resume-formatter

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---
name: resume-formatter
description: Ensure ATS-friendly formatting and create clean scannable layouts
---

# 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
[email protected] | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
San Francisco, CA
```

### Alternative Format
```
JOHN SMITH
San Francisco, CA
[email protected] | (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

• Achieveme