A resume is a professional marketing document that must balance comprehensive detail with immediate readability. The question of line spacing is a frequent point of confusion for job seekers aiming to optimize their presentation. Standard professional documents rely on specific formatting rules to ensure a polished look. To achieve maximum visual impact and professionalism, a standard resume should be single-spaced.
The Definitive Answer: Standard Resume Spacing
The accepted industry standard for nearly all professional resumes is single line spacing. This typically translates to a 1.0 or 1.15 line setting in word processing software. This concise setting ensures the maximum amount of relevant career information can be presented within a confined area. Double spacing is a remnant of academic document formatting or is used for editing drafts where reviewers need room for manual annotations. Applying this academic style to a professional application signals a lack of understanding of modern business conventions.
Why Double Spacing Fails the Resume Test
Implementing double line spacing immediately creates two significant practical hurdles for the job seeker. The most immediate problem is the severe limitation of space, which prevents fitting comprehensive information onto the preferred one-page document length for most professional roles. Double spacing forces content to spill onto a second page, often leaving that page mostly blank, which dilutes the overall presentation.
The second consequence relates directly to how hiring managers review documents, often referred to as the “six-second scan.” Double-spaced text visually separates related lines too much, forcing the reviewer’s eye to travel an unnecessarily long distance between them. This hinders the rapid absorption of information and disrupts the flow of reading, making the document feel disjointed. Single-spaced text allows the eye to quickly group related experience and qualifications, streamlining the initial review.
Strategic Use of White Space and Paragraph Spacing
The underlying goal of using double spacing is usually to increase readability, but the professional solution lies in manipulating paragraph-level controls, not line spacing. Instead of widening the space between every line, utilize the “Space Before” or “Space After” settings available in word processing applications. This technique allows for precise control over the vertical separation between distinct sections and experience entries.
By setting the body text to a tight 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing, the maximum amount of detail is preserved. Visual breaks are then introduced by adding a specific point value, such as 6pt or 12pt, after a section header or a complete job description block. For instance, a 12pt space after the closing bullet point of a job description clearly separates it from the next employment entry.
This strategic application of paragraph spacing creates clean, visual breathing room where it is most needed, particularly between separate employers or educational qualifications. It maintains the density required for a single-page document while ensuring the eye can easily distinguish where one section ends and the next begins. This method provides a more polished and intentional appearance than simply hitting the Enter key twice.
Essential Formatting Elements Beyond Spacing
The overall visual impact of a resume is determined by several formatting elements that work in concert with tight line spacing. Margins are a primary consideration, dictating the amount of white space around the document’s perimeter. The standard professional range for margins is between 0.5 inches and 1.0 inch on all four sides. Using margins smaller than 0.5 inches makes the text look crowded, while anything greater than 1.0 inch severely limits content space.
Font selection also plays a significant role in readability. Candidates should choose clear, common fonts, typically either a sans-serif like Calibri or Arial, or a traditional serif font like Garamond or Times New Roman. The font size must be selected to maximize content without becoming illegible, with a range of 10 to 12 points being the accepted maximum for the main body text.
A smaller font size, such as 9 points, can sometimes be used for minor details like addresses or dates. The balance between tight line spacing, optimized paragraph spacing, sensible margins, and clear font choices defines a professional and effective marketing document.