resume-formatter

What the source does

• FilesystemNone observedNo reads or writes in the source
• NetworkNone observedNo outbound calls in the source
• ShellNone observedNo commands run in the source
• DependenciesPinnedNothing floats
• SecretsNone foundNo keys in source

Five audit layers

Gates applied: no behavioural pass.

.agent/skills/executive-resume-writer

.agent/skills/interview-prep-generator

.agent/skills/job-description-analyzer

.agent/skills/linkedin-profile-optimizer

.agent/skills/offer-comparison-analyzer

Audit 0.4.1 · source sha a01a853af83c · 31 Oct 2026Report an issue or request a re-scan

• Publisherparamchoudhary GitHub userOwner of the repository this skill is read from
• Source folderparamchoudhary/resumeskills/skills/resume-formatterThe exact folder we audited
• LicenceMITAs the repository states it
• Commit pinned for this verdicta01a853af83cA new audit runs when the source changes
• Repository statusNot archivedLast push 134 days ago
• Sandboxed runNot runSkills are read, not executed; layer L4 is skipped

Its description: Ensure ATS-friendly formatting and create clean scannable layouts

---
name: resume-formatter
description: Ensure ATS-friendly formatting and create clean scannable layouts
---

# Resume Formatter

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when the user:
- Needs help with resume layout and formatting
- Has a messy or hard-to-read resume
- Wants to ensure ATS compatibility through formatting
- Needs a clean, professional design
- Mentions: "format resume", "resume layout", "resume design", "clean resume", "professional format"

## Core Capabilities

- Structure resumes for optimal readability
- Ensure ATS compatibility through formatting
- Create visual hierarchy
- Optimize white space and margins
- Select appropriate fonts and sizes
- Balance aesthetic appeal with functionality

## Formatting Fundamentals

### The Dual Audience Challenge

Your resume must work for:
1. **ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)** - Robots that parse text
2. **Human Readers** - Recruiters who scan quickly

**The Solution:** Clean, simple formatting that satisfies both.

## Document Setup

### Page Length
- **Entry Level (0-5 years):** 1 page
- **Mid-Level (5-15 years):** 1-2 pages
- **Senior/Executive (15+ years):** 2 pages (max 3 for executives)

### Margins
- **Recommended:** 0.5" - 1" all sides
- **Minimum:** 0.5" (don't go smaller)
- **Maximum:** 1" (don't waste space)

### Font Selection

**Safe, ATS-Friendly Fonts:**
- **Sans-serif:** Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Verdana
- **Serif:** Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond

**Font Sizes:**
- **Name:** 16-20pt
- **Section Headers:** 12-14pt
- **Body Text:** 10-12pt
- **Minimum readable:** 10pt

### Spacing
- **Line spacing:** 1.0 to 1.15
- **Space after paragraphs:** 6-12pt
- **Section spacing:** 12-16pt between sections

## ATS-Safe Formatting Rules

### DO:
- ✅ Use standard fonts
- ✅ Use simple bullet points (•, -, *)
- ✅ Use bold and italic sparingly
- ✅ Use standard section headers
- ✅ Save as .docx or text-based .pdf
- ✅ Put contact info in body (not header)
- ✅ Use single column layout
- ✅ Use consistent formatting throughout

### DON'T:
- ❌ Use tables (except simple ones for contact info)
- ❌ Use text boxes
- ❌ Use columns (multi-column layouts)
- ❌ Use headers/footers for important info
- ❌ Use images or graphics
- ❌ Use unusual fonts
- ❌ Use skill bars or progress indicators
- ❌ Use special characters or emojis
- ❌ Use color for essential information

## Section Organization

### Standard Section Order

```
1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary (optional)
3. Skills/Technical Skills
4. Professional Experience
5. Education
6. Certifications (if relevant)
7. Additional (volunteer, languages, etc.)
```

### Section Header Formatting

**ATS-Recognized Headers:**
- PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE or WORK EXPERIENCE
- EDUCATION
- SKILLS or TECHNICAL SKILLS
- PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY or SUMMARY
- CERTIFICATIONS
- PROJECTS

**Format Options:**
```
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

or

Professional Experience
_______________________

or

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
```

## Contact Information Layout

### Recommended Format
```
JOHN SMITH
[email protected] | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
San Francisco, CA
```

### Alternative Format
```
JOHN SMITH
San Francisco, CA
[email protected] | (555) 123-4567
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith | GitHub: github.com/johnsmith
```

### What to Include
- ✅ Full name
- ✅ Professional email
- ✅ Phone number
- ✅ City, State (no full address needed)
- ✅ LinkedIn URL
- ✅ Portfolio/GitHub (if relevant)

### What to Exclude
- ❌ Full street address
- ❌ Photo
- ❌ Date of birth
- ❌ Marital status
- ❌ Multiple phone numbers
- ❌ Personal social media

## Experience Section Formatting

### Standard Format
```
COMPANY NAME | City, ST
Job Title | Month Year - Month Year

• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
```

### Alternative Format
```
Job Title
COMPANY NAME, City, ST                    Month Year - Month Year

• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
• Achievement bullet with metrics and results
```

### Date Formatting
- **Consistent format:** Use same format throughout
- **Recommended:** Month Year (Jan 2020 - Present)
- **Also acceptable:** MM/YYYY (01/2020 - Present)
- **Avoid:** Full dates (January 15, 2020)

### Bullet Point Guidelines
- **Length:** 1-2 lines each
- **Format:** Start with action verb, end with result
- **Quantity:** 3-6 bullets per role (more for recent, fewer for old)
- **Symbol:** Use standard bullets (•, -, *)

## Skills Section Formatting

### Option 1: Simple List
```
SKILLS
Python, JavaScript, SQL, React, Node.js, AWS, Docker, Git, Agile, JIRA
```

### Option 2: Categorized
```
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL
Frameworks: React, Node.js, Django, Flask
Tools: AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Jenkins
```

### Option 3: Columns (Careful with ATS)
```
SKILLS
Languages        Frameworks       Tools
Python           React            AWS
JavaScript       Node.js          Docker
SQL              Django           Git
```

**Note:** Multi-column layouts may cause ATS issues. Test before using.

## Education Section Formatting

### Standard Format
```
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of California, Berkeley | 2018
GPA: 3.8/4.0 (include if 3.5+)
```

### With Honors/Details
```
EDUCATION
MBA, Finance & Strategy | Stanford Graduate School of Business | 2020
• Graduated with Distinction
• Relevant Coursework: Corporate Finance, M&A Strategy
```

## Visual Hierarchy Principles

### Hierarchy Order
1. **Name** - Largest, most prominent
2. **Section Headers** - Clear divisions
3. **Job Titles/Company Names** - Easy to scan
4. **Bullet Points** - The details

### Creating Hierarchy
- Use font SIZE to create levels
- Use **BOLD** for emphasis (names, titles, headers)
- Use CAPS for section headers
- Use consistent spacing to separate sections

## White Space Management

### Good White Space:
- Between sections (c

Excerpt, first 6,000 characters of SKILL.md, verbatim from the audited commit. It is text from someone else’s repository, quoted so you can judge it before your agent reads it.

git clone https://github.com/paramchoudhary/resumeskills
git -C resumeskills checkout a01a853af83c

Works in

1. 2026-10-31
   !CAUTION B 89 / 100

   first audit · source a01a853af83c

Questions about resume-formatter

• github.com/paramchoudhary/resumeskills/tree/main/skills/resume-f — the audited source at commit a01a853af83c and every finding aboveObserved · 31 Oct 2026

Spotted something wrong? Report a correction · Methodology