Resume Format: Length, Layout and File Type
Format is everything about your resume except the words: the structure, length, order of sections, file type and page setup. Good formatting is invisible. It lets a recruiter find what they need in seconds. Here are the decisions that matter, with a recommendation for each.
Which resume format: chronological, functional or hybrid?
| Format | What it is | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse chronological | Jobs listed newest first, each with its achievements | Almost always. Recruiters and ATS expect it. |
| Hybrid (combination) | A skills or highlights section first, then a chronological work history | Career changers whose transferable skills need explaining |
| Functional | Skills grouped by theme, with little or no work history | Rarely. Many recruiters read it as hiding something, and parsers struggle to attach skills to jobs. |
MakeCV's templates all use the reverse chronological structure. Career changers can get a hybrid effect by writing a strong summary and leading the skills list with transferable skills.
How long should a resume be?
- Students, graduates and up to about 5–7 years' experience: one page.
- Experienced professionals and managers: two pages.
- Executives: two pages, occasionally three.
- Academic CV: as long as your publication record requires (see resume vs CV).
- UK CV: two sides of A4 is the usual guide (see the UK CV guide).
The test isn't the page count; it is whether every line earns its place. Cut duties, old jobs and generic skills before you cut achievements.
Section order
- Name and contact details
- Professional summary
- Work experience (or Education first, if you are a student or recent graduate)
- Education
- Skills
- Optional: projects, certifications, languages, volunteering
Some templates move skills and languages to a side column. That changes where they appear, not their priority.
PDF or Word?
Follow the advert. If it asks for .docx, send .docx. Otherwise a text-based PDF is the safer default: fonts, spacing and layout look the same on every device, and modern applicant tracking systems read it well.
The PDF to avoid is an image-only one: a scan, a photo, or a design exported as a picture. In MakeCV, the ATS PDF button creates a text-based PDF through your browser's print dialog, while Download PDF creates an image-based file intended for people. Details in the ATS guide.
A4 or US Letter?
US Letter (8.5 × 11 in, 216 × 279 mm) is standard in the US and Canada; A4 (210 × 297 mm) everywhere else. A4 is slightly taller and narrower. Online, nobody notices; on paper, an A4 page printed on Letter loses a little at the bottom margin. MakeCV exports A4. If you are applying in North America and expect your resume to be printed, keep the bottom of your page a little lighter.
Fonts, size and spacing
- Font: any common, readable font. Each MakeCV template comes with its own professional font pairing, so there is nothing to choose.
- Size: body text 10–12 pt; your name 18–28 pt; section headings 11–14 pt.
- Margins: roughly 1.5–2.5 cm (0.6–1 in). Narrower looks cramped; wider wastes space.
- Line spacing: 1.15–1.5 for body text, with clear space between sections.
- Colour: one accent colour at most for headings and lines; body text in black or dark grey.
Dates and consistency
Pick one date style and use it everywhere: "Mar 2022 – Present" or "03/2022 – present". Months matter: "2021 – 2022" could mean two months or two years. MakeCV formats dates for you from the month and year you choose.
File name
Use Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf (or -CV.pdf in the UK). Avoid "resume_final_v3.pdf". When you save MakeCV's ATS PDF, the print dialog suggests a file name based on your name.