Headings
are one of the major design elements of a résumé. How you
choose to divide sections determines the readability of your résumé.
Graphic lines and/or white space help define groups of similar
information and draw the reader's eyes down the page.
One of
the keys to a readable résumé is the judicious use of white
space, and consistent spacing in critical. You will notice
throughout the samples in this book that more white space is
used between major sections than within sections. This breaks
the résumé into easily digested chunks of information. The
white space between these sections should be identical
throughout the résumé. Likewise, the smaller white space
within sections should be the same throughout.
There
are two basic positions for your headings. One is centered (Sample
1) with or without lines, and the other is left justified
(Sample 2).
Which style you choose depends on what you find pleasing to
your eye. There is no right or wrong way. If you like the
design, then it is a good fit with your personality. Some of
your options include:
Since
people read from the top to the bottom and from left to right,
begin your résumé with the most important information. Then
work your way down to less important information. The top half
of your résumé's first page should be packed with your
strongest qualifications.
So,
which section goes first? Should it be education or
experience? Start with the section that contains your
strongest qualifications for your target job. If you have had
little experience in your prospective field but have a degree
that qualifies you for a starting position in the industry,
then by all means list your education first. Most people
eventually move their education below their experience as they
get further from their school days. If you change your career
and go back to school, then the education will move to the top
again and begin to gravitate to the bottom as you gain
relevant experience.
The same
idea goes for information within each section. For instance,
if you went to an Ivy League school, you can list the school
before the degree. Look at the difference in emphasis between
these two methods:
HARVARD,
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Master of Business Administration
MASTER
OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Little Known College, Backwoods, Idaho
The same
principle applies to your experience. If your job title is
more impressive than where you worked, then list it first.
VICE
PRESIDENT OF MARKETING
Little Known Company, Boulder, Colorado
IBM
CORPORATION, Boulder, Colorado
Assistant Export Coordinator
Avoid
the use of underlining since it cuts into the descenders in
lower case letters. For example, notice the "p" in:
Assistant
Export Coordinator
It is
acceptable to use underlining when the letters are all
capitalized since there are no descenders:
ASSISTANT
EXPORT COORDINATOR
Italics,
bold, ALL CAPITALS, FIRST
LETTER
LARGER,
or any combination of the four are all good ways to make
certain information stand out within the text. However, these
styles can be overdone very easily. To make them more
effective, use these type treatments sparingly.
