Terminal punctuation in resumes, such as periods at the end of bullet points or sentences in paragraph form, has become less common in contemporary resume writing. A clean, modern aesthetic often prioritizes brevity and visual clarity, and omitting periods can contribute to this streamlined look. For example, instead of writing “Managed a team of five sales representatives.”, one might write “Managed a team of five sales representatives”.
This shift away from traditional punctuation can enhance readability by reducing visual clutter and allowing the reader to quickly scan the document and absorb key information. Historically, resumes adhered to standard grammatical conventions. However, as resumes have evolved into concise marketing documents emphasizing skills and accomplishments, the emphasis has shifted toward visual impact and efficient communication. Consistency is key, however. Choosing to use or omit terminal punctuation is acceptable, but the chosen style should be applied consistently throughout the entire resume.
