Ask HN: What are the optimal layout and Desired CV Characteristics?

6 points by dimitrieh 10 years ago | 4 comments

This is a crosspost of https://www.designernews.co/stories/69097

Hi Community,

Lately I have been very busy with my own cv/résumé, however before finishing it I thought of asking this question/post!

What exactly is a good layout and its * optimal proportions*? What is the desired information hierarchy companies look for? I love typography, is it considered a plus if you incorporate it into your Curriculum? Also what not to do under all circumstances Lastly but not least: Can you show me your best examples from yourself of which you found somewhere on the internet?

Thanks for your time :)

probinso 10 years ago |

I think that it just matters that you think about it. I reviewed a lot of resumes where nobody thought about it and they get difficult to read.

Although I do think that this is a personal bias, I definitely always notice (and appreciate) when somebody uses LaTex.

I guess it may depend on how new you are to the industry, and how many disconnected projects from your work history you have, but I do suggest having a project section. This way you can list things you've accomplished without needing to associate them with a class or company. I however discourage detailed descriptions of these projects. Titles should be eye caching and be used for inspiration of talking points during the interview. I don't see this on many resumes, but I have gained much benefit during the interview process in having a better idea of what I may be asked.

axvk 10 years ago |

- Edit your resume for each role that you apply to. You don't know how many resumes I get for XYZ developer that don't have language XYZ in their resume at all.

- The perfect resume shows that you held nice long positions with very small or no gaps.

- Make it sound like you were somebody important in these positions. Make it feel like you made decisions for the company that were important.

- Side projects are always nice. Shows that you have an interest in your field.

- Leading or line height is good for readability.

- If your resume is more than one page then it better be very impressive and really need to be that long.

- Design is always a plus in everything you do, but can hurt you if done incorrectly.

- Have a few people review your resume for typos.

dimitrieh 10 years ago |

Results :)

Medium post: https://medium.com/@dimitrieh/a-curriculum-vitae-latex-types...

Gitlab repo: https://gitlab.com/dimitrieh/curriculumvitae-ci-boilerplate

vfulco 10 years ago |

If you are thinking conceptually about DIYing yours, a recent speech I gave may be of use, "Three guidelines for excellent resumes" https://www.weisisheng.cn/blog/2016/3/three-guidelines-for-e...

We are a professional resume editing, interview coaching and academic applications prep firm serving China. We can be found on Taobao, Weidian, Weibo and Wechat. Our clients are both Chinese looking to get into multinationals based in-country or applying to firms abroad and expats. Feel free to reach out. Best, V.