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It has been said that the average time a prospective employer spends reading a résumé is only 17 seconds. Obviously, that isn’t much time to make an impression. Not so obvious is how to write a résumé that works. Logically, a résumé that works will be visually easy to read and will cast one’s education, experience and skills in the best light possible.

If you research the possible résumé formats, you’ll find many variations on the same theme. Many people try to make their résumé "stand out" by adding graphics elements, using a different font, or a different paper. All that is necessary, however, is just a professional appearing, one-page document (normally) with either Times Roman or Arial 12 point type. Since job seekers normally produce their résumés on a computer, anyone has access to varying fonts and graphics. Adding such elements may boomerang, causing the employer to ask "Now why did this person think it necessary to fancy this up—are they hiding something? Is he missing something in his experience or education that he wants me to overlook?"

1. Stick to one page. The only job seekers who need more than one page fall into certain categories. Educators, for instance, normally have multi-page résumés. Other fields might well require more than one page. Others who may need more than one page are usually older professionals who have many years of work history behind them. If you cannot easily fill up 2 full pages, rethink your multi-page résumé. That quarter or half page on a second sheet is simply not likely to be read carefully, if at all. Remember 17 seconds.
2. Do not have type smaller than 12 point. Many of those in hiring positions are over 40. These are the years when they began needing reading glasses. Make it easy for them to read! Also, do not use anything larger than 14 point for your name. 14 point makes the name very visible and doesn’t utilize more of that sorely needed space.
3. Stick to standard typefaces. Times Roman, of course, is the first that comes to mind. Many professional résumé writers prefer Arial because without the serifs (the curlicues), the type is clearer and easier to read.
4. Use standard one-inch margins if possible. Smaller margins can look crowded; larger leaves too much "white space". If reducing your margins to ¾ inch allows you to keep to a one-page format, however, then don’t hesitate to use it.
5. Use bold sparingly. Bold your name, address, phone numbers and the headings. Do not bold your job titles if you want your job descriptions to be read. Bolding job titles can allow the reader to be lazy and skip reading the description.
6. DO NOT USE BULLETS! Bullets are for a list. If you have a list of qualifications that you want to use in your résumé, then using bullets for this is acceptable. In general, bullets make for poor reading: they literally require the reader to stop and start at each line. This slows down reading—remember 17 seconds. Résumés with bullets should be the exception, not the rule.
7. Use a two-column format. List your headings on the right and use a text box for the written information on the left. This is a much easier format to read than a paragraphed page. Do not use a résumé program to create your résumé. Being able to keep the résumé in a MS Word format means you will always be able to find a computer to update or alter it on.
8. Use white or off-white paper. Avoid dark (gray or brown) or pastel (blue, pink, yellow) colors, parchments and visually textured (clouds, swirls) papers. It’s easier to read résumés on white or off-white paper and the paper can’t distract the reader. A cotton or linen look/feel is nice: you simply can’t go wrong with a standard résumé paper. You can go wrong if you use something out of the ordinary.
9. Always send a cover letter. No résumé should be sent without a cover letter if you are truly serious about wanting the position. The cover letter is your opportunity to add subjective information and extra pertinent details. It can be a way to present your career objective in detail and it can be a way to summarize (remember that 17 seconds) your background. You can also use it to address the stated requirements of the position, i.e. yes, I can type your required wpm; yes, I do have good communication skills, etc.

This sample shows a recommended formatting style for any résumé:

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