Have you ever picked up a book or article to read and just stared at it because your brain felt like it was going to explode? For every piece of written information presented, the science of typography is in play. When I feel like my brain is going to explode, it is usually because the presenter forgot this science and took the liberty of packing loads of information onto the page.

Over the years, typography trends have come and gone. In the early 1980s, professional typesetters or electronic typewriters were used to create résumés and these documents were almost always more than one page in length. The one-page résumé rule was introduced later in the 80s when we all started using computers and font size could be controlled. The one-page trend went by the wayside with the growing use of PCs and keyword-rich documents were introduced.

Back to the actual science of typography – font choice and size are key elements that make one résumé look different from another. The font choice sets the tone for the document so you should always select a font that enhances readability and a contrasting font (and size) that draws attention to headers. Headers break apart sections of information and help people’s brains from that exploding feeling I referred to earlier.

In the end, the science of writing and typography is all about message mapping. Blending the correct font, size, and white space helps the eye flow and using bolding for highlights, italics for quotes, and other type enhancements help keep the reader engaged and prevents information overload!

About the Author:
Tammy Shoup, Executive Director and Head Writer of Breakthrough Résumés, is among a small number of professional résumé writers in the U.S. who has earned the title of Certified Professional Résumé Writer from the Professional Association of Résumé Writers / Career Coaches. Her firm is the country’s leading Christian resume writing service dedicated to helping Pastoral Candidates and Ministry Workers develop dynamic job search documents that win interviews.Shoup is also a member of the National Résumé Writers’ Association and Career Directors International. Her activity in both organizations ensures that her knowledge of industry and employment trends remains current. It also indicates her dedication to continuing education in her industry. Her work is published in both JIST and Barron’s career books.

Please review Shoup’s information at www.breakthroughrésumés.com or www.tammyshoup.com or inquire directly to Tammy Shoup at awordpro@aol.com

Wishing you the best in your job search campaign! †