What resume format do supply chain recruiters want?  I’ve seen some pretty amazing resumes that stand out with fancy fonts, charts and text boxes. But is a creative resume format a good thing?  Is there a standard format your resume should follow?

Experienced recruiters and logistics hiring managers are trained to find candidates that are the right fit for the job. We are not impressed by a great resume; we look for the best candidate. This means we focus on the content, not the formatting or creativity. This holds especially true in the KPI-driven world of supply chain and logistics.

Using a non-standard resume format can make it difficult for a recruiter to figure out what you actually do. So my advice when it comes to resume writing is to keep it simple. Don’t get too creative.

Resume Basics

1. Basic Font: I recommend Arial or Times New Roman, 9-12 in size.  You can use a different font if you wish, just make sure it’s easy to read.  And please be sure to use the same font throughout the resume for consistency.
2. Basic Layout: Keep the resume to about 1-3 pages in length. I recommend using one-inch margins, as many recruiters will print out a resume and make notes in the margins. Narrow margins will leave no room for notes. Keep it single spaced. This allows you to add an extra space between jobs, making the resume easier to read.
3. Basic Format: We look for a chronological resume format. This format works best for applicant tracking systems and makes it easier for a recruiter to see a match. I recommend avoiding use of a functional resume format. Here’s the basic structure of a chronological resume:

Resume Structure

I always recommend using a chronological resume format rather than a functional resume.  Click here to learn why:  https://sclsearch.com/functional-resume/

Personal Details

Name, address, phone number and e-mail. Put it at the top of the resume, not at the side, or in a header or footer. Most recruiters (and employers) use an applicant tracking system that extracts the personal details from the top of the resume. If those details are not where they’re supposed to be, the ATS may not be able to extract them properly.

Profile / Summary

A short paragraph (2-3 lines) and / or a few bullet points highlighting your key qualifications. Keep it specific and objective, if possible. Years of experience, certifications, industry experience, software used, size of team. These are all things we look for in the summary.

Work Experience

The work experience is the most important part of the resume. Many recruiters will skip entire sections of a resume and go straight to the experience. It’s important that you use this section of the resume to outline your key accomplishments in each of the jobs you’ve held. Try to capture the key information in about 5-10 bullet points.  Here’s the layout this section of the resume should follow:

Company Name, Location, Dates of employment
Insert a brief 2-3 line paragraph about the company, size of team, scope of work.
Job Title
• About 5-8 bullet points (per job) listing accomplishments and achievements
• Some of those bullet points may be duties and responsibilities for clarity

Education and Training

This section is typically laid out in reverse chronological order once again, with the most recent education first. Try to keep the formatting consistent throughout.

File Type

One final tip is to always save the file in MS Word or PDF format, preferably MS Word. Many recruiters put their company “stamp” on a resume before forwarding it to their client; saving it in Word format will allow the recruiter to make those changes. Using other file types could make your resume un-readable for the recruiter.

Contact Us

Looking for more resume writing or interview tips? Check SCLSearch.com for ideas, or take a look at our jobs page to see what opportunities we have available. Connect with us on LinkedIn. And let’s see if we can help you find that perfect opportunity in supply chain and logistics.