One key part of resumes that often is done without much thought is how to make a resume itself and its set-up.  While this part of a job resume may seem like it is the least important in comparison to its other parts, such as the resume cover letter and other parts of resumes, without an organized, appealing resume, it is difficult to stand out positively just from the resume.  Consider these resume tips while setting up a resume:

• The header of your resume should be set at 1.1 inches. Since the header is part of the “above the fold” portion, it is very valuable real estate. The only items that should appear in the header are your name in bold (not all capital letters) and the position title of the job (not bolded & not all capital letters) that you are applying for. I prefer your name to be 2 font sizes higher than the position title. If your name is in 14 point font, then the job title should be in 12 point. DO NOT place your contact information (e.g. address, phone, etc.) in the header, rather place it in the footer. To access the header and footer in a Word document, click on View on the menu bar and then click Header and Footer.

• Under the job title, I prefer to place a solid line. You can create this line by highlighting the title, on the menu bar click Format>Borders and Shading>on the Borders tab select the solid line under Styles section and then under Preview section click the image that shows the line at the bottom of the picture.

• I would set the footer at 1 inch. In the footer, you must have your contact information (home address, phone, email address) on the first line of the footer. On the second line of the footer, click the “Insert Auto Text” feature while in the Header and Footer section and select the option, “Page __ of __.” I would set the font size for personal information at a 10 point font and the page number at an 8 point font. I normally do not to bold any items in the footer.

• Above the personal information, I prefer to place a solid line by highlighting the personal information, on the menu bar click Format>Borders and Shading>on the Borders tab select the solid line under Styles and then under Preview section click the image that shows the line at the top of the picture.

• It’s amazing how resumes get printed by interviewers and then the pages get separated. If you don’t have your key info in the header and footer and your resume pages get separated, you can (1) get lost in the shuffle, (2) have someone else’s info stapled to page one of your resume, or (3) have your info stapled to page 1 of someone else’s resume.

• You should limit the font sizes in the resume to 10, 11, or 12 font size. For the major headings on the resume (e.g., BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, EXPERIENCE, SOFT SKILL COMPETENCIES, etc.), my personal preference is to use 12 point font, center them, type in caps, and bold. For the material under the headings, my preference is to use 11 point font. (See my font size comments for the headings under the topic of EXPERIENCE)

Utilizing these tips for resume creation will help your resume stay organized and eye-appealing for those who will be reading it.  While other aspects of the resume like the employment cover letter are important, making a resume stand out is probably one of the most important parts of the job search process.

While creating your resume, it is important to understand what employers want to see on the resume cover letter and what they may be anticipating to hear from you during the interview process.  While some employers will not use a structured interview to question things on your job resume, they certainly will use interviewer skills and techniques, even if illegal, that enhance their understanding of the employment cover letter you provide them.

An employer wants to know as much personal and work-related information about you as possible. Some of the “want to know” information may even cross the line into illegal interview questions.

I have known some employers who will purposely ask illegal interview questions about religion, marital status, ages of children, etc. just to “test” a candidate’s openness. They were not biased individuals. However, they did want to see that a future employee would not hold back information. My advice to any candidate is, “ALWAYS ANSWER THE QUESTION EVEN IF YOU KNOW IT’S ILLEGAL!”

The reason to answer all questions, even the illegal ones, is that an interview is similar to test where everyone starts out with 100 points. As you do or say things that are not in line with the employer’s image of the person who should hold the position, points are deducted. I have talked to employers who have “deducted more points” from people who were evasive in their answers, than from people who just answered the question.

It is important to understand these interviewer techniques in order to increase the validity of your resume and your chances of being hired at your next interview.