Ever admired a CV with that crisp, perfectly straight right-hand margin, achieved through full justification? It looks so neat and tidy, right?
Well, according to the Gestalt principles of visual perception, that seemingly organised alignment might actually be making your CV harder to read and understand.
Think about the Principle of Proximity. Our brains group elements that are close together. When you fully justify text, the inconsistent spacing between words and letters creates uneven “white space.” This disrupts the visual flow and makes it harder for the reader’s eye to naturally group words into meaningful phrases.
Consider the Principle of Continuity. Our eyes prefer to follow smooth, continuous lines. The jagged, inconsistent gaps created by full justification break this continuity, forcing the reader’s eye to jump around more, potentially leading to fatigue and reduced comprehension.
The Result?
Instead of a smooth reading experience, the reader’s eye has to work harder to decipher the stretched and squeezed words and spaces. This can lead to:
The Solution? Left Alignment (Ragged Right):
While it might not look as “perfectly” aligned, left alignment creates consistent word spacing, allowing for natural white space at the end of each line. This adheres to Gestalt principles, making the text easier for the eye to follow, improving readability, and ultimately allowing your valuable experience to shine through without visual distractions.
Think about it from the recruiter’s perspective: They’re scanning dozens, if not hundreds, of CVs. Make it as effortless as possible for them to understand your skills and achievements.
This isn’t about aesthetics; it’s about effective communication. Choose readability over artificial neatness. Your content deserves to be easily digested and understood.
I have 20+ years experience in leadership, recruitment, executive search, interviewing and career development. If you think you would benefit from an informal conversation, please ask.
