Should you create a resume in Word or use a resume maker / builder?

To impress recruiters and potential employers, your resume must be well-written and professional. Microsoft Word is the most common format for creating resumes, but it has its advantages and disadvantages:

Pros: It has a spelling and grammar checker function; you can change the size and color of the font; MS Word offers templates to help you along the way; you can quickly fix mistakes.

Recruiters (or anyone) may be editing your CVText may not display the same on another computer Aligning sections and markers may take hours Templates may be out of date

A resume writer / writer, such as a job seeker, can decide whether to format your resume at random. Since they come with predefined templates, you don’t have to worry about matching different sections of your resume. If you really want to redesign your resume, all you need is a few simple clicks.

How to create a resume in Word?

If you choose to use Word, you have the option to create your resume from templates or from scratch:

Templates

MS Words offers several resume templates. This can be a quick way to get your app process started if you’re short on time, without having to spend hours mocking.

Templates can help you structure your resume, choose the right font and font size, and ensure that you remember the relevant sections. They are also easy to complete and can be customized to suit your individual needs.

Just go to File> New and then type “CV” in the search bar. Once you have selected the template you like, you can remove the default information and add your own.

From scratch

If you want to do it alone, you can also write your resume from scratch. This may take a little more effort; however, Word’s formatting features can help you craft the perfect resume.

A good place to start is to search Google for resume examples and read them to understand the language, layout and format used. While your resume should look professional and be well structured, try not to spend too much time fiddling with the layout. A visually appealing resume can grab the attention of recruiters, but it may not help you get through the initial screening phase if the content doesn’t live up to expectations.

Best practics

You have finally written your resume and are ready to hit the Submit button, but before you do, there are a few things to note:

Decrease page margins

There isn’t a lot of space on your resume, so to make the most of the white space, you can reduce the page margins. This will keep you from missing out on important information on your resume. Avoid making page margins less than 0.5 inches so that your resume doesn’t look overwhelmed.

Use section headers

Section headings are a good way to break up your resume and draw attention to the various chapters of your career. Make sure your headings stand out using a larger font size (14-6) and boldface. Leave enough space between the various sections to keep your resume looking organized and tidy.

Insert page breaks

Since most resumes are two pages long, text can flow from one page to the next, making it messy. Instead of creating artificial page breaks by pressing Enter multiple times, use the Page Break feature in Microsoft Word.

Use markers

Recruiters and potential employers are busy people and don’t have a lot of time to read long sentences. Use a bulleted list to break up tight paragraphs and help recruiters navigate your resume.

Don’t justify text to width

Text alignment changes the spacing between letters to give documents a more sophisticated look. However, it can also stretch words excessively, making the text difficult to read. When we read from left to right, align the text to the left so that it can be read normally.

Use bold and italics sparingly

You can use bold and italic type to highlight the most important elements of your resume; however, use them sparingly so as not to diminish their effect. Generally, use bold for your name and major headings (employment history, education, etc.) and italics for job titles, companies you worked for, and date ranges.

Use appropriate fonts, font sizes, and colors.

Generally, use the same font throughout your resume. Unless you’re applying for creative work, too many different fonts can tire the eyes of readers or be mishandled by ATS. Choose readable fonts such as Arial, Calibri, Verdana, or Times New Roman.

Use the same font size (ideally 10 to 12) for readability, excluding headings. When it comes to colors, err on the professional side of sticking to the standard black and white layout.

Be aware of the formatting differences between different operating systems and versions of Word.

Formatting options may not display correctly in different versions of Word or different operating systems. To keep your resume easy to open and read, avoid using templates with unnecessary visuals and complex formatting. For maximum compatibility, save your resume as a .doc file, not as a .docx file.

Save your resume in Word and PDF format.

If you are submitting your resume as an email attachment, it is usually safer to send it in PDF format, as this file format is less susceptible to viruses. What’s more, the formatting and layout of your resume will remain the same no matter what device the recruiter is using.

The downside is that older versions of ATS may not read PDF documents. Save your resume in PDF or Word format just in case. Submit your resume in PDF format, unless otherwise stated in the job description.

Help in creating your resume

If you find it difficult to create a resume in Word or do not have a lot of experience in this field, we recommend that you use a resume maker / builder like hoteljob.id.

This is a simple tool we’ve developed to help you write your resume in 3 easy steps. Making changes or switching to a different layout is easy as no prior design knowledge is required. You can also save time and save unnecessary clicks by importing your old resume into Word in one go.