The challenge with any resume is to communicate applicant value so that it resonates in the best way possible. Presentation, content, and readability are critical. A resume should illustrate what a candidate has done, what a candidate has achieved, and how these accomplishments can support the position advertised. Resumes ARE marketing documents, and they need to be visually appealing and convincing. However, highly distinctive features can sometimes compromise content quality.
Fanciful resumes do not align with a conservative corporate environment and can come across as “gimmicky.” Resumes with multiple columns, graphics, colors, photos, and other design elements may be great for artists, influencers, and social media job hunters. For candidates seeking employment in traditional professions, the resume should reflect industry expectations. This means using a one-column, reverse chronological resume in a conventional and standard format – which hiring managers are accustomed to viewing and typically prefer.
Hotly debated opinions prevail on using one column versus two on a resume. Some people effectively use a two-column format to make a good impression and achieve a one-page limit while still providing a lot of detail, but a one-column format is still strongly supported and favored. Here is why: with two columns, work experience is allotted to only part of the page width. This limits text for real substance and content pertaining to work accomplishments. Column features and section breaks in Word can also be difficult to control for inexperienced users. This results in excessive white areas, especially if the document is two pages. A two-column template, where the entire left or right side remains mostly empty, wastes space and is difficult to balance aesthetically.
Off-format resumes can be difficult to upload online. Creative layouts often become distorted when saved in different file types. They also have difficulty making it past applicant tracking systems (ATS). Most ATS software scans from left to right and top to bottom. A single-column layout helps ensure that the information is parsed correctly. Read how to create an ATS-friendly resume at: https://www.paralegal.edu/blog/creating-resumes-for-humans-and-bots
Deviations from the norm can be distracting. Avoid glitz and glamour. Readers are accustomed to a certain look. They want to easily see relevant experience, total tenure, contributions, skills, and education. The more time it takes to locate relevant information on resumes with unconventional arrangements, the more likely they are to be screened out. A normal top-to-bottom resume illustrates career and academic progression, along with milestone achievements, in a defined order. This helps the automated systems and the human reviewers.
The best resumes communicate skills and accomplishments clearly and effectively. They are geared toward the job and not the candidate. The key is to make a resume simple to scan, both by humans and BOTS. Think readability over creative format. Flashier and splashier do not equate with quality and performance. While a resume should contain strong selling points, candidates might not stand out favorably if their resume screams “pick me” with pictures, logos, colorful text, borders, and columns. Place less emphasis on ornate visuals and put creative energy into strong content.
Using photos or headshots can reveal information about age, gender, and ethnicity that could unfairly bias the candidate. They also increase file dimensions. This might cause the resume document to exceed the maximum attachment size for servers. It is good practice to exclude them.
If a resume does not reach or get the attention of a human reader the applicant loses any opportunity to interview, no matter their qualifications. In traditional corporate industries, a resume should focus on written content instead of pretty patterns and pictures. They should always include the following key elements:
- Contact Information: name, phone, and email; a postal address can also be included to signify geographical preference
- Profile/Summary/Objective: a statement that shows “at a glance” what the candidate is seeking, emphasizing details that are a match for the position
- Skills: relevant competencies including the requirements mentioned in the job posting as well as ‘desirables’ using the same language
- Technology: software, hardware, and level of proficiency
- Languages: additional second language or multi-lingual fluency
- Education: universities, degrees, certificates, licensures, and other relevant special training
- Employment History/Internships/Community or Volunteer Work: list each experience, location, dates, and job title; use bullet points to highlight duties and accomplishments that align with the responsibilities described in the advertisement
- Achievements/Honors/ Awards/Leadership Activities: highlight if there is space and they pertain to the role
- References: a list separate from the resume with individuals who can attest to academic or work experience, performance, skills, and character; these should not be friends or family
Unless the job is in an industry that focuses on artistic production, graphic content, entertainment, or self-promotion, the resume should be business professional – concise, organized, and readable. If not done well, a design-heavy resume may deliver bad results and cause more harm than good. Additional career planning and development blogs can be explored at https://www.paralegal.edu/blog/topic/career
To learn more about starting or progressing in a paralegal career visit Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS) at www.paralegal.edu. CALS offers a Paralegal Certificate, an Associate of Applied Science Degree Paralegal Program, and a Bachelor of Arts: Law and Business.
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Tami Riggs Director of Outreach and Career Services Tami has an extensive and varied professional background that spans criminal justice, paralegal education, and international school marketing and communication. Her career has been guided by a focus on developing strategic partnerships that facilitate school growth and student opportunity. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Degree in Criminal Justice from Texas State University. |
