Career experts will tell you that a hiring manager quickly scans a resume from six to fifteen seconds before making an initial decision. It is for this reason alone that you must leverage the use of design elements in a resume to create a visual interest.
Formatting the sections of a resume can make a significant difference between a mediocre resume and a resume that has the WOW factor. The information contained within the resume is the same for both, but the presentation is a night and day contrast.
The list of formatting techniques is endless. The most common include capitalizing headings, bolding text, indenting sections, italicizing paragraphs, using two bullet styles, placing accomplishments in a text box, adding excerpts from testimonials, and placing awards in between lines above and below the information. Some more edgy techniques include the use of pie charts to show sales achievements.
When armed with all of these options, the question becomes how to actually implement them. One of the most creative resume formats is the flyer-style resume. It sounds very fancy, but it is basically the use of two table columns that is easy to create using a word processor.
First create your name and address as you normally would. Then place a title objective statement in the center that is bold, but not all caps like your name so it does not compete.
For example, let's say you are a computer programmer. Instead of a wordy objective statement, simply write Computer Programmer. Then follow the heading with a two-line overview that explains how many years of experience you have, your key credentials, and a brief about the types of projects you've worked on.
Okay, the top part of the resume is done. Now comes the interesting part where you will create the visual excitement.
Drop down a line or two and create a two-column table. Select the left column, or cell, and fill in the color with a very light shade of gray. Keep the right column unfilled color-wise.
In the left column, treat the section the same way you would on a business-style resume by typing Professional Experience in bold and in all caps. In this section, you should include all of your jobs the same way you normally would. The difference is that this section is only for your jobs and nothing else.
The right (gray) column is where you would list everything else such as your education, computer skills and achievements. This is an effective way to list your computer programs, project highlights, and specialized credentials.
The flyer-style resume requires a bit more word processing skills that other formats, but the payoff is tenfold. There are probably very few who use this format, which almost guarantees your resume will grab the reader's attention.
It is important to note that the flyer-style resume works best for a one-page resume. If you have a two-page resume, you can implement many of the more common formatting techniques mentioned above to create your own style.
To find ideas on various resume layouts and design elements, research resume samples in books and online. Whatever style you choose, be sure not to overdo it. Even with a unique resume design, less is more. Keep in mind that most resumes are plain. So, the minimal use of design elements will still help your resume to stand out in the resume pile.
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