This resume tip comes to us from Igor Khayet, founder of My Resume Shop.

As a professional resume writer, one of the most common questions I get asked is how to shorten a resume to one page without losing critical information. The first tip of this series explained how to decrease the number of sections on your resume, the second tip provided advice on reducing the quantity of bullets, the third tip explained how to cut excess language, and the fourth tip provided advice on how to remove unneeded information.

Tip #5: Change the Formatting

Changing the font size, margins, style and general formatting of the resume should be used as a last resort. The last thing that someone wants to see is a one page resume that is so tightly packed with information that it is impossible to read. Powerful content, easily accessibly information, and visual appeal are keys to a great resume.

That being said, here are some strategies for changing the formatting to save room on your resume.

• Font Size: Font size on a resume should be between 10 and 12 point font. Reducing the size of the font by even .5 point can add a considerable amount of room to your resume, but remember that people have to be able to read the content and not strain their eyes. Also, make sure that section headings stand out from actual experiences (either through font size, bold, or formatting differences).

• Font Style: Whatever font you choose, remember that resumes should err on the conservative side (steer away from Webdings and Comic Sans!). However, some traditional conservative fonts take up much more room than others. For example, when I change my resume from Times New Roman to Ariel, the document increases by 11 lines–enough to make it spill over onto a second a page. 

• Margins: Most resumes have at least one inch of space around the border but this can be changed slightly to fit more information on the page. Print a copy of the resume to make sure is still aesthetically pleasing. 

• Paragraph/Bullet: Using bullets and phrases instead of paragraphs can dramatically increase space on the resume. Also think about the amount of indentation for bullets – you do not have to stick with the Microsoft standards.

• Date/Employer/Position: Some people use three lines for each experience simply to name the employer, the dates of employment and position. You can combine information to fit in one line as long as it still looks visually appealing

Before:

Google
Product Manager
January 2009-Present

After:

Google Product Manager January 2009 – Present

• Contact Information Section: Much like the previous suggestion, the contact information section varies in length based on how many lines you use. You need to put your name, address, email, and phone number. This can take up anywhere from 1 to 4 lines.

Igor Khayet is the President and Founder of My Resume Shop (www.myresumeshop.com).  He is a former Admissions Interviewer for the Yale School of Management and a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. Connect with him on Facebook (www.facebook.com/myresumeshop) and Twitter (twitter.com/myresumeshop).

Here’s another weekly MBA admissions tip from our friends at Clear Admit. For more advice about the b-school application process, check out their blog.

Over the last months, we’ve focused on helping applicants prepare to answer the various questions they’ll be posed during their interviews, but there is one in particular to which we have not paid much attention. Today, we wanted to offer a few tips in navigating the nearly inevitable interview finisher: “Do you have any questions for me?”

This seems like a harmless inquiry, and indeed poses a great opportunity, but there’s actually a fine line to walk here. You certainly want to take advantage of this opportunity to show the interviewer that you appreciate his or her time, perspective and knowledge. In determining what to ask, however, you need to avoid those questions to which you could easily find an answer on the school’s website (remember that it’s imperative that you show you’ve done your homework), as well as those that are so specific or obscure that they will stump the interviewer. Another sort of question to avoid are those that seem to be critical of the program or too concerned with other applicants; now is not the time to ask about application volume or the strength of the pool this year.

What does that leave? More than you might initially expect. We’ve found that a great approach is to ask your interviewer about his or her own perspective and experience. Current students and alums, who involve themselves in the admissions process are generally those who are having or have had a positive experience in business school. If your interviewer falls into one of these categories, he or she will likely appreciate the chance to talk about a favorite class or professor, or comment on involvement in a certain club. Meanwhile, when engineering questions to pose to full-time admissions staff, remember that these individuals likely have less in-depth information but a longer-term perspective on the program than would someone who is currently attending or has attended.

Armed with these tips, you should be able to foster a positive and productive conversation, learn a bit more about the program in question, and make a positive impression on your interviewer.

If you have further inquiries about the best questions to pose in your interview (or any other aspect of the interview process), contact Clear Admit directly and sign up for our mock interview service (info@clearadmit.com). We offer school-by-school interview guides, strategy sessions and mock interviews to help you perform at your best on interview day. Also, do not forget to use the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Wiki as a resource for interview preparations!