The Header

Your résumé provides you with an opportunity to create a business-like image and an arena in which to promote yourself. Use the various type styles and underline features found in your word processing software to create an interesting letterhead design.

This sample header was created using a 14pt Times Roman bold font using the SMALL CAPS option. Following the name we inserted, a thin underline using the toolbar line command. The address and telephone information was produced in the same font but reduced to a 10 pt italic and was centered across the page.

Hints & Tips:

If you find that you can get all of your information on a single page except for just one or two lines, consider trying the following tricks to create a little extra working room:

• Adjust the top and bottom margin control to reduce the white space border from 1″ to around 3/4″. Your eye will hardly notice this shrinkage and it creates 2 to 4 additional lines of usable page space.
• To get the maximum information on each page without making it visually appear too crowded, use a serif style font such as one of the Times or Times Roman family. The “tails” on each character allow you to comfortably read the smaller 10 pt type size without causing the eye to “fall off the line”.
• Avoid using sans-serif fonts such as Helvetica. The lack of “tails” on the characters makes tight spacing and small type much more difficult to read.
• Use this identical name bar as the letterhead on your cover letter. To make a copy, hit Edit, then SELECT, then CUT & PASTE it to a new blank page. Write your cover letter copy underneath.
• Use proper TABS and text justification commands to horizontally place text elements on the page. NEVER use the spacebar to position the copy as it will often shift out of place when you print this document on any computer other than your own (such as when you attach it as an e-mail).