resume-formatter_skill

Overview

This skill helps job seekers produce ATS-friendly, clean, and scannable resume layouts. It focuses on structure, typography, spacing, and file formats so resumes parse correctly and read easily. The result is a professional, recruiter-ready document that balances human readability with automated screening requirements.

How this skill works

I inspect the resume for layout, section order, fonts, spacing, and ATS pitfalls like tables or headers containing contact info. I provide a prioritized list of formatting issues and concrete recommendations: margin and font adjustments, section reordering, bullet rewrite guidance, and file type advice. I also produce a before/after preview and a concise checklist to finalize the file.

When to use it

• Your resume looks cluttered or is hard to scan quickly
• You get no responses and suspect ATS rejection
• You need a one-page or two-page layout for a specific career level
• You want to convert a creative layout into an ATS-safe version
• You need a clean export for online application systems (.docx/.pdf)

Best practices

• Use a single-column layout with standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
• Keep body text 10–12pt; name 16–20pt; headers 12–14pt
• Limit margins to 0.5"–1" and use consistent spacing between sections
• Place contact info in the document body, not header/footer or images
• Use 3–6 achievement bullets per recent role, start with action verbs and include results
• Save for ATS as .docx or a text-based PDF and name the file clearly (First_Last_Role.pdf)

Example use cases

• Convert a visually rich portfolio resume into an ATS-compliant .docx
• Shorten a two-page early-career resume to a single, focused page
• Restructure experience and skills sections for better recruiter scanning
• Fix spacing, fonts, and header issues that break ATS parsing
• Produce a final export for direct email applications and job boards