Professional Format and Appearance
When preparing you resume, follow these guidelines to present a polished and professional document:
- Paper Quality: Utilize letter-size bond paper (8.5" x 11") of high quality in either white or a neutral color for a clean and refined look.
- Neat and Logical Layout: Keep your resume clean, organized, and easy to read. Ensure a professional look by using consistent fonts and font sizes throughout. Ensure there are no grammatical errors or typos by thoroughly proofreading it.
- Length Considerations: For undergraduate students, aim to keep your résumé to one or two pages. Master's students may extend their résumés to 3 or 4 pages, depending on relevant information and years of experience.
- Chronological Order: List your information in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent experiences and accomplishments.
- Highlighting Key Details: Visually emphasize essential information consistently, without overusing graphics and excessive formatting. Use bolding, italics, and bullet points strategically to draw attention to key details.
- Ample White Space: Use wide margins and ensure there is enough white space to avoid clutter. This enables readers to quickly skim the contents and grasp key points.
