What Are The Best Colors For Your Resume? | CaffeinatedKyle.com (2024)

There are a lot of moving pieces in a modern-day job search, and one of them is style. While deciding what color to use on your resume may not be at the top of your to-do list, it does warrant attention

You want to choose a color that grabs the attention of recruiters and hiring managers while not detracting from the content of your resume.

So, what are the best colors for your resume? How do you choose the most effective resume color?

5 Best Colors To Use On Your Resume

Blue, green, purple, red, and gray are five of the best colors besides black to consider using on your resume.

Let’s dive into the strategy for using each of these colors on your resume further:

1. Blue

As a career coach, blue is the color I most often recommend to job seekers. One of the reasons companies like Meta, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Salesforce use blue in their logos is because it exudes trust, and besides, people simply love the color. You can experiment with different shades of blue (and teal) to find the best one for you.

2. Green

Green is another color I frequently recommend job seekers use on their resumes. While green can be used by anyone, I am particularly fond of green if you are targeting finance, business development, sales, or other revenue-related roles. Try experimenting with different shades of green to find the one that communicates the right message.

3. Purple

Job seekers are sometimes surprised when I recommend purple for their resumes, yet when used strategically, purple can help you stand out in a saturated job market. I most often advise using purple if you are targeting a role that requires a bit more creativity or a company that pushes for innovation. Importantly, I recommend using a more subtle shade of purple, such as eggplant or plum, rather than royal purple.

4. Red

Red can be a warm, bold, and fun color to include on your resume, but you want to be careful about using too much, as it can make you come off as aggressive. A strategic splash here and there can be a powerful touch. Red will help you quickly grab the reader’s attention and draw their eyes to important information, such as relevant companies or important keywords.

5. Gray

While determining whether gray is technically a color is outside my Zone of Genius, what I can advise is using it strategically on your resume. It’s great for subtly calling attention to specific areas of your work history, such as your most impressive career accomplishments or testimonials. Additionally, grey can be used alone or in addition to one of the previously mentioned colors.

How To Choose The Right Color For Your Resume

Now that we have discussed a few color options, it is time to select which one to use on your resume. Remember: Your goal here is to find a color that grabs the recruiter’s attention while also showcasing your personality. At the same time, you do not want the color to detract from the content of your resume. In other words, use it sparingly.

Note: Applicant tracking systems (ATS) cannot “read” colors on your resume. Your primary reason for including color is for the human who views it.

Finally, keep in mind that enhancing your resume is a single step in the overall job search process. Trust your intuition and select a color that resonates with you. You’ve got this!

What Are The Best Colors For Your Resume? | CaffeinatedKyle.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the best color to put on a resume? ›

A few of the best colors to use on your resume or CV are blue, green, purple, red, and gray. Of course, you can use other colors, but these are some of the best accent colors to use on your resume to highlight important details and keywords without distracting the reader.

What is the color code for resumes? ›

Black and white is the most often used colour scheme for resumes. Often thought of as classic, this scheme can look professional without requiring additional effort to choose the proper colours. If you worry about selecting a colour that may lose its appeal when printed, black and white is a safe choice.

Does the color of my resume matter? ›

Color can help you attract the reader's attention to certain areas on the page. Generally, hiring managers and recruiters only spend a few seconds with a resume before deciding whether to consider the applicant. Using color can help you draw their attention to the most important content in your resume.

What color is most likely to get you hired? ›

So, a hot top: Blue is the choice most likely to get you hired! Why? Blue exudes calm confidence, honesty and authority, and people associate the colour with someone who's a team player. Purple, a close runner up, is the colour of authenticity, status and non-conformity.

What are the best two color combinations for resume? ›

Combine with Black and White

When it comes to designing your resume, use white as the background, black for text, and the remaining color as an accent. If you're not sure what this may look like check out Claudia Argueta(opens in a new tab or window)'s beautiful resume above.

What does color in resume mean? ›

You have an opportunity to create an overall impression for the hiring manager reviewing your resume. Red is a bolder color that demands attention, while purple conveys luxury and power. Lots of people associate pink and yellow with more 'fun' roles, while blue often signifies professionalism.

What is the best color for resume in 2024? ›

You don't always need to stick to black for your resume color, but you should ensure that the text contrasts the background of the document. You can switch things up by opting for a dark grey shade, or navy blue, or a very dark green.

How far back should a resume go? ›

As you move through your career, the rule of thumb is to include only the most recent 10 to 15 years of job experience. This article will guide you through exactly how far back your resume should reach.

What color font for resume? ›

The best resume font color is black. It's elegant, goes well with every industry, and is easily readable by humans and ATS. If you want to make your name or headings pop, you can use colors like blue, green, beige or even pink — just keep the body text black and make sure it fits your industry.

Is it unprofessional to have color in your resume? ›

Job seekers going after creative positions can use color on their resume to convey their artistic message, but they should be mindful of how it reads. Avoid light colors and "keep the rest of the resume clean and stick to a traditional format."

Which resume template is best? ›

The chronological resume (also known as the reverse-chronological format) is the most popular format and the best resume format for experienced candidates. The chronological resume emphasizes your work history section, where you list information about current and past jobs with the most recent job first.

Should my resume have a picture? ›

When it comes to including pictures on resumes, you'll find that HR professionals and professional resume writers agree that a resume should not include a photograph. There are exceptions, of course, which are explained further below. However, generally speaking, you should not put a picture on your resume.

What color looks best on a resume? ›

If you're applying for a job in a more traditional industry, avoid using bright colors on your resume. In more buttoned-up professions, having a colorful resume is considered distracting and unprofessional. However, using darker colors like navy blue, burgundy, or dark green on a simple resume template is acceptable.

What is the most professional looking color? ›

Blue : Blue (navy) is considered the perfect pick as it reflects trust, confidence, calmness and stability. Grey : Grey is the second safest choice and shows you are independent and sophisticated. It also does not distract the interviewer.

What color makes you look professional? ›

Black is often a go-to darker color for professional attire. It's simple yet effective. In color psychology, we often associate black with elegance, sophistication, and power in color psychology. Black is often a go-to darker color for professional attire.

What's a good font for a resume? ›

Popular professional font choices for resumes include Arial, Cambria, Garamond, and Times New Roman. These typefaces are widely-used and considered appropriate for resume content, as they make information appear organized and concise.

Should you put your picture on your resume? ›

Including your photo on a resume is a *huge* no-no in the US. The only exception would be if you're an actor or in some other occupation where your physical appearance is actually relevant to the job. Employers in the US don't want you to include demographic information like your age, race, sex, etc. on your resume.

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