Resume Style? Forum

[analytic_philosopher]

I would like to use one of the following templates for my resume. Which do you think is more appropriate for general law school purposes such as OCI, mass-mailings, etc.?

Option 1: Stylish - http://www.latextemplates.com/wp-conten ... 7/cv_6.png

Option 2: Plain - http://www.latextemplates.com/wp-conten ... 3/cv_4.png

[Ludo!]

The plain one by far. Without the Objective.

[geary86]

I also voted for the plain one.

The other one isn't even that stylish to begin with

[Dany]

The plain one by far. Without the Objective.

[jump_man]

Definitely the plain one

[Leaborb192]

I would like to use one of the following templates for my resume. Which do you think is more appropriate for general law school purposes such as OCI, mass-mailings, etc.?

Option 1: Stylish - http://www.latextemplates.com/wp-conten ... 7/cv_6.png

Option 2: Plain - http://www.latextemplates.com/wp-conten ... 3/cv_4.png

I think the "stylish" resumes are for people who have crappy resumes. Plain resumes really speak for themselves. You don't have to dress a resume up and make it look pretty if it has awesome information that sells it.

[rinkrat19]

The "Stylish" one looks like a bill from my vet. Definitely the plain one.

[patrickd139]

The plain one by far. Without the Objective.

[analytic_philosopher]

Wow, I didn't expect the feedback to be so one-sided! It would be helpful if you could let me know what exactly is wrong with the so-called "stylish" template - what makes it the wrong choice? Both templates are almost exactly the same except for font and page layout.

[patrickd139]

Wow, I didn't expect the feedback to be so one-sided! It would be helpful if you could let me know what exactly is wrong with the so-called "stylish" template - what makes it the wrong choice? Both templates are almost exactly the same except for font and page layout.

font and page layout.

make the 'stylish' template the wrong choice.

[Mr. Elshal]

I think the "stylish" resumes are for people who have crappy resumes. Plain resumes really speak for themselves. You don't have to dress a resume up and make it look pretty if it has awesome information that sells it.

The other one isn't even that stylish to begin with

The "Stylish" one looks like a bill from my vet.

All of these are why you should go for the plain one. The other one just looks too complicated and annoying. The resume should be the simplest way to tell your entire life story on one page. A person should be able to learn about your qualifications in under a minute by skimming it, so the focus should be on content, not style.

Also, you don't want to be remembered for the wrong reasons. In this case, the right reason is because your experience is awesome. The wrong reason is because your cute resume style overshadowed the content (and it's not even really cute).

EDIT: Also, if so many people have such an intense gut-reaction, you can assume admissions officers will too. This is, in and of itself, the best reason.

[JCFindley]

Plain for the reasons mentioned unless you were a pilot then go with the plane one.

[analytic_philosopher]

EDIT: Also, if so many people have such an intense gut-reaction, you can assume admissions officers will too. This is, in and of itself, the best reason.

Certainly, this is reason enough for me not to use this resume (and thus, I'm thankful for the feedback). However, on all points other than "negative gut-reaction," I don't think I agree. I feel like the "stylish" resume is actually easier to read (which is what attracted me to it in the first place) because it is simply superior from a typographical / graphic design point of view.

[rinkrat19]

EDIT: Also, if so many people have such an intense gut-reaction, you can assume admissions officers will too. This is, in and of itself, the best reason.

Certainly, this is reason enough for me not to use this resume (and thus, I'm thankful for the feedback). However, on all points other than "negative gut-reaction," I don't think I agree. I feel like the "stylish" resume is actually easier to read (which is what attracted me to it in the first place) because it is simply superior from a typographical / graphic design point of view.

It's ugly and amateur and screams (whether it's literally true or not) "I suck at computers so I used this template from Word 97."

[M458]

Plus, the plain one has a 5.678 GPA from Berkeley, and who the hell is going to turn that down?

[Dany]

Also the layout on the stylish one is terrible. Why is the objective centered? Why do you have a separate all caps column for things like "PERIOD" when anyone who's completed elementary school would know what a set of dates mean? Why are the gray parts not consistent throughout the sections? I've seen good creative resumes (not for the legal field, though) and that is not one of them.

I do really like the little mail and phone icons though.

[Leaborb192]

I think the "stylish" resumes are for people who have crappy resumes. Plain resumes really speak for themselves. You don't have to dress a resume up and make it look pretty if it has awesome information that sells it.

The other one isn't even that stylish to begin with

The "Stylish" one looks like a bill from my vet.

All of these are why you should go for the plain one. The other one just looks too complicated and annoying. The resume should be the simplest way to tell your entire life story on one page. A person should be able to learn about your qualifications in under a minute by skimming it, so the focus should be on content, not style.

Also, you don't want to be remembered for the wrong reasons. In this case, the right reason is because your experience is awesome. The wrong reason is because your cute resume style overshadowed the content (and it's not even really cute).

EDIT: Also, if so many people have such an intense gut-reaction, you can assume admissions officers will too. This is, in and of itself, the best reason.

Though Elle Woods' resume was pink AND smelled pretty so... I'd have to give it up for that one.