Back in 2007, I took what was supposed to be a 12-month career break.
The plan? Live and work in London for a year.
The reality? Three months in, I realised I was much more into the “travel” part than the “living and working” part. So, I packed up and came home.
When I got back, my old job had been filled, so I jumped into a series of temp gigs instead. Recruiters couldn’t get enough of me, and I ended up trying my hand at a mix of roles:
Admin Assistant with the Department of Communities
Executive Assistant for an IR Manager at Western Power
HR Assistant for Consolidated Minerals, a mining company
The Resume That Confused Everyone
On my last day at Consolidated Minerals, I was chatting with one of the internal recruiters about career paths. She looked down at my résumé, squinted, and said nothing for a good ten seconds.
She just didn’t get it.
I’d made my résumé a formatting disaster—random fonts, bullets everywhere, clutter galore. It was a visual assault on the eyes.
Sigh. Formatting fail.
🎥 I actually show you old resume in more detail in this video—watch below if you’d rather listen than scroll.
Why Resume Formatting Matters in a 6-Second Scan
Here’s the thing: résumés get, what, six seconds of attention on average? Add our social-media-trained attention span of about eight seconds, and you’re really up against it.
And since most résumés are read on a desktop screen, we’re talking 2.5 seconds of scanning time before someone decides whether you’re a “maybe” or a “move on.”
So yes, content is king — but formatting is the real MVP.
It’s what helps the reader actually see your good stuff.
In fact, data from Jobvite shows that formatting matters to recruiters even more now than it did in the past.
Why Recruiters Care About Resume Formatting More Than Ever
Why such an obsession with neat, scannable layouts?
Because of the sheer volume of applications.
Even though recruiters say they look at every single résumé, they want to do it fast. They’re skimming for keywords, job titles, and proof you fit the brief — all in a matter of seconds.
The easier it is for them to spot those key points, the better your odds.
Make It Easy — or Risk Being Overlooked
The takeaway? Don’t make recruiters work hard.
Use formatting that’s clean, consistent, and easy on the eyes:
Keep sections clearly defined.
Use one or two readable fonts (max).
Add whitespace — it’s not wasted space, it’s breathing room.
Align things properly (random bullets are a visual red flag).
Because when your formatting supports your message, you turn that six-second scan into a genuine read.
Want help getting your resume reader-ready?
Download my free resume template or join the Meritude Membership to learn how to make your résumé not just good — but irresistible.
~ Lisa