/resume-formatter

name: resume-formatter
description: Ensure ATS-friendly formatting and create clean, scannable layouts. Use when the user mentions resume format, layout, template, design, or fixing formatting issues.

Resume Formatter

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when the user:

• Needs help with resume layout and formatting
• Has a messy or hard-to-read resume
• Wants to ensure ATS compatibility through formatting
• Needs a clean, professional design
• Mentions: "format resume", "resume layout", "resume design", "clean resume", "professional format"

Core Capabilities

• Structure resumes for optimal readability
• Ensure ATS compatibility through formatting
• Create visual hierarchy
• Optimize white space and margins
• Select appropriate fonts and sizes
• Balance aesthetic appeal with functionality

Formatting Fundamentals

The Dual Audience Challenge

Your resume must work for: 1. **ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)** - Robots that parse text 2. **Human Readers** - Recruiters who scan quickly

**The Solution:** Clean, simple formatting that satisfies both.

Document Setup

Page Length

• **Entry Level (0-5 years):** 1 page
• **Mid-Level (5-15 years):** 1-2 pages
• **Senior/Executive (15+ years):** 2 pages (max 3 for executives)

Margins

• **Recommended:** 0.5" - 1" all sides
• **Minimum:** 0.5" (don't go smaller)
• **Maximum:** 1" (don't waste space)

Font Selection

**Safe, ATS-Friendly Fonts:**

• **Sans-serif:** Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Verdana
• **Serif:** Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond

**Font Sizes:**

• **Name:** 16-20pt
• **Section Headers:** 12-14pt
• **Body Text:** 10-12pt
• **Minimum readable:** 10pt

Spacing

• **Line spacing:** 1.0 to 1.15
• **Space after paragraphs:** 6-12pt
• **Section spacing:** 12-16pt between sections

ATS-Safe Formatting Rules

DO:

• ✅ Use standard fonts
• ✅ Use simple bullet points (•, -, *)
• ✅ Use bold and italic sparingly
• ✅ Use standard section headers
• ✅ Save as .docx or text-based .pdf
• ✅ Put contact info in body (not header)
• ✅ Use single column layout
• ✅ Use consistent formatting throughout

DON'T:

• ❌ Use tables (except simple ones for contact info)
• ❌ Use text boxes
• ❌ Use columns (multi-column layouts)
• ❌ Use headers/footers for important info
• ❌ Use images or graphics
• ❌ Use unusual fonts
• ❌ Use skill bars or progress indicators
• ❌ Use special characters or emojis
• ❌ Use color for essential information

Section Organization

Standard Section Order

1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary (optional)
3. Skills/Technical Skills
4. Professional Experience
5. Education
6. Certifications (if relevant)
7. Additional (volunteer, languages, etc.)

Section Header Formatting

**ATS-Recognized Headers:**

• PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE or WORK EXPERIENCE
• EDUCATION
• SKILLS or TECHNICAL SKILLS
• PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY or SUMMARY
• CERTIFICATIONS
• PROJECTS

**Format Options:**

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

or

Professional Experience
_______________________

or

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Contact Information Layout

Recommended Format

JOHN SMITH
john.smith@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
San Francisco, CA

Alternative Format

JOHN SMITH
San Francisco, CA
john.smith@email.com | (555) 123-4567
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith | GitHub: github.com/johnsmith

What to Include

• ✅ Full name
• ✅ Professional email
• ✅ Phone number
• ✅ City, State (no full address needed)
• ✅ LinkedIn URL
• ✅ Portfolio/GitHub (if relevant)

What to Exclude

• ❌ Full street address
• ❌ Photo
• ❌ Date of birth
• ❌ Marital status
• ❌ Multiple phone numbers
• ❌ Personal social media

Experience Section Formatting

Standard Format

COMPANY NAME | City, ST
Job Title | Month Year - Month Year

• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results

Alternative Format

Job Title
COMPANY NAME, City, ST                    Month Year - Month Year

• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results

Date Formatting

• **Consistent format:** Use same format throughout
• **Recommended:** Month Year (Jan 2020 - Present)
• **Also acceptable:** MM/YYYY (01/2020 - Present)
• **Avoid:** Full dates (January 15, 2020)

Bullet Point Guidelines

• **Length:** 1-2 lines each
• **Format:** Start with action verb, end with result
• **Quantity:** 3-6 bullets per role (more for recent, fewer for old)
• **Symbol:** Use standard bullets (•, -, *)

Skills Section Formatting

Option 1: Simple List

SKILLS
Python, JavaScript, SQL, React, Node.js, AWS, Docker, Git, Agile, JIRA

Option 2: Categorized

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL
Frameworks: React, Node.js, Django, Flask
Tools: AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Jenkins

Option 3: Columns (Careful with ATS)

SKILLS
Languages        Frameworks       Tools
Python           React            AWS
JavaScript       Node.js          Docker
SQL              Django           Git

**Note:** Multi-column layouts may cause ATS issues. Test before using.

Education Section Formatting

Standard Format

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of California, Berkeley | 2018
GPA: 3.8/4.0 (include if 3.5+)

With Honors/Details

EDUCATION
MBA, Finance & Strategy | Stanford Graduate School of Business | 2020
• Graduated with Distinction
• Relevant Coursework: Corporate Finance, M&A Strategy

Visual Hierarchy Principles

Hierarchy Order

1. **Name** - Largest, most prominent 2. **Section Headers** - Clear divisions 3. **Job Titles/Company Names** - Easy to scan 4. **Bullet Points** - The details

Creating Hierarchy

• Use font SIZE to create levels
• Use **BOLD** for emphasis (names, titles, headers)
• Use CAPS for section headers
• Use consistent s