A resume is a professional marketing document, representing a job seeker’s first opportunity to make an impression on a potential employer. Every detail, including formatting, contributes to the overall appearance of polish and professionalism. A frequent debate involves whether periods belong at the end of descriptive bullet points. Clarifying standard style guidelines is necessary for creating a document that meets modern professional expectations.
The General Rule for Resume Bullet Points
Standard resume practice dictates that periods should generally be omitted at the end of bullet points within the experience section. This guideline applies specifically when the bullet point is a descriptive sentence fragment rather than a complete, grammatically independent sentence. The rationale for this stylistic choice is to optimize the document for quick visual scanning.
Recruiters and hiring managers often spend only a few seconds reviewing a resume initially, making readability a concern. Removing the unnecessary punctuation helps to create a clean, concise aesthetic. The convention treats the bullet point as an item in a list meant to convey information briefly, rather than as a formal written sentence requiring full end punctuation.
Exceptions: When Periods Are Necessary
While the rule for bullet point fragments is to omit periods, there are specific grammatical circumstances where terminal punctuation becomes mandatory. If a section of the resume is written using full, complete sentences, then periods must be used to maintain proper grammatical structure. This often applies to the Professional Summary or Objective section, particularly if it is written as a short paragraph.
Any block of text that requires the use of complete sentences will necessitate the standard use of periods. If a bullet point contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a grammatically sound statement, the period is required. Alternatively, a job seeker may choose to use periods consistently for every bullet point, even fragments, provided the document rigidly adheres to the chosen format throughout all sections.
Consistency is Paramount
Regardless of the style a job seeker adopts, the most important factor is the uniform application of that choice. Inconsistent punctuation undermines the professionalism of the document and can distract the reader from the content itself. The reader’s focus should remain on the achievements and qualifications being presented, not on variations in style.
Inconsistency is immediately apparent when one bullet point ends with a period while the subsequent one does not, or when different sections of the resume follow opposing rules. Maintaining a single, chosen style for all equivalent elements, such as all experience section bullet points, is necessary to project a polished and detail-oriented image.
Other Punctuation and Style Considerations
Capitalization Rules
Proper capitalization is necessary for maintaining a professional and organized appearance throughout the resume document. Every bullet point should begin with a capital letter, typically a strong action verb, to clearly denote the start of a new descriptive phrase. Beyond the start of the bullet, all proper nouns, including company names, specific software titles, and professional job titles, must be capitalized according to standard rules. Capitalizing specific job titles, such as “Senior Marketing Manager,” helps to draw appropriate attention to the role and maintain a consistent look across the experience section.
Using Commas and Semicolons
Commas and semicolons play an important role when listing multiple achievements within a single bullet point or when combining related ideas. Standard usage dictates using commas to separate items in a simple series, ensuring that the Oxford comma is used consistently if that style is chosen for the document. Semicolons, however, should be employed to separate complex clauses or distinct but closely related ideas within a single, lengthy bullet point. Utilizing a semicolon helps to maintain clarity and structure when the individual ideas already contain internal commas, preventing the sentence from becoming confusing or cluttered.
Formatting Numbers and Abbreviations
Standardizing the presentation of numerical data and abbreviations enhances both readability and the quantifiable impact of the resume. Numbers used to represent metrics, such as percentages, dollar amounts, and large figures, should be written as numerals to emphasize the results achieved. For instance, writing “25%” or “$45,000” is generally more effective and easily digestible than writing out the words.
Abbreviations like MBA, PMP, or specific industry acronyms should be standardized to either be written out fully or abbreviated consistently, ensuring they are recognizable to the target audience. The proper formatting of numerical metrics, such as ensuring a space is used between a number and a unit of measurement like the percent sign, further contributes to the overall professional appearance of the document.