Resume Format Tips: Best Practices for 2025
Follow these proven resume format tips to create a professional resume that stands out to employers and passes ATS screening. These best practices will help you land more interviews.
Essential Resume Format Tips
1. Keep It Clean and Simple
Use a clean, professional design with plenty of white space. Avoid clutter and unnecessary design elements that distract from your content.
Pro tip: White space makes your resume easier to scan and more professional-looking.
2. Use Standard Section Headers
Stick to conventional section names that ATS systems recognize: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Summary.
Pro tip: Standard headers ensure ATS systems can properly parse your resume.
3. Optimize for ATS
Use simple formatting, standard fonts, and include keywords from the job description. Avoid graphics and complex layouts.
Pro tip: Test your resume with an ATS checker before submitting.
4. Use Action Verbs
Start bullet points with strong action verbs (Led, Developed, Managed, Increased) to convey impact and leadership.
Pro tip: Action verbs make your achievements more compelling and easier to scan.
5. Quantify Your Achievements
Use numbers, percentages, and metrics to show impact. Quantifiable results are more impressive than vague descriptions.
Pro tip: Numbers take less space and are more impactful than long descriptions.
6. Tailor Your Resume
Customize your resume for each job application. Use keywords from the job description and emphasize relevant experience.
Pro tip: Tailored resumes have significantly higher response rates than generic ones.
7. Keep It Current
Update your resume regularly. Remove outdated information and add recent achievements, skills, and experience.
Pro tip: Keep a master resume with all experience, then create tailored versions for specific applications.
8. Proofread Carefully
Typos and grammar errors can eliminate you from consideration. Proofread multiple times and have someone else review it.
Pro tip: Read your resume aloud to catch errors you might miss when reading silently.
9. Use Consistent Formatting
Maintain consistent fonts, spacing, date formats, and bullet styles throughout your resume.
Pro tip: Consistency shows attention to detail and professionalism.
10. Save in the Right Format
Save as .docx or .pdf (text-searchable). Use a clear filename like "JohnDoe_Resume_2025.pdf".
Pro tip: Some employers prefer .docx for easier editing, while .pdf preserves formatting better.
Quick Formatting Checklist
Formatting
- ✓ 10-12pt font size
- ✓ Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri)
- ✓ 1-inch margins
- ✓ Consistent spacing
- ✓ Clear section breaks
Content
- ✓ Standard section headers
- ✓ Action verbs
- ✓ Quantified achievements
- ✓ Relevant keywords
- ✓ No typos or errors