Proper Resume Margins [Best Standard Size Isnt the Smallest]

Proper Resume Margins [Best Standard Size Isnt the Smallest] Clutter your resume with too much text, and it looks messy.Leave too much white space, and it looks empty.Your resume layout needs to be flawlessIncluding the right resume margins.This article will show you:Proper resume margins that keep your resume well-organized.Why the smallest page margin size isn't the best.How to set page margins for a resume in MS Word and Google Docs.Tips on aligning text on your resume for maximum readability.And how to make sure the margins on your resume don't get cut while printing.Playing around with margins on your resume is a drag. Getting them just right takes forever. You don't have to sufferWant to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice templ ate I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowWant to learn all the ins and outs of proper resume formatting? See:Best Resume StylesCreative Resume IdeasHow to Organize Your ResumeResume Layout ExamplesWhat Are the Important Parts of a Resume?1Standard Resume MarginsWhat should the margins be on a resume?Resume page margins should be one inch big on all four sides.If you need to save some space, cut your top and bottom margins to 0.5 inch and your side margins to 0.75 inches. But rememberthis is the smallest margin size for a resume.Why is it so important to set the margins on a resume correctly?If you make margins on your resume too narrow, your document gets crammed with text.Hiring managers will find it messy and unprofessional.If you leave large margins on each side, your resume looks empty.The recruiters first impression? This candidate doesnt have a lot to say.And, setting proper margins make sure your resume is ATS-f riendly.Pro Tip: Trying to shrink the margins on your resume to fit your career history on one page? Go for a different resume length. A two-page resume works fine for very experienced candidates.Heres a sample resume created in our resume builder that keeps the margins right:2How to Set Proper Resume Margins in MS Word and Google DocsCreating your resume in Word or Google Docs?Remember your document has to have the right formatting.Selecting proper margins on a resume is part of it.Follow the tips below and set the best margins for your resume:Setting Resume Margins in Microsoft WordGood news:MS Word automatically sets one-inch margins around each page of the document.HoweverIf youre not sure of your current margin setup or you want to allow some more or less margin space on your resume, you can easily change the configuration.Heres how to set margins in MS Word:Select Margins in the navigation panel.Choose the margin configuration you want.Orclick Custom Margins to define your own margins.Do you see centimeters instead of inches? You can change margin units.Just go to: File Options Advanced Display Show measurements in units ofButEven with correct margins in place, creating a sleek resume in Word may be a real pain.As resume aesthetics plays a great role in a job hunt, you need a professional resume template. Here are blank templates for resumes you can fill in and customize without worrying about your resume layout and margins.Setting Resume Margins in Google DocsDefault margins in Google Docs are also set to one inchwhich means you probably wont have to change them.ButIf you want to change the default settings, its as easy as ABC.To change left and right margins on your resume in Google Docs:Locate the ruler at the top of the document (if its not visible click View Show ruler).Click the down-facing triangle and drag it along the ruler.To change all margins for your resumetop, bottom, left and right:Click File Page setup.Go to Margins.Set the preferre d margins in the related text boxes.Click OK or Set as default, depending on if you want to set new margins only for this document or for future documents as well.If you want to change the margins only for a specific paragraph of your resume:Place your cursor at the beginning of this paragraph.Go to the ruler.Drag the blue triangle only (holding the left mouse click).Make sure the grey part of the ruler remains untouched.Note: Measurement units on your Google Docs ruler depend on local language settings in your Google Account. If you set your language to English (United States), the ruler will shows inches.Want to get the best of Google Docs when creating a resume? Check out our dedicated guide:10+ Google Docs Resume Templates to Drive Your Job Application Home.3Proper Resume Margins Are Not Enough Follow These Resume Alignment RulesHow to align the text of your resume?Always to the left.Why?Thats how most formal documents are aligned.It looks natural to all left-to-right readers.A nd, it puts focus on the most important parts of your resume, such as resume headers, work experience sections with your job titles and duties, education, skills, etc.You can find resumes where the candidates name and contact details are center-aligned. Its not a mistake but make sure it doesnt corrupt the overall left-oriented resume layout.And if you mess around with all the page settings, but nothing looks the way you imagined dont worryUse our resume builder and take advantage of the best resume templates out there. And moreWhen making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.4Setting Proper Resume Margins for Print [Tricks and Tips]Even though most of the job search happens online, a physical copy of your resume is still a must.Why?Many recruiters will wan t to print it out for your job interview.And if they dont do itYou should have a few printed copies of your resume in case they ask for it.Thats why before you send your resume to the recruiter, you have to make sure nothing gets cut when printing.How to do it?Proper Resume Margins for PrintSet standard margins for a resumeif theyre too narrow, things will get cut.Use a laser printer to avoid any ink issues and smudges.Choose the best resume paper. 32 lbs, 75100% cotton is the bottom line.Select the best font for a resume. Resume font sizes and types determine readability. Classics such as Arial always win but try to replace Times New Roman with something else. It can be serif or sans-serif, depending on your resume type.Leave enough white space in between the lines.Make sure the size of paper selected for printing is A4. The U.S. versions of MS Word have the default paper size set to 8.5 by 11 inches (A4).Pro Tip: Once you set the proper resume margins, save your resume as a PDF fi le. This way, youll make sure it gets printed right. PDFs are not editable so nobody will change your margin sizes or page layout.5Resume Margins and Creative Resume TemplatesYoure born with a creative flair and want to show it on your resume?You can do itbut be careful.Even if you want to add some artistic touches to your resume, you still have to follow the basic resume formatting rules. So set your margins to one inch and dont put any text onto the margin spaces.And if youre not a design pro, dont come up with your one creative resume layout.Instead, consider using these creative resume templatesalready optimized for printing and the ATS scanning.ButKeep in mind that in most cases creative resumes are not your best choice. Hiring managers prefer traditional resume formats because they allow them to quickly look through your work history.Pro Tip: Dont make your resume too flashy. Fancy colors or decorative elements on your resume margins will make it hard to read.Key TakeawayHeres what you need to remember about resume margins:Keep margins on your resume one inch on each side (0.5 inch top and bottom margins and 0.75 side margins is an absolute minimum.)Use your Word and Google Docs documents default margin settings and change them only when necessary.Align the text on your resume to the left (especially headers and bullet points.)Take caution when choosing creative resume layouts. Most of them wont be optimized for printing and ATS scanning.Do you have any questions about setting resume margin sizes? What size margins for a resume you used so far? If youre still not sure what the best margins for a resume are, let us know in the comments.