The Résumé Blueprint: Make Every Word Count

On average, recruiters spend five to 10 seconds reviewing a candidate’s résumé.

“That’s all the time you have to catch somebody’s attention, so it’s important what you communicate to them,” says Marie Haraburda, an IU Alumni Association career coach who previously worked in career services at the IU Kelley School of Business.

Résumé writing has drastically evolved in recent years, and Haraburda has her finger on the pulse of the latest trends. Below, she shares her tips for creating a résumé that belongs in the “yes” pile.

Make a First Impression

Haraburda advises her clients to add their “personal brand” phrase, title, or keywords under their name.

“This immediately communicates to the recruiter who you are as a professional and what makes you unique or outstanding in your field,” she says.

Here’s an example:

Career and Leadership Consultant | ICF Certified Coach | CliftonStrengths Coach

Keep It Brief

Haraburda says a résumé should be one page in length and reflect the last decade of your work history.

“A lot of us could have résumés that are four pages. Nobody wants to read that,” she says. “Condense your experience to five or six bullet points per job.”

Go the Extra Mile

Most companies use an applicant tracking system to streamline the hiring process and maintain fair hiring practices.

Haraburda says incorporating keywords from the job description in your résumé will help you pass through this first step.

“For example, if they are using the word ‘directed’ versus ‘managed’ in the job description, it’s worth the effort to change the word on your résumé to match their verbiage,” she explains.

ATS tip: These systems are typically set up to accept a limited number of résumés, so don’t delay submitting your application.

Paint a Broader Picture

Hiring committees are reviewing your résumé for work experience, but they’re also looking for evidence of soft skills—like communication, teamwork, and leadership.

Haraburda says listing past awards and honors, as well as volunteerism and other community involvement, is a great way to demonstrate these skills.

“The simplest way you can communicate professionalism on your résumé is to hit spellcheck. You’d be surprised how many people neglect to do this quick, easy step,” she adds.

Let the Design Speak

How your résumé looks is just as important as what your résumé says. Recruiters are looking for clean lines and a document that is easy to read.

“The font you choose is important. Times New Roman is a popular one, however, it takes two to three times more ink to print than other fonts,” Haraburda says. “I prefer Arial and Calibri.”

As for font size, she suggests 14- or 16-point for your name and 11- or 12-point for the body copy.

Feeling like your résumé needs a splash of color? Haraburda says go for it—but avoid red and orange.

“I recommend a muted blue or a soft green. Green is the easiest color on our eyes,” she says.

Haraburda also advocates for white space.

“Try putting your printed résumé on the floor. You will immediately see how balanced the words are on the page, and how ‘clean’ it looks,” she says. “I like to compare this to a meal in a restaurant. You wouldn’t want your food all jumbled up in one lump in the middle of the plate, would you? Presentation matters!”