One column or two: choosing an easy reading flow
Design is there to help your experience read well. Choose the layout that suits your content.
One column gives a natural reading order
Profile, summary, experience and projects run from top to bottom, which makes long descriptions easy to read. If the employer extracts text from your file, copy text from the actual PDF to check the order. No one can guarantee how a particular applicant tracking system will interpret it.
With two columns, consider how long each part is
Separating short items such as skill lists or contact details from long experience descriptions helps organize the space. Rather than packing long paragraphs into both columns, decide first which information is central. On small screens, edit with the content form and check the document preview separately.
Use emphasis on only a few elements
Heading and body sizes, spacing and a single accent color are enough to create a clear hierarchy. Keep enough contrast in body text, and do not rely on color alone to convey important meaning.
Do not hide content to save pages
If the content gets long, review what is relevant again or add a page. Very small text and narrow margins make a resume hard to read. Always check the last printed page and make sure no line endings are cut off.