From Application to Interview: The Resume Excellence Playbook

Resume Formatting Standards: What Hiring Managers Expect

At Soliant, we advocate for you. Your resume is your professional introduction to hiring managers. Many great candidates miss opportunities because of formatting issues, missing information, or unclear experience. This guide will help ensure your resume clearly and professionally reflects your expertise.

1. Start with a Clean, Professional Format

Hiring managers typically scan resumes quickly. A cluttered format can unintentionally distract from your qualifications.

Best Practices:

Use a standard font (Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman)
Font size 10–12 pt
0.5–1 inch margins
Consistent spacing
Black text only
Save as a PDF (unless your recruiter requests otherwise)

Avoid:

Tables or columns (they often break when submitted)
Text boxes
Graphics or headshots
Logos or decorative elements
Colored fonts
Multiple font styles

If it looks like a flyer, it’s too busy. If it looks like a clean professional document, you’re on the right track.

2. The Essentials

Header

Full name
Phone number
Professional email
City & state (no full address needed)
License number (if applicable)

Professional Summary (3–4 lines max)

The professional summary is no longer mandatory. It is strategic.

Some recruiters skip it. Some love it. Some only care if it adds clarity. The key question is not “Should I have one?” It is “Does it help?” Let’s break this down:

When a Professional Summary Helps

You are changing industries
You have contract or short-term roles that need context
You have 10+ years of experience and need positioning
You want to control your narrative
Your title alone does not clearly communicate your value

A strong summary quickly answers:

Who are you?
What do you specialize in?
What level are you?

Modern Example: Operations professional with 8+ years leading cross-functional teams in fast-paced environments. Experienced in process optimization, compliance oversight, and stakeholder communication. Known for improving workflow efficiency while maintaining regulatory standards.

3. Experience Section: Be Specific and Results-Focused

List positions in reverse chronological order. For each role, include:

Job Title
Organization Name
City, State
Month/Year – Month/Year
3–6 bullet points

Strong Bullet Point Formula:

Action + Responsibility + Impact

Example:

Managed a caseload of 45 clients, ensuring timely documentation and compliance with regulatory standards.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to improve service delivery efficiency.

Avoid:

Paragraph blocks
Vague statements like “Responsible for duties”
Copying the full job description
Leaving unexplained employment gaps

Be clear and concise. Your recruiter may help refine the language, but the core information must be accurate and detailed.

4. Licensure, Certifications, & Credentials

License type
License number
State issued
Expiration date
Certifications
Relevant trainings

Hiring managers need to verify eligibility quickly. If this section is unclear or missing, it may delay submission.

5. Education Section

Degree
Institution
Graduation year (or expected graduation date)
Relevant honors if applicable

6. Skills Section

List relevant hard skills only:

Software proficiency
Clinical tools
Technical competencies
Language fluency

Avoid generic soft skills like:

“Hard worker”
“Team player”
“Motivated”

Your experience section should demonstrate those qualities.

7. Keep It to 1–2 Pages

Under 10 years experience: 1 page preferred
10+ years: 2 pages max

Longer resumes are rarely read in full. Prioritize relevance.

8. Common Resume Mistakes That Delay Submission

Spelling or grammar errors
Inconsistent dates
Missing contact information
Missing licensure details
Unprofessional email address
Overly complex formatting
Submitting screenshots instead of documents
Sending resumes in Google Docs “view only” format
Submitting a resume that doesn’t match your LinkedIn profile

Before sending, ask yourself: If I were the hiring manager, could I quickly understand my qualifications?

9. How to Partner Effectively with Your Soliant Recruiter

Your recruiter is your advocate. The stronger your materials, the stronger your submission.

Respond promptly to document requests
Be transparent about availability
Communicate preferences clearly
Update your resume with recent assignments
Inform us immediately of interviews or offers outside Soliant

A clear resume + clear communication = faster interviews.

10. Final Resume Checklist

Before sending your resume to Soliant, confirm:

☐ Formatting is clean and simple
☐ All dates are consistent and accurate
☐ Licenses and certifications are clearly listed
☐ No spelling or grammar errors
☐ Contact information is current
☐ Saved as a PDF/Word Doc
☐ File name is professional (FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf)

Resume Best Practices in the Age of AI

Write for humans first.
Old advice said: “Stuff it with keywords.”

But the new reality is that most ATS systems now parse context. Over-stuffing keywords makes resumes feel robotic and lowers credibility. Instead, mirror the job description language where appropriate and naturally integrate relevant keywords.

Use AI wisely.
AI tools can help draft your resume, but always personalize the content. Add real examples, numbers, and specific details. Generic, overly polished language is easy to spot.

Metrics matter more than ever.
Whenever possible, include measurable results (team size, caseload, volume, timelines, efficiency improvements). Specificity stands out.

For example, instead of:
“Managed client relationships.”

Use:
“Managed 35+ active client accounts with 98% retention rate.”

Keep formatting ATS-friendly.
Avoid tables, columns, graphics, and decorative templates from Canva. If your resume reads cleanly when pasted into a plain text document, you’re safe.

Align with your LinkedIn profile.
Recruiters frequently cross-check. Your resume and LinkedIn should tell the same story. Not identical. But aligned. Ensure job titles, dates, and responsibilities are consistent across platforms.

Tailoring is no longer optional.
AI tools now score candidates based on alignment with job descriptions.

One generic resume sent to 50 jobs is less effective than:

3 tailored versions for 3 types of roles

Candidates should:

Reorder bullet points for relevance
Adjust keywords
Adjust summary

The Soliant Resume Template

SOL_Resume-Template Download

Next Steps

At Soliant, we work with organizations that prioritize professionalism, compliance, and efficiency. A strong resume helps us present you as a confident, qualified candidate who is ready to contribute from day one. We are here to help but your resume is the foundation. If you would like resume feedback before submission, let us know. We’re happy to partner with you.