Pick a clean, professional template that highlights your technical controls and incident response work. Use a reverse-chronological layout so hiring managers see recent security roles first. That layout also parses well with applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Keep length tight. One page works for early to mid-career Information Security Specialist roles. Use two pages only if you have many directly relevant projects, certifications, or leadership roles.
Choose ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for headers. Keep margins around 0.5–1 inch and leave clear white space between sections for quick scanning.
Use standard headings: Contact, Summary, Experience, Certifications, Technical Skills, Education, Projects. Use short bullet points that show impact and tools used, for example "Reduced phishing click rates by 40% using targeted training and simulated campaigns."
Avoid common mistakes. Don’t use multi-column layouts or heavy graphics that break ATS parsing. Don’t use unusual fonts or tiny text that make reading hard. Don’t list every tool; focus on the ones that match the job ad and your achievements.