How to Format Your Resume for Success

Make Your First Impression Count

Your resume is more than a list of previous jobs—it’s your personal marketing document. And in today’s competitive job market, how you present your experience is just as important as the experience itself. A well-formatted resume helps recruiters and hiring managers find the information they need—fast. At E4 People, we’ve reviewed thousands of resumes across industries, and we know exactly what works.

Here’s how to format your resume for maximum impact and success.

1. Keep It Clean and Simple

A cluttered or overly designed resume can be distracting. Stick to a clean layout with plenty of white space, clear headings, and consistent formatting throughout.

• Use a readable font (e.g., Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica) in size 10–12 pt.

• Keep margins between 1.5–2 cm for easy readability.

• Use bold and caps sparingly—only for headings and section titles.

• Save your file as a PDF to preserve formatting.

Why it works:
Recruiters skim resumes in seconds. Clean formatting helps them navigate your document without frustration or confusion.

2. Structure It Strategically

Your resume should follow a logical order that highlights your strengths. We recommend the following structure:

1. Contact Information (Top of the page)

2. Professional Summary (2–3 lines tailored to the role)

3. Key Skills (Bullet list of tools, soft skills, or certifications)

4. Work Experience (Most recent first; include dates, companies, titles, and key achievements)

5. Education & Qualifications

6. Additional Training / Certifications (if relevant)

If you’re early in your career, education can come before work experience.

3. Use Bullet Points to Showcase Achievements

Rather than writing lengthy paragraphs under each job, use bullet points to outline your key responsibilities and—more importantly—your achievements.

Instead of this:

Responsible for managing projects and liaising with clients.

Try this:

Managed 12+ client projects from brief to delivery, reducing average turnaround time by 15%.

Why it works:
Clear, quantified bullet points help employers understand your impact at a glance.

4. Tailor It to the Role

Don’t send a generic resume to every job. Instead, tailor your resume to match the language and requirements of the role you’re applying for.

• Mirror keywords from the job ad where applicable.

• Highlight the experience and skills that align most closely with the job.

• Adjust your summary to match the employer’s priorities.

Why it works:
Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Tailoring your resume increases your chances of passing initial filters and catching a recruiter’s eye.

5. Keep It to Two Pages Max

Unless you have 15+ years of experience or are in a senior executive role, your resume should be no longer than two pages.

Cut anything outdated, irrelevant, or duplicated. Focus on the last 5–10 years of experience unless something earlier is highly relevant.

Why it works:
Recruiters spend an average of 6–8 seconds on an initial scan. Brevity = clarity.

6. Include a Short, Sharp Summary

Your professional summary is your elevator pitch. In just 2–3 sentences, explain who you are, what you bring, and what you’re looking for.

Example:

Results-driven HR Coordinator with 4 years’ experience in onboarding, compliance, and employee engagement. Passionate about creating positive workplace cultures and looking to grow within a progressive organisation.

Final Thoughts: Design for Readability, Focus on Relevance

Your resume isn’t just a history—it’s a tool. When formatted well, it works hard for you. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for a hiring manager to say, “Let’s interview them.”

At E4 People, we help candidates craft resumes that stand out for the right reasons. If you’d like help preparing for your next opportunity—or need a professional resume review—reach out to our team today.