Pick a clean, professional template that shows your clinical work, patient education, and research clearly. Use a reverse-chronological layout if your recent dietitian roles match the job. Use a functional or hybrid layout only if you change careers or need to hide employment gaps.
Keep length to one page when you have under 10 years of dietitian experience. Use two pages only if you have many relevant publications, certifications, or program outcomes. Be concise and keep content tightly job-focused.
Choose ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for section headers. Keep consistent margins and line spacing. Give each section breathing room so a hiring manager can scan your skills and outcomes quickly.
Use clear headings like Contact, Summary, Licensure & Certifications, Clinical Experience, Community Programs, Research & Publications, and Education. Put licenses and credentials near the top so reviewers see your RD/RDN status fast.
Avoid fancy columns, heavy graphics, and icons that break parsing. Don’t use rare fonts or dense blocks of text. Keep bullet lists short and start bullets with action verbs related to dietetics, like "developed," "led," and "measured."
Common mistakes include inconsistent dates, long paragraphs, and unclear section names. Avoid listing every duty. Show measured impact like patient weight loss, program reach, or cost savings. Make your contact info plain text so ATS picks up your email and phone.