10 Tips to build the best modern resume
Design
The use of graphics and icons is a strong advantage of modern resumes. They will attract the attention of the recruiter and could be used as an accent for different sections such as
Achievements or
Skills. Use icons and graphics in moderation, otherwise you risk looking immature.
The sections of the modern resume template are divided by white spaces and lines. This results in much higher readability and makes the resume skimmable.
Font
We recommend you
use bold and light fonts such as Rubik, Verdana, Helvetica Neue, Georgia. The use of bolded words is also acceptable in case the candidate wants to emphasize something.
Fonts such as Times New Roman are considered not that screen-friendly nowadays. They are outdated, and you will make a bad impression if you use them.
Colors
If you want a modern resume, try bright and vivid colors that catch attention. You can use blue, green, purple, or orange but do not use more than 3 different colors on your resume. Use darker colors instead of lighter ones such as yellow because they are more appropriate if the background is white.
Layout
Header
The
header plays an important role in modern resume templates. It includes a name, contact information, and sometimes social media links. The name is bolded, which speaks of your confidence. It is one of the main accents of the resume.
You may include a
headshot or some type of avatar to even further accentuate your confidence. Photos of candidates are not required by law in many jurisdictions to avoid any chance of discrimination. Nevertheless, modern resumes often include a photo, logo, or avatar to demonstrate to the recruiter that behind the application there is a real person.
Another strong accent is a
heading statement that tells the recruiter who you are in a few words.
Below the header, you could divide your content into two separate columns.
After that, you can start with your
Summary section on the left side column, packing it with action verbs and describing your highest achievements and advantages in 2-3 sentences.
Main Sections
On top is the
Job experience section, where each position’s description is listed out using bullet points in reverse chronological order starting from the most recent one. Try to use action verbs that are relevant to the job posting.
Then follows the
Education section, designed in the same manner. Your most recent education course is first and then the other ones. Use bullet points and short descriptions of your education courses, especially if they are related to the position you apply for.
On the right side column, you can include
an achievement and/or a
Skills' section just opposite of the
Summary and
Job Experience sections. Both sections only include claims that are backed up by the information in the Job Experience and Education sections.
Additional Sections
Another unique feature of the modern resume template is the possibility to include additional sections such as
Quotes, Interests, Hobbies, Projects, etc. that will give the recruiter a better idea of who you are and will compensate in case of little work experience.
Sections to Skip
That would be the
Resume objective section. Nowadays, you can easily customize your resume when applying for different jobs. The practice in the past was to just walk in personally and hand your resume to a receptionist for further consideration. Today you can apply for a particular job and there is no need to explain your objectives because they are self-explanatory.
Number of columns
There is no real rule here. You can use one or two columns. Although we recommend using the two columns format for the simple reason that the most important information in the form of Contact Information, Summary section, Achievements, and Skills are in the upper part of the template and right in front of the eyes of the recruiter. The two columns look more presentable and professional and show you made an effort to arrange your resume.
Number of pages
The Industry standard applies. Expect an additional page for every 10 years of work experience. Ensure the content is relevant and not just filler. One-page resumes are great, but if you need to include more information better do it on two pages instead of using smaller fonts. The recruiter would rather read a longer resume than try to make sense of cluttered documents.
What language/tone of voice to use
The modern resume contains strong action verbs that present the candidate as an energetic and eager employee. The content needs to create a feeling of freshness as opposed to dry, artificial resumes.