| On a Resume, Appearance Matters |
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As much as we may hate to admit it, appearances matter. They matter when dating, when interviewing, and they matter in regards to your resume as well. It is a well known fact that people often base final judgments on first impressions, and so it goes with your resume; it is judged immediately – before an employer even reads its carefully crafted content. Whether it is delivered via snail mail, email, or your hands, your resume is most likely the first form of contact your potential employer has with you. Sure, the 20-weight ecru paper isn’t really you, but until you get an interview, you are what is reflected by that paper. Subsequently, your resume should not reflect your whimsical/edgy/artsy/etc. side, but rather your professionalism and serious interest in the position at hand.
Specifically, the two important elements contributing to the appearance of your resume are the font and paper choice. Font Use an easily read basic font like Times New Roman or Ariel, and assuming you are typing on a computer and not a typewriter, do not use Courier. Avoid “casual” fonts that look like handwriting or cursive, and especially stay away from any fonts that you may have experimented with when first discovering Word’s surfeit of font choices. Not only are these fonts hard to read, using them gives the impression that you spent more time agonizing over style than content. As far as size goes, 10 and 12 point font are your best bet – anything smaller is hard to read, and anything bigger looks like you’re trying to fill space. Paper Though the paper choices may seem unlimited at your local office supply store, when choosing one for your resume, limit them. Narrow your vision to the whites, beiges, ivories, and grays. These colors lend a more dignified and classy feel to your resume, as opposed to the impression given by pastel or a sunflower border. Also keep in mind the weight and quality of the paper, and remember to use the same paper that you used for your cover letter. Besides font and paper, it is important to highlight key information on your resume so that it will be noticed quickly and easily – do this with bold letters and underlining, but be selective. Similarly, how you format and space your words on the page affects how easy it is to read. Use bullets or numbering, and plan the layout carefully. When it comes down to it, a resume is not the place to showcase your creative talents. Keep it simple and clean, and you will come out on top. |
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