Using InDesign to Create a Designer Resume

In this tutorial, we'll explain how to create a resume with InDesign using paragraph styles and a grid. We'll walk you through each step in creating this resume and introduce you to some tools and the use of styles.

Step 1

Open up a new document and set the Page Size to Tabloid with an orientation landscape. Uncheck the Facing Pages box.

Step 2

Got to Layout > Margins and Columns, set the Columns to 8, the Margins to 1p6, and set the Gutter (the space between the columns) to 0p6.

Step 3

The columns setup will help us to set up a nice grid. Choose the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a rectangle filled with a warm gray. I set the size to 13p6 by 63p0. Set the Opacity to 50%.

Step 4

Duplicate the rectangle and align it along the columns.

Step 5

Since we set the Opacity to 50%, the rectangles create a grid themselves where they overlap.

Step 6

Next, select the Text Tool (T) and create a text box stretching over three columns. I created dummy text. You can either copy paste, or select Command + D, and place the text file. This is unstyled text.

Step 7

Open up the Paragraph Styles Palette (F11). I created several styles. Of course with a one page document, you don't need styles, you could just style the paragraphs directly, but it is a good exercise.

Step 8

Let's start with the title. Click on the New Paragraph arrow on the right, and then apply the settings below. Set the character color to red.

Step 9

Repeat Step 8 and create the style "title small." Set the font size smaller and choose red as the character color again.

Step 10

Create another style and name it "body_left align." Choose a different font. Click on the Indents and Spacing tab and set the Alignment to Left.

Step 11

Create another new paragraph style and name it "subtitle_left align." Choose a different font. On the Indent and Spacing tab, set the Space Before to 2pt and the Space After to 3pt. Click on the Paragraph Rules tab. Choose Rule Below from the drop down and tick the checkbox. Set the type to solid and choose green for the color. Set the line weight to 0.25pt and offset it 1pt. Then set the character color also to green.

Step 12

Duplicate the "subtitle_left align" by right clicking on the name in the Paragraph Styles Palette. There choose duplicate style. This will make a copy of the style. After that, you can rename it to "subtitle_right align." Leave the settings as is, only change the Indent and Spacing to right align. The rule and color of the character stays the same.

Step 13

The steps to create a new paragraph style stay the same. Create a duplicate of the "body_left align" from Step 10 and rename it to "body_right align" and just change the alignment in the Indent and Spacing tab.

Step 14

Create another new paragraph style and name it "header_right align" and apply the settings in the images below. Make a duplicate of it and name it "header_left align" and only change the alignment to left.

Step 15

Let's start applying the styles. Select the text box and apply the "body right align" to the text box (press Alt and click on the style).

Step 16

Place the text cursor on the first text line (for the header) and press Alt and click on the style "header_right align" in the Paragraph Styles Palette. This will apply the style. Then select the next line with the text cursor and apply the "subtitle_right align." Then select the next main paragraph (in this case "education") and apply again the header style. Repeat this step to all the headers you might have in your text.

Step 17

Voila, this is the left side on the resume with right alignment and header styles applied.

Step 18

If you'd like, you can turn on the baseline grid (Alt + Command + '). You can align the text to the baseline. In the paragraph styles in Indent and Spacing, under the tab Align to Grid, choose All Lines.

Step 19

Let's set up the next text box. Make a new text box and align it along the column grid. Then import your text.

Step 20

Start applying the styles. You can offset the text on the right by moving it up a bit.

Step 21

Let's add some extra character styling. Open up the Character Styles Palette (Shift + F11) and create a new style called "body color." Click on the Underline Options and choose the settings you see below.

Step 22

Now select the text you wish to underline/highlight and apply the Character Style we just created.

Step 23

I added more text and added the Character Style again.

Step 24

This is what we have so far. A text box on the left, a text box on the right, and a text box with contact information. All align to the columns and baseline grid.

Step 25

Create another Text box above the first one on the left, and add the text "Resume," then apply the Paragraph Style "title."

Step 26

Place another text box on the right (aligned with the text box on the right), add text (like your name) and apply the "title small" style.

Step 27

Create a duplicate of the Resume title and place it underneath the original one. Select the duplicate and click on the Flip Vertical button in the menu bar. Then set the Opacity to 45%.

Step 28

Open up the Effects Palette for Gradient Feather (Object > Effect) and with the duplicated "Resume" title selected, apply it with a linear gradient, set to 90 degrees. You can move the Gradient Stops around to get the effect you prefer.

Step 29

This is the resume with text styles and effects.

Step 30

Let's make it a little bit more interesting. I chose a picture form stock.xchng. We will use this as a passport picture and add it to our resume. Select the Rectangle Frame Tool (F) and place the image (Command +D). With the image still selected, go to Object > Clipping Path > Option (Alt + Shift + Command + K) and select Detect Edges from the Type drop down menu. Since the image has a white background, it will knock the white out.

Step 31

Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a scotch tape like shape. Rotate it with the Transform Tool (E), fill it with white and set the Opacity to 50% (Top menu bar).