Now, see for yourself, in this comparison, which format looks more interesting and inviting to you at a casual first glance:
Now, see how much READABILITY it loses when set in a wider, 6 and 1/2-inch format:
Here is an example of a readable typeface, set in narrow width, for easy readability and quick scanning. If we would set this identical paragraph in a wider format, the eye would have to travel a greater distance to cover the same material, resulting in a tired feeling. Because we learn to read at an early age, and continue to read on through our lifetimes, we learn to judge quickly which paragraphs and which kinds of reading look as though they will tire us, and which kinds of reading look inviting and easy to read. Another way to improve readability is to leave the right edge of column-copy rough, or jagged, so that spaces-between-words are not excessive. If too much space is used, the result is a look of jerkiness rather than smoothness. Words which belong together, such as "Three Blind Mice" should always be placed on the same line, rather than separated on different lines. Also, use hyphens as little as possible; they add jerkiness.
Be Your Own Art Director
In the advertising world, art directors are paid to design the page-to put each element, each bit of information in its proper location:
- So that you read the ad.
- To ensure that you read the important things first as you scan the page.
- To arouse your interest so that you will continue reading.
- And, finally, to get you to act on the information you have been given.
You have the challenge of turning a blank piece of paper into an effective promotion piece... something that won't be thrown out or avoided. The message should leap out of your resume at first glance. How?
Use plenty of white space.
Don't crowd your material... giving the reader the impression that your resume is hard to read. It is easier to just toss your resume into the reject pile!
Use design strategy for planning your resume.
All of us learned to read from upper left to lower right. That's the way our eye naturally glides through any page.
Your resume should be designed, then, so that the eye moves down the page from upper left, down to the lower right-hand corner.
Underlining is helpful-it breaks up the monotony of a page.
(Perhaps, for example, you would like to underline just the names of your category headings, such as WORK EXPERIENCE... or the names of the companies/organizations for which you have worked.
Underlining aids readability but is consistent throughout your resume.
Don't change margins in your resume more than necessary.
Changing margins will give your resume a jerky look. The look you want to achieve is smooth. Not jerky.
An exception, however, is a group of words that belong together. If you must go to a second line with a group of words, indent the second line a few spaces. This shows that these words belong with the first line.
If you must separate some of the words in a title, indent the word left hanging by itself on the second line. This makes for easier understanding and leaves no question in the reader's mind about which words belong together.
Of course, for every rule there is an exception. And this rule is no exception!
After once listing the full name of an exceptionally long-named school or organization such as The Mid-State Baptist Institute for Biblical and Theological Studies, it is permissible (and preferable) to abbreviate such a name. But be sensible.
Use "Mid-State Institute" (Not MSBIBTS), because the former is easier for the reader to understand and absorb quickly. So when you write about being on that school's debate team, you could say:
Bullets are an excellent way to itemize.
Bullets are indicators that tell your eye to "start reading here." They can be written on your typewriter as periods. Or they can be small typewriter that you blacken with a felt-tip pen.
They call attention to the item and tell the eye, "Start here, eye... this is where you begin to read."
They also tell the reader that this line is going to be short and sweet. Not a long paragraph, but a few short items... each one preceded by a bullet.
You should separate bullets from the words by two or three spaces. Ad people have used this trick for ages. They still do.
