If you’re writing a new resume or reformatting an existing one, you may be wondering about what kind of line spacing to use. During your schooling, your teachers probably specified the line spacing and formatting they expected to see on essays and other assignments, but job applications rarely come with those types of instructions. Read on for a primer on the use of line spacing in general and the best practices for applying these concepts to your resume.
Recruiters generally scan large numbers of resumes before taking a deep dive into the candidates who initially stood out to them. This leads to what’s often referred to as the 30 Second Rule (or sometimes even the 15 Second Rule or 6 Second Rule). Whatever the amount of time attached to it, the idea is that if your resume can’t hold the reader’s attention and communicate the value you’re offering quickly, they may not read further.
This means that document design and readability is the first test your resume faces. You might be the most qualified candidate of all the applicants, but if your resume is designed in a way that isn’t easy to look at, the recruiter may not even read far enough to find that out.
In design, white space (also called “negative space”) refers to blank areas. While they may be thought of as “nothing,” the way white space is used is a deliberate choice with a substantial impact on how a design or document is viewed.
The blank space on a document guides the viewer to what’s important. Framing elements with more white space tends to increase legibility and create a sense of importance.
White space is also an important way to create organization and guide the viewer through a design. One way this is done is by creating a visual hierarchy through the use of proximity. As a rule, the less white space is used between items, the more they appear to be closely-related. Items that are grouped close together visually signal that they’re part of a related set. A larger white space between that set and another set indicates the presence of a second group, perhaps related to each other in a similar way as the first. An even larger area of white space suggests that what comes next is an entirely new category that neither previous grouping was a part of.
This concept holds true whether it’s applied to visual design in general, or specifically to document design and the spacing dividing its lines of text. For example, in this article, notice that paragraphs are separated with line spaces, and that sections are delineated with larger gaps of white space, helping the reader visually pick up on how the information is organized. Your resume can employ this same principle. Try using line spaces between related items and a larger space between major sections. Be sure to be consistent in your spacing choices across the document.
As mentioned previously, the primary way that white space is used in document design is through the use of line spacing.
Most word processing programs offer default settings of 1.0, 1.15, 1.5, and 2.0. These numbers represent the spacing between lines proportionally to the size of the text on the line. For example, single spacing (1.0) adds no additional space between lines of text, and double spacing (2.0) adds an extra space the height of your text between each line of text. 1.5 spacing is between the two options (an extra space of half the height of your text between lines), and 1.15 offers a smaller amount of extra padding between lines. See examples of each and recommendations on their use in resume design below:
You can also make custom line spacing between any of the options above. Experiment with your resume and see what feels best to you.
There are other types of spacing besides paragraph and line spacing. Leading is essentially another word for line spacing and is used in some print applications like InDesign. Kerning and tracking involve the space between letters and are useful in graphic design but aren’t usually something you’d want to adjust on a resume.
Margin spacing, on the other hand, might be something you’ll want to consider fine-tuning. It refers to the unused space on the right and left of your document. 1-inch margins are standard for most word processing programs and are usually the right size for resumes. But if you find that your resume is a bit too short or too long to use the space well, or that the arrangement of your text makes the design look unbalanced, adjusting the margin size on one or both sides may help your resume look more appealing. Don’t go smaller than 0.5 inches and be sure to maintain a sense of visual balance with the spacing you choose.
When you put together your resume, don’t overlook the importance of line spacing and other uses of white space! Remember – recruiters don’t take long to size up a resume, so make sure your design is readable and inviting. Proper line spacing will go a long way in making sure it’s just that.
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