---
title: "Resume layout editor"
type: "skill"
url: "https://useaiblocks.com/skills/resume-layout-editor"
updated: "2026-10-28"
first_published: "2026-10-25"
job: "Prepare job applications"
tested: true
licence: "MIT"
source: "https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/7d85535533914ff0880945570a94fcbec4adc042/cli-tool/components/skills/career/resume-formatter"
instructions: "https://useaiblocks.com/skills/resume-layout-editor/SKILL.md"
---

# Resume layout editor

> Fix your resume layout so hiring software and recruiters can read it. Get a formatting review with clear fixes for fonts, spacing and sections.

Share your resume and the way you plan to apply. It checks section order, spacing, fonts and details that may confuse hiring software. You get layout changes, a cleaner text structure and a checklist to review before sharing the file.

Free skill for the job "Prepare job applications" · Level: beginner · Thinking: medium · Tested · Updated 2026-10-28

## Links

- Page: https://useaiblocks.com/skills/resume-layout-editor
- Instructions (SKILL.md): https://useaiblocks.com/skills/resume-layout-editor/SKILL.md
- All files (zip): https://useaiblocks.com/skills/resume-layout-editor.zip
- JSON version: https://useaiblocks.com/skills/resume-layout-editor.json
- In your AI: connect https://useaiblocks.com/mcp and ask "Use AI Blocks to get resume-layout-editor"

## What it does

Share your resume and the way you plan to apply. It checks section order, spacing, fonts and details that may confuse hiring software. You get layout changes, a cleaner text structure and a checklist to review before sharing the file.

Licence: this copy is under the MIT licence (see the LICENSE file in this item). It is adapted from the resume-formatter skill by Daniel (San) Ávila, and the skill text is unchanged.

## What you give it

- Your resume file or its current layout details.
- The role, career stage and how you will submit it.

## What you get

- A list of specific layout fixes.
- Recommended type, spacing and section order.
- A final readability and file-format checklist.

## Example: what goes in and what comes out

### What goes in

- Your resume as pasted text or a file
- The role you are applying for
- Your career stage, such as entry level or senior
- How you will send it, such as an online form or email

### What comes out

- **Current Issues**: A checklist of the layout problems found in your resume.
- **Document Setup**: Your current and recommended margins, font and font sizes.
- **Section Order**: Your current section order, the recommended order and why it helps.
- **Visual Improvements**: Specific changes to headers, bold text, spacing and bullets.
- **ATS Compatibility Fixes**: Fixes for tables, columns, text boxes or header details that hiring software may miss.
- **Before/After Preview**: A short description of your current layout next to the improved one.

## Use it when

- Your resume gets no replies and you suspect hiring software cannot read it.
- Your resume looks messy and you want a cleaner layout.
- You are about to apply through an online form or email and want a final layout check.

## Skip it when

- You need an academic CV or a creative portfolio: ask a human resume writer, as these follow different rules.
- You apply through a required online form that asks for each field: fill in the form fields and skip a resume file.
- You want stronger wording for your bullets or a new summary: ask a career coach or a friend in your field to read it.

## How to use it

1. Open Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini. No code, files or paid tools are needed.
2. Paste the skill text into the chat. Say: "Use this skill to review my resume layout."
3. Paste your resume text, or attach the file if your AI accepts files. Pasted text loses tables, columns and text boxes, so describe those parts in your own words, for example "two columns with skills on the left", so the layout checks can work.
4. Tell it the role, your career stage and how you will send the resume.
5. Read the Current Issues list first, then make the changes in your own document.
6. Check the employer's own application instructions before you pick .docx or .pdf. Some portals ignore attached files and ask you to fill in fields. Then save the file as .docx or a text-based PDF and check the file name before you send it.
7. Paste the revised text back into the chat to recheck the section order and the fixes. Then pair it with a cover letter or an application tracker.

## What to do next

- [Resume and job application builder](https://useaiblocks.com/skills/resume-job-application-builder): Resume and job application builder
- [LinkedIn profile rewriter](https://useaiblocks.com/skills/linkedin-profile-rewriter): Grow on social

## Sources and credits

- From Daniel (San) Ávila: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/7d85535533914ff0880945570a94fcbec4adc042/cli-tool/components/skills/career/resume-formatter, shared under the MIT licence (original name: resume-formatter).
- [resume-formatter skill](https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/7d85535533914ff0880945570a94fcbec4adc042/cli-tool/components/skills/career/resume-formatter), Daniel (San) Ávila: Copied under the MIT licence. We gave it a plain name. We added Before you start and After this sections that link to other AI Blocks steps. We refreshed those generated sections from the catalogue inputs and next-step links.

## Instructions (SKILL.md)

## Resume Formatter

<!-- needs: written by tools/add-needs.mjs for AI Blocks; not part of the original skill. Edit that tool, not this section. -->
### Before you start
Use the material below to do this job. If facts or tool access are missing, explain what you can finish and what must wait.

**What you need** (use your own material or the linked skill):
- **Resumes or CVs** (yours): the resumes or CVs this job uses, pasted or attached.

**Makes it better (optional):**
- **An audit report** (yours): findings with evidence, severity, missing inputs and next actions.
- **Your question** (yours): the decision or problem, and what a good outcome looks like.

How to start:
1. **Look first.** Use what they've already attached, pasted or put in their about-me note. In a coding assistant with file access, look in the project too for these by name.
2. **Check what's missing.** Look for resumes or CVs, an audit report, your question. They can attach files, paste the details, or share a file path your assistant can read. Ask only for missing facts that change the result. If they ask you to start with what they have, complete the parts you can and mark the gaps.
3. **Do the job.** Follow the skill below with the facts and tools you have. Mark each gap with `MISSING:` where it belongs and never invent a fact to fill it.
<!-- /needs -->

### 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"

If you also have an ATS check report for the resume, read it first and fix the problems it names.

### 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)** - Software that reads your file. Many systems parse plain text best, but they differ, so test by pasting your file into a plain-text view and check what survives
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
john.smith@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
San Francisco, CA
```

#### Alternative Format
```
JOHN SMITH
San Francisco, CA
john.smith@email.com | (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 (Not recommended: see the DON'T list above, which says not to use columns)
```
SKILLS
Languages        Frameworks       Tools
Python           React            AWS
JavaScript       Node.js          Docker
SQL              Django           Git
```

**Note:** Multi-column layouts may cause ATS issues. Prefer Option 1 or 2. Use this only if the user insists, and tell them to test it first.

### 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 (clear separation)
- After headings (visual breathing room)
- Between bullets (don't cram)
- Around margins (frame the content)

#### Bad White Space:
- Huge gaps between sections
- Inconsistent spacing
- Half-empty pages
- Excessive margins eating space

### Common Formatting Mistakes

#### Mistake 1: Wall of Text
**Problem:** Dense paragraphs with no bullets
**Solution:** Use bullet points, keep paragraphs short

#### Mistake 2: Inconsistent Formatting
**Problem:** Different fonts, sizes, or styles throughout
**Solution:** Pick one format and stick to it

#### Mistake 3: Trying to Be Creative
**Problem:** Fancy designs that break ATS
**Solution:** Save creativity for portfolio, not resume

#### Mistake 4: Too Much Information
**Problem:** Cramming everything onto one page
**Solution:** Edit ruthlessly, prioritize relevance

#### Mistake 5: Not Enough Information
**Problem:** Half-page resume with massive margins
**Solution:** Add detail, reduce margins (to 0.5")

### File Format Guidelines

#### For Online Applications
- **.docx** - Usually safe for ATS parsing (follow the employer's own instructions if they give a format)
- **.pdf** - Good if created from Word (not scanned)

#### For Email/Direct Send
- **.pdf** - Preserves formatting

#### File Naming
```
FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf
JohnSmith_Resume_ProductManager.pdf
```

**Avoid:**
- resume_final_v2_updated_FINAL.docx
- resume (1).pdf
- Untitled document.docx

### Output Format

When formatting a resume:

```markdown
# RESUME FORMATTING REVIEW

## Current Issues
- [ ] [Issue 1]
- [ ] [Issue 2]
- [ ] [Issue 3]

## Recommended Changes

### Document Setup
- Margins: [Current] → [Recommended]
- Font: [Current] → [Recommended]
- Font sizes: [Current] → [Recommended]

### Section Order
**Current:** [Current order]
**Recommended:** [New order and why]

### Visual Improvements
- [Specific change 1]
- [Specific change 2]

### ATS Compatibility Fixes
- [Fix 1]
- [Fix 2]

## Before/After Preview

### Before:
[Description or example of current formatting]

### After:
[Description or example of improved formatting]
```

<!-- next: written by tools/add-needs.mjs for AI Blocks; not part of the original skill. Edit that tool, not this section. -->
### After this
When you've handed it back, suggest what they could do next in one short question. It's a suggestion: if they're done, that's fine. Offer these, and say they can type their own:
- The [Resume and job application builder](https://useaiblocks.com/skills/resume-job-application-builder). It takes the resumes or CVs.
- **Grow on social** with the [LinkedIn profile rewriter](https://useaiblocks.com/skills/linkedin-profile-rewriter).
If they pick one and that skill is added here, carry straight on with what you just made. If not, give the link and say what to bring.
<!-- /next -->

### Quick Formatting Checklist

Before submitting any resume:
- ✅ One page (or two if warranted)
- ✅ Standard font (10-12pt body)
- ✅ Consistent formatting throughout
- ✅ Clear section headers
- ✅ Appropriate white space
- ✅ No tables, text boxes, or columns
- ✅ Contact info in body (not header)
- ✅ Saved as .docx or .pdf
- ✅ Proper file name
- ✅ Proofread for consistency