White Space

White space — also called negative space — refers to the empty areas on your resume that contain no text or graphics. This includes margins, the spacing between sections, line spacing within bullet points, and padding around headings. Effective use of white space is a fundamental design principle that makes your resume easier to read and more visually appealing.

A resume with insufficient white space appears dense and overwhelming, causing recruiters to skim or skip content entirely. Conversely, too much white space can make a resume look sparse or suggest a lack of experience. The goal is balance: enough breathing room that the eye flows naturally from section to section.

Standard resume margins range from 0.5 to 1 inch on all sides. Use consistent spacing between sections (typically 10-14 points) and between bullet points (2-4 points). Section headings should have slightly more space above them to create visual separation. Proper white space also helps ATS parsing by clearly delineating sections and reducing the risk of content being misinterpreted.