Section
Headings
by
ResumeEdge.com
- The Net's Premier Resume Writing and Editing Service
Headings are one of the major
design elements of a résumé. How you choose to divide sections determines the
readability of your résumé. Graphic lines and/or white space help define groups
of similar information and draw the reader's eyes down the page.
One of the keys to a readable
résumé is the judicious use of white space, and consistent spacing in critical.
You will notice throughout the samples in this book that more white space is
used between major sections than within sections. This breaks the résumé into
easily digested chunks of information. The white space between these sections
should be identical throughout the résumé. Likewise, the smaller white space
within sections should be the same throughout.
There are two basic positions for
your headings. One is centered (Sample
1) with or without lines, and the other is left justified (Sample
1). Which style you choose depends on what you find pleasing to your
eye. There is no right or wrong way. If you like the design, then it is a good
fit with your personality. Some of your options include:
Since people read from the top to
the bottom and from left to right, begin your résumé with the most important
information. Then work your way down to less important information. The top
half of your résumé's first page should be packed with your strongest
qualifications.
So, which section goes first?
Should it be education or experience? Start with the section that contains your
strongest qualifications for your target job. If you have had little experience
in your prospective field but have a degree that qualifies you for a starting
position in the industry, then by all means list your education first. Most
people eventually move their education below their experience as they get
further from their school days. If you change your career and go back to
school, then the education will move to the top again and begin to gravitate to
the bottom as you gain relevant experience.
The same idea goes for
information within each section. For instance, if you went to an Ivy League
school, you can list the school before the degree. Look at the difference in
emphasis between these two methods:
HARVARD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Master of Business Administration
MASTER OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
Little Known College, Backwoods, Idaho
The same principle applies to
your experience. If your job title is more impressive than where you worked,
then list it first.
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING
Little Known Company, Boulder, Colorado
IBM CORPORATION, Boulder,
Colorado
Assistant Export Coordinator
Avoid the use of underlining
since it cuts into the descenders in lower case letters. For example, notice
the "p" in:
Assistant Export Coordinator
It is acceptable to use
underlining when the letters are all capitalized since there are no descenders:
ASSISTANT EXPORT COORDINATOR
Italics, bold, ALL CAPITALS,
FIRST
LETTER
LARGER,
or any combination of the four are all good ways to make certain information
stand out within the text. However, these styles can be overdone very easily.
To make them more effective, use these type treatments sparingly.
From
Designing the Perfect Resume,by Pat Criscito.
Copyright 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational
Series, Inc.
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