Pick a clean, professional template with a reverse-chronological layout. That layout highlights recent retail or customer service roles first, which hiring managers and ATS read easily.
Keep length to one page if you have under 10 years of relevant experience. Use two pages only if you have long, directly relevant sales history or management experience.
Choose ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for section headers so scanners and humans both read it well.
Keep margins roomy and add white space between sections. Use consistent spacing so managers can scan your customer-focused achievements quickly.
Avoid fancy columns, images, and unusual fonts. Those elements often confuse ATS and hide your key sales results.
Use clear headings: Contact, Summary, Experience, Skills, Education, and Certifications. Put bullet points under each job and start bullets with action verbs and numbers.
Proofread for alignment, dates, and consistent tense. Small layout errors can make you look careless when you want to look reliable and helpful.
Common mistakes include crowded sections, inconsistent bullet styles, and long paragraphs. Break job duties into 3–6 short bullets that show sales impact.