Should Your Resume Have Columns (+ Examples)

Should Your Resume Have Columns (+ Examples) Spread the loveThere are tons of different resume formats out there. A quick Google search of resume examples will turn up millions of different resume formats and designs. One common resume design consists of two columns rather than the traditional one-column resume. Should you be using a two-column resume? Is there any benefit to using a two column resume?Our experts say not really. Using a creative resume template could actually be costing you jobs!In this article, well show you why you should avoid using a two-column resume and examples of how to format your resume for the best chances of success.4 Reasons Not To Use a Two-Column ResumeHere is an example of a Two-Column resume:1. They dont work well with ATS systemsMost companies today use ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software to automatically scan your resume. These systems scan the content on your resume to see if youre a good fit for the position. Many times a candidate is qualified but their resume isnt optimized for the A TS scans. ATS systems reject nearly 75% of resumes submitted.You run the risk of getting rejected by those systems when you use a two column resume. Use of non-traditional formats confuses many of those programs.ATS Resume Test  You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume ReviewATS systems don’t appreciate colorful text, creative border designs, columns, or any of those other tricks you might consider for your resume. Instead, the typical ATS wants to see clear, basic resumes filled with text and white space. The fact is, you have to give these machines what they want. Otherwise, you will never get your resume past the machine and into human hands.The following should  never  be included on a resume:ChartsColumnsGraphsTablesGraphics and infographicsImagesIconsIllustrationsLogosFancy fontsIncluding any of the items above can make it difficult for an ATS to screen your resume.Creative resumes will do you more harm than good.2. H iring managers prefer a standard formatHiring managers and recruiters can go through hundreds of resumes a week. They spend an average of 6 seconds viewing your resume before deciding to look into it further or reject it.They are used to a traditional, single column resume that allows them to quickly locate the information theyre looking for. Although a two-column resume may not be difficult to processwere talking about a matter of seconds. You have a few seconds to make an impact and using a two-column resume makes your resume just a little more difficult to understand.3. Formatting gets distorted onlineAlthough the two-column resume may look good on your computer, it could look very different to someone else opening the file. Many job seekers use a PDF to prevent these distortions, but this isnt recommended. You should always send your resume in Word unless the employer specifically ask for a PDF.When you use a two-column resume in Word, you run the risk of the file getting distor ted if someone opens your resume in another version of Word or any other processor. Also, computer scans may use OTC (optical character recognition) that will scan your resume linearlytwo-column resumes might translate badly in these cases.4. It wont help you stand outA common reason to use a two-column resume is because the applicant wants to stand out, or look more modern. As we explained above, these formats can actually make it hardly to digitally or visually scan, so its not a good way to stand out.Using a two-column resume format also runs the risk of running out of space for all your content. If you spend too much of your two-page real estate on lines, columns, and white space, you wont be able to fit in all the keywords and information you need to land the interview.A Good One-Column Resume:This is a standard resume format and design that hiring managers are used to, with clear section headings and only one column. It is easy to scan for both a computer and a human. Stick to it!Good luck with your job search! Should Your Resume Have Columns (+ Examples) Spread the loveThere are tons of different resume formats out there. A quick Google search of resume examples will turn up millions of different resume formats and designs. One common resume design consists of two columns rather than the traditional one-column resume. Should you be using a two-column resume? Is there any benefit to using a two column resume?Our experts say not really. Using a creative resume template could actually be costing you jobs!In this article, well show you why you should avoid using a two-column resume and examples of how to format your resume for the best chances of success.4 Reasons Not To Use a Two-Column ResumeHere is an example of a Two-Column resume:1. They dont work well with ATS systemsMost companies today use ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software to automatically scan your resume. These systems scan the content on your resume to see if youre a good fit for the position. Many times a candidate is qualified but their resume isnt optimized for the A TS scans. ATS systems reject nearly 75% of resumes submitted.You run the risk of getting rejected by those systems when you use a two column resume. Use of non-traditional formats confuses many of those programs.ATS Resume Test  You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume ReviewATS systems don’t appreciate colorful text, creative border designs, columns, or any of those other tricks you might consider for your resume. Instead, the typical ATS wants to see clear, basic resumes filled with text and white space. The fact is, you have to give these machines what they want. Otherwise, you will never get your resume past the machine and into human hands.The following should  never  be included on a resume:ChartsColumnsGraphsTablesGraphics and infographicsImagesIconsIllustrationsLogosFancy fontsIncluding any of the items above can make it difficult for an ATS to screen your resume.Creative resumes will do you more harm than good.2. H iring managers prefer a standard formatHiring managers and recruiters can go through hundreds of resumes a week. They spend an average of 6 seconds viewing your resume before deciding to look into it further or reject it.They are used to a traditional, single column resume that allows them to quickly locate the information theyre looking for. Although a two-column resume may not be difficult to processwere talking about a matter of seconds. You have a few seconds to make an impact and using a two-column resume makes your resume just a little more difficult to understand.3. Formatting gets distorted onlineAlthough the two-column resume may look good on your computer, it could look very different to someone else opening the file. Many job seekers use a PDF to prevent these distortions, but this isnt recommended. You should always send your resume in Word unless the employer specifically ask for a PDF.When you use a two-column resume in Word, you run the risk of the file getting distor ted if someone opens your resume in another version of Word or any other processor. Also, computer scans may use OTC (optical character recognition) that will scan your resume linearlytwo-column resumes might translate badly in these cases.4. It wont help you stand outA common reason to use a two-column resume is because the applicant wants to stand out, or look more modern. As we explained above, these formats can actually make it hardly to digitally or visually scan, so its not a good way to stand out.Using a two-column resume format also runs the risk of running out of space for all your content. If you spend too much of your two-page real estate on lines, columns, and white space, you wont be able to fit in all the keywords and information you need to land the interview.A Good One-Column Resume:This is a standard resume format and design that hiring managers are used to, with clear section headings and only one column. It is easy to scan for both a computer and a human. Stick to it!Good luck with your job search! Should Your Resume Have Columns (+ Examples) Spread the loveThere are tons of different resume formats out there. A quick Google search of resume examples will turn up millions of different resume formats and designs. One common resume design consists of two columns rather than the traditional one-column resume. Should you be using a two-column resume? Is there any benefit to using a two column resume?Our experts say not really. Using a creative resume template could actually be costing you jobs!In this article, well show you why you should avoid using a two-column resume and examples of how to format your resume for the best chances of success.4 Reasons Not To Use a Two-Column ResumeHere is an example of a Two-Column resume:1. They dont work well with ATS systemsMost companies today use ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software to automatically scan your resume. These systems scan the content on your resume to see if youre a good fit for the position. Many times a candidate is qualified but their resume isnt optimized for the A TS scans. ATS systems reject nearly 75% of resumes submitted.You run the risk of getting rejected by those systems when you use a two column resume. Use of non-traditional formats confuses many of those programs.ATS Resume Test  You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume ReviewATS systems don’t appreciate colorful text, creative border designs, columns, or any of those other tricks you might consider for your resume. Instead, the typical ATS wants to see clear, basic resumes filled with text and white space. The fact is, you have to give these machines what they want. Otherwise, you will never get your resume past the machine and into human hands.The following should  never  be included on a resume:ChartsColumnsGraphsTablesGraphics and infographicsImagesIconsIllustrationsLogosFancy fontsIncluding any of the items above can make it difficult for an ATS to screen your resume.Creative resumes will do you more harm than good.2. H iring managers prefer a standard formatHiring managers and recruiters can go through hundreds of resumes a week. They spend an average of 6 seconds viewing your resume before deciding to look into it further or reject it.They are used to a traditional, single column resume that allows them to quickly locate the information theyre looking for. Although a two-column resume may not be difficult to processwere talking about a matter of seconds. You have a few seconds to make an impact and using a two-column resume makes your resume just a little more difficult to understand.3. Formatting gets distorted onlineAlthough the two-column resume may look good on your computer, it could look very different to someone else opening the file. Many job seekers use a PDF to prevent these distortions, but this isnt recommended. You should always send your resume in Word unless the employer specifically ask for a PDF.When you use a two-column resume in Word, you run the risk of the file getting distor ted if someone opens your resume in another version of Word or any other processor. Also, computer scans may use OTC (optical character recognition) that will scan your resume linearlytwo-column resumes might translate badly in these cases.4. It wont help you stand outA common reason to use a two-column resume is because the applicant wants to stand out, or look more modern. As we explained above, these formats can actually make it hardly to digitally or visually scan, so its not a good way to stand out.Using a two-column resume format also runs the risk of running out of space for all your content. If you spend too much of your two-page real estate on lines, columns, and white space, you wont be able to fit in all the keywords and information you need to land the interview.A Good One-Column Resume:This is a standard resume format and design that hiring managers are used to, with clear section headings and only one column. It is easy to scan for both a computer and a human. Stick to it!Good luck with your job search!