Make the information a reviewer needs easy to locate. There is no need to assume that every recruiter spends the same number of seconds on a resume or follows the same eye movement pattern.
Editorial correction, September 22, 2026: this article previously presented a six-second review limit and exact viewing times as universal findings. We have removed those unsupported generalizations. The following is practical design guidance, not a report of a Guul eye-tracking study.
Start with recognizable information
Keep your name and contact details easy to identify. For each role, group the employer, job title, and dates. Use the same arrangement for other roles so the reader does not have to learn a new layout halfway through the document.
Place relevant experience where it is easy to find. Depending on the role and your background, that may mean leading with professional experience, a relevant project, or education. There is no universally correct corner for every qualification.
Same story. A little more breathing room.
Switch the layout. Watch how spacing and hierarchy change the way this sample reads.
Alex Morgan
Product designerProfile
Product designer focused on making complex workflows easier to understand.
Experience
Product Designer · Example Studio
- Mapped the onboarding journey with the support team.
- Designed and tested a clearer account setup flow.
- Documented reusable components for the engineering team.
Skills
Interaction design · Prototyping · Design systems
Everything is asking for attention.
Closely packed headings and text leave fewer visual signposts. Try the other treatment.
Give each bullet a clear purpose
Begin with the work or result you want the reader to notice. Include enough context to explain your contribution. Remove repeated introductions such as “I was responsible for” when the sentence remains accurate without them.
For example, this fictional rewrite replaces “Responsible for preparing reports” with “Prepared the weekly inventory report and investigated differences before purchasing review.” It clarifies the work without inventing a performance number.
Your experience. A fresh canvas.
Try a different look. These are actual Guul template previews, with illustrative sample content.
A clean slate. Literally.
One column, distinct sections, and room for your experience to lead. A simple place to start.
Make this layout yours ↗The builder opens with your selected template.Replace all sample details with your own experience.Explore the resume lookbook →
Try a practical review
Ask someone unfamiliar with your work to locate your most recent role, a relevant skill, and your contact information. Notice what they struggle to find. This is feedback on your document, not a scientific hiring experiment.
Then check the export on a smaller screen and at normal zoom. Confirm that headings, dates, and links remain readable and that the extracted text retains the intended order.