Best Resumes What a Resume Should Look Like in 2020

Best Resumes What a Resume Should Look Like in 2020 What should a good resume look like?Long story short: like a professional, formal document.But what does that even mean? And does it really matter that much?Oh yes it does.Lets face it: we all judge by appearances. And recruiters and hiring managers are no different.Submitting a good-looking resume is just as important as dressing sharp for a job interview.It doesnt matter how skilled and experienced you are. If your resume looks unpolished, you can kiss that gig goodbye.This guide will show you:What a resume should look like according to modern hiring standards.Actionable tips and tricks you can use to have the best-looking resume in the pile.Bonus resume design resources to make your resume stand out like Cindy Crawford in a Dunkin Donuts.For starters, check out these two very differently-looking resumes.The contents are the same. But the one on the left has a 2000s touch to it. And, to make things worse, some rookie layout mistakes.The one on the right? Thats what a great resume s hould look like.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowLets break down the most important components of what a perfect resume looks like.1Proper Resume Formatting and DesignTo let you fully understand just how critical the looks of your resume are, lets see what Americas leading association of professional resume writers has to say on the subject:The initial impression must be inviting, attractive and professional. This determination is usually made within just a few seconds, before the reader actually engages the words on the page. The general layout and form at of the rsum should invite the reader into the text. If the rsum fails in this first test, chances are the decision-maker wont go any further.Official Guidelines, The Professional Association of Rsum Writers and Career CoachesHere are the crucial design rules all the best-looking resumes need to follow.1. Good resume fontUse an easy-to-read typeface. One thats elegant and formal on the one hand (so no Comic Cans) and modern and stylish on the other (so no Times New Roman).Keep your font size between 10 and 12 pt.There are many good picks. Some fonts you can consider include: Cambria, Calibri, Helvetica, Bookman Old Style.Both serif and sans-serif fonts can look good on a resume so feel free to experiment in this area.Once you choose a font, stick to it on the whole document. Ideally, use the same font when writing a cover letter for a resume.To explore your options and get some expert insights, see this cool guide: Best Fonts for Resumes and Cover Letters2. Evenly-set marginsResum e margins on all four sides should be 1-inch.If you want to fit more into a single-page resume, you can take some margin space out, but at least half an inch has to stay.3. Consistent line spacingGo for single or 1.15 line spacing for all resume sections. Use a double space before and after each heading, and in between entries in your work experience and education sections.4. Clear section headingsMake your section headings slightly bigger than the rest of the text. You can also make them visually stand out by typing in ALL CAPS.5. Enough white spaceRecruiters need some breathing room when reviewing resumes. Jam-packing the contents wont make a resume look good.How to check if theres enough white space on a resume?Print it out and look at it from a bit of distance. Does it feel crammed? If so, it most likely is.6. No graphics, no photosFancy graphics can cause your resume to fail the ATS scan.Photos? Youre looking for a job, not a date. Unless specifically asked for in the job ad (i t might be the case for certain positions), leave pictures off your resume.7. Ideal resume lengthHow long should a good-looking resume be?Go for a single page. Target your resume at a specific job offer and include only relevant details.Make every word earn its place on your resume. ButIf you feel youll omit crucial details by trying to make a single-page resume, dont force it.Two-page resumesare OK for experienced candidates.Want to see great resumes? Check out our collection of Best Resume Examples Samples2Including the Most Important SectionsSo you know the basics of what a professional resume should look like, design-wise.Now its time to take care of the contents. The first thing you have to do is include all the proper sections in the correct order.While the items order on your resume might vary depending on your career situations, for more than 9 out of 10 candidates, its best to follow the rules of a standard reverse-chronological resume format.Heres what sections to include on a good-looking resume.(If you want to learn more about how to write each section, just click on one of the links below, to see a dedicated guide with examples.)What Does a Resume Look Like? Standard TemplateResume heading with your contact information (remember to include your LinkedIn profile)Resume profile: a professional summary of qualifications or a career objective for a resume.Work experienceEducationSkillsExtra Sections (awards, certifications, volunteering experience, or hobbies and interests).See what a good resume looks like in practice on our handy infographic.What Should My Resume Look Like? Like This:When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.3Bonus Materials and Resume Ideas for a Good-Looking ResumeRightYouve learned the basics of how a resume should look to attract the best job offers.The thing is, sometimes the basics wont do. Your resume can (and should!) have a personal twist. It should read and look 100% you.The best-looking resume for you, is one thats specifically designed for your industry, career history and future goals. One size does not fit all. Neither does a single resume format or design.Heres some extra reading that will help you create a standout resume with a design that reflects your individuality.For starters, learn more about each of the 3 resume formats:Reverse-Chronological ResumeFunctional (Skills-Based) ResumeCombination ResumeOr, see this handy overview of the three above with extra tips on how to pick the perfect one for you: Resume Format: Pick an Ideal One for Your ApplicationGet inspired by our collection of the best resume design ideas: How to Design a Professional Resume (Examples)Id love you to give our resume builder a spin, but if you really want to stick to an MS Word resum e, at least pick a beautiful template: Resume Templates for MS WordWant to explore more options? See one of our galleries and find a resume that looks the way you want it to:One-Page Resume TemplatesTwo-Column Resume TemplatesStudent Resume TemplatesCreative Resume TemplatesSimple Resume TemplatesFeel like its a lot to process? Still not quite convinced why the looks of your resume are so important?Lets confront this issue with the science of first appearances.This study at UCLA showed that, when it comes to real-life, face-to-face encounters, only 7% of the message we convey is through words.The remaining 93% boils down to the non-verbal.Apply this knowledge in your job search:Sure, your wording matters, but non-verbal signs are still crucial.Remember: its about what you say and how you present it.Keep that motto in mind and youre sure to land any job you set your sights on.Key TakeawayHeres what a resume should look like:Professional font, such as Cambria, Calibri, Georgia, or Ver dana. 11pt to 12pt size.Single line spacing.1-inch margins on all four sides.Lots of white space to give readers some breathing room.Big section headings.No gimmicky graphics.No photographs.Includes a professional summary, work experience, education, skills, and extra sections.Follows a standard format: reverse-chronological, functional, or combination.Got more questions? Need further help? Drop me a line in the comments and Ill get back to you in no time!