The Resume Handbook

Design

How it looks: layout, formatting, and visual choices that keep a reader scanning.

Keep it simple and single-column; optimize for a six-second scan, with generous white space.

Consistent dates, alignment, and bullet style: hierarchy comes from type, not decoration.

Restrained color and typography: readability wins over decoration every time.

Usually omit: norms are locale-dependent, and in some markets a photo can actively hurt your chances.

Export as a PDF with selectable text, at the correct page size; never a photo of your resume.