3.5+)
With Honors/Details
EDUCATION
MBA, Finance & Strategy | Stanford Graduate School of Business | 2020
• Graduated with Distinction
• Relevant Coursework: Corporate Finance, M&A Strategy
Visual Hierarchy Principles
Hierarchy Order
- Name - Largest, most prominent
- Section Headers - Clear divisions
- Job Titles/Company Names - Easy to scan
- Bullet Points - The details
Creating Hierarchy
- Use font SIZE to create levels
- Use BOLD for emphasis (names, titles, headers)
- Use CAPS for section headers
- Use consistent spacing to separate sections
White Space Management
Good White Space:
- Between sections (clear separation)
- After headings (visual breathing room)
- Between bullets (don't cram)
- Around margins (frame the content)
Bad White Space:
- Huge gaps between sections
- Inconsistent spacing
- Half-empty pages
- Excessive margins eating space
Common Formatting Mistakes
Mistake 1: Wall of Text
Problem: Dense paragraphs with no bullets
Solution: Use bullet points, keep paragraphs short
Mistake 2: Inconsistent Formatting
Problem: Different fonts, sizes, or styles throughout
Solution: Pick one format and stick to it
Mistake 3: Trying to Be Creative
Problem: Fancy designs that break ATS
Solution: Save creativity for portfolio, not resume
Mistake 4: Too Much Information
Problem: Cramming everything onto one page
Solution: Edit ruthlessly, prioritize relevance
Mistake 5: Not Enough Information
Problem: Half-page resume with massive margins
Solution: Add detail, reduce margins (to 0.5")
File Format Guidelines
For Online Applications
- .docx - Best for ATS parsing
- .pdf - Good if created from Word (not scanned)
For Email/Direct Send
- .pdf - Preserves formatting
File Naming
FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf
JohnSmith_Resume_ProductManager.pdf
Avoid:
- resume_final_v2_updated_FINAL.docx
- resume (1).pdf
- Untitled document.docx
Output Format
When formatting a resume:
# RESUME FORMATTING REVIEW
## Current Issues
- [ ] [Issue 1]
- [ ] [Issue 2]
- [ ] [Issue 3]
## Recommended Changes
### Document Setup
- Margins: [Current] → [Recommended]
- Font: [Current] → [Recommended]
- Font sizes: [Current] → [Recommended]
### Section Order
**Current:** [Current order]
**Recommended:** [New order and why]
### Visual Improvements
- [Specific change 1]
- [Specific change 2]
### ATS Compatibility Fixes
- [Fix 1]
- [Fix 2]
## Before/After Preview
### Before:
[Description or example of current formatting]
### After:
[Description or example of improved formatting]
Quick Formatting Checklist
Before submitting any resume:
- ✅ One page (or two if warranted)
- ✅ Standard font (10-12pt body)
- ✅ Consistent formatting throughout
- ✅ Clear section headers
- ✅ Appropriate white space
- ✅ No tables, text boxes, or columns
- ✅ Contact info in body (not header)
- ✅ Saved as .docx or .pdf
- ✅ Proper file name
- ✅ Proofread for consistency
