CVForge / Resume format
Resume format: which one, and how to write it
There are three resume formats. One is right for most people, one is right for career changers, and one mostly hurts. Toggle between them to see what a recruiter notices first.
Sam Rivera
Denver, CO · sam.rivera@email.com
Experience
Implementation Specialist, Trailhead Software2022 – Present
Led onboarding for 14 mid-size clients, all live within 60 days
Assistant Store Manager, Summit Outfitters2018 – 2022
Trained 25 staff on a new point-of-sale system
Education
B.A. Business, Colorado State2018
- Recruiter sees first
- Most recent job title and employer
- Best for
- Steady career in one field. Recruiters’ default; easiest to scan and to parse.
- Watch out
- Gaps and short stints are visible at a glance.
How to write a resume in 7 steps
- Pick your format. Chronological unless you are changing field (hybrid). Use the switcher above to see the difference.
- Write the header. Name, city and region, phone, email, LinkedIn. No full street address, photo or date of birth in the US, UK or Canada.
- List experience, newest first. Title, employer, location, dates on one line. Under each, 3–6 bullets. Go back 10–15 years; older jobs can be one line or dropped.
- Turn duties into achievements. Action verb + what you did + result with a number. “Reduced support backlog from 900 to 120 tickets in 8 weeks.”
- Add education and skills. Degree, school, year. Skills as specific tools and methods, matching the job ad’s wording.
- Write the summary last. Now you know your best proof, compress it into 2–3 sentences at the top.
- Tailor, then check. Adjust keywords for each job and run it through an ATS checker. Save as PDF with your name in the file name.
Formatting rules that matter
| Element | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 page under ~7 years of experience, 2 pages above that. Estimate yours. |
| Font | A standard serif or sans, 10–12pt body, 14–20pt name |
| Margins | 0.5–1 in (1.25–2.5 cm) |
| Layout | Single column; see why |
| Dates | Month and year, or year only, used consistently |
| File | Text-based PDF, or .docx if requested |
| File name | firstname-lastname-resume.pdf |
Sections, in order
Contact · Summary · Experience · Education · Skills · optional Certifications, Languages, Volunteering, and Interests only when they add something.
Questions people ask
What is the best resume format?
Reverse-chronological for most people: most recent job first, with dates. It is what recruiters expect and what applicant tracking systems parse best. Use a hybrid if you are changing careers.
What order should resume sections go in?
Contact details, summary, experience, education, skills, then optional sections such as certifications or languages. Recent graduates can put education above experience.
What font size should a resume use?
10–12pt for body text and 14–20pt for your name. Margins of 0.5–1 inch (1.25–2.5 cm).
How do I write a resume with no experience?
Lead with education, then projects, internships, volunteering, part-time jobs and school leadership, written as achievement bullets. A short objective stating the role you want helps the reader place you.
Should a resume be PDF or Word?
Whatever the application asks for. When it is not specified, a text-based PDF preserves your layout and is read well by modern systems.