Resume Font Size

[sondra_finchley]

Ive heard varying reports on this- currently I have it in 10 pt and Times New Roman, I just tried to change it to 11 pt and it killed all my formatting (obviously) but its slightly easier to read. I hate having to reformat and the 11pt makes me feel like everything is hanging out there (not that there are any lies or truth-stretching, but I have a hard time tooting my own horn).

Any opinions?

[wordsmith]

I actually knocked mine down to 10pt. (the template I use had it automatically at 12 pt., I think), to keep it the length I wanted.

[ya never know..]

I always put mine in either arial or tahoma, I'm not a fan of plain old times new roman. And normally it's either 11 or 12, I think.

[Kitty]

Mine is 12 pt. I like big type because it's easy for people to read. I also use arial.

I think 10 pt. is fine though, as long as it doesn't look too cluttered and it's formatted well.

[Xander]

I use 9 with Arial for general text, 10 bold for headers, and 9 bold italics for sub-headers... It's easy enough to read.

[Kitty]

I use 9 with Arial for general text, 10 bold for headers, and 9 bold italics for sub-headers... It's easy enough to read.

9 pt. bold italics does NOT sound easy to read.

[Xander]

9 pt. bold italics does NOT sound easy to read.
It is. :)

[MrNCG23]

12 pt. for things you want to emphasize, 10 pt. for bullets.
Larger fonts for distinct info like Name, Address, Contact, etc.

[sondra_finchley]

I put it into 11 and the formatting all went to hell- Ive got two text boxes on the side (seperated by a line from the other text) and the Language text box went into the great beyond, never to return. Now Im having difficulty replacing the damn thing. The 11 looks good- Ill try putting it into Arial or Tahoma (which I do like as well) as Im also not typically a TNR user, but over the years this thing has just evolved and I never changed font preference, even though I did for all other written work.

Anyone else stumble across old resumes from time to time and kinda laugh at how amature they look?

[MollyM]

Mine is Arial 12. It looks good. I will probably make it Arial 11 next time I add some stuff to it. I really try to keep the amount of text down as much as possible to what is truly important. Computer knowledge and software knowledge is assumed where I work. I'll put more specific details in the cover letter if the job requires CAD knowledge or something like that.

My sister did small font and small margins on one of her resumes. It just looked like a lot of text.

[cache]

Anyone else stumble across old resumes from time to time and kinda laugh at how amature they look?

Just like paycheck stubs, which I have one of from every job I have worked, I keep one copy of my resume of each version I have done. It is funny to go back and read the 16y.o. version that was done on a word processor "I am a motivated self starter whose mom wrote this purpose statement for him"...wait, I don't think I actually put that last part in there:D

My attempts at glamourizing my McDonalds duties on the resume are funny:. "Resolved customer service issues to the satisfaction of the customer and the company" Translation: I gave pissed off people an extra apple pie.

[weary]

10 pt times new roman is not great when there's a lot to read. remember that whomever you are submitting your resume me to is reading A LOT of other resumes too. it's not really fair, but when one has to read a lot of resumes, it stops just being just about the buzz words and experience. if it's hard on the eyes, disorganized or a bunch of long paragraphs (as opposed to short phrases and/or bullets), it is more likely to be skimmed or put in the "read later" pile...just because it looks too busy/messy.

i would suggest 11 or 12 pt for times new roman for any resume over 1 page long. if it's arial, tahoma, veranda or something like those (larger, rounder) fonts, i think 10 pt is o-k. definitely bold, underline, or capitalize (all caps) titles, sections, etc.

[yankeeyosh]

Just like paycheck stubs, which I have one of from every job I have worked, I keep one copy of my resume of each version I have done. It is funny to go back and read the 16y.o. version that was done on a word processor "I am a motivated self starter whose mom wrote this purpose statement for him"...wait, I don't think I actually put that last part in there:D

My attempts at glamourizing my McDonalds duties on the resume are funny:. "Resolved customer service issues to the satisfaction of the customer and the company" Translation: I gave pissed off people an extra apple pie.

Why did you need a resume at 16? I don't recall doing one till I was 19, and I think I was ahead of the curve even then. But considering this is the generation that does internships in high school, maybe not...

[wordsmith]

I didn't need a resume till I was 23.

[weary]

i've had a resume since i was 15.

WOW....just saying that makes me feel old. that's 1/2 my life. :rolleyes:

[cache]

Why did you need a resume at 16? I don't recall doing one till I was 19, and I think I was ahead of the curve even then. But considering this is the generation that does internships in high school, maybe not...

I was always taught that a resume was more professional than just filling out an application for somewhere - especially at a McJob.

Also, my early work experience was relatively extensive - paper route at 10, golf caddy at 12, McDonalds at 14. Most of my friends were getting their first jobs when I was already working for 6 years.

And trust me, when a 16 yo turns in a resume with a work history already established, it makes them almost a shoe in for most jobs...

[weary]

I was always taught that a resume was more professional than just filling out an application for somewhere - especially at a McJob.

Also, my early work experience was relatively extensive - paper route at 10, golf caddy at 12, McDonalds at 14. Most of my friends were getting their first jobs when I was already working for 6 years.

And trust me, when a 16 yo turns in a resume with a work history already established, it makes them almost a shoe in for most jobs...

yep, exactly.

Why did you need a resume at 16? I don't recall doing one till I was 19, and I think I was ahead of the curve even then. But considering this is the generation that does internships in high school, maybe not...

well, in my case it was b/c i got knocked up in HS and needed to work more than most other kids who did McJobs.

[Kitty]

I made my first resume as a Freshman in HS becasue it was some assignment in school and then I just used it to apply to jobs.

[sondra_finchley]

I moved it into Arial 10 pt and had my mom look over the version in Tahoma, TNR, and Arial given my layout and she chose Arial for easiest to read (she worked in graphic design a while ago and has a good eye for those things). Since I was going for two pages I was able to add a little more white space in than I have typically on the short resume, and the layout worked out perfectly so that the important work skills are on the front, along with the UK experience, that are pertinent to the job, whilst the second page starts right off with the academic and networking stuff I did that shows networking, business ability across both countries, and high acievement/personal initiative. Thankfully the titles are clear and explain everything with a quick glance that would interest someone to read more. Education is last under the academic part. Looks fantastic! Thanks everyone for the input!

Cache- man, im sending that line to my brother, who worked at a MacDs in high school. Hes got some real story gems. Now he works at a bank branch (his own QLC) and struggles to deal with customers who dont understand that they cant take money out when they dont have any in their account. Good thing hes got a sense of humor.

[wordsmith]

My first job sprang out of my volunteer year, and I WISH I'd only had to do a resume to get into the volunteer program. Instead, it was the most extensive application process I've ever seen, including graduate school apps. Pages and pages of essays and referrals and letters of recommendation...

My current job, I doubt they even looked at my resume. They just knew I was local and wouldn't be appalled at having to live in the town, and knew from my cover letter that I could spell well enough to not have to have all my articles rewritten.

I worked young, too, but I detassled corn and babysat, neither of which is resume-dependent.

[cache]

Kinda OT, but when I applied at McD's, I also applied for a part time "landscaping" job at a jewelry shop. It was pulling weeds out of the sidewalk in front of the store. The guy who owned the store told me I could work ~15-20 hours a week if I wanted. 20 hours a week...pulling weeds out of a 30 foot stretch of sidewalk.

...that still makes me laugh.

[yankeeyosh]

I was always taught that a resume was more professional than just filling out an application for somewhere - especially at a McJob.

Also, my early work experience was relatively extensive - paper route at 10, golf caddy at 12, McDonalds at 14. Most of my friends were getting their first jobs when I was already working for 6 years.

And trust me, when a 16 yo turns in a resume with a work history already established, it makes them almost a shoe in for most jobs...

Ah OK...that was def. mature to do that.