The "Paragraph-Then-Bullet" Rule
Should you use paragraphs or bullet points? The answer is both. Learn the visual hierarchy rule that makes your CV scannable for recruiters.
## The Wall of Bullets
A common formatting error is listing everything as a bullet point. When a recruiter sees 15 bullet points in a row, their eyes glaze over.
Everything looks the same. Nothing stands out. The reader loses interest.
## The Visual Split Rule
To make your CV readable, you must separate **Scope** from **Impact**.
### 1. The Scope (Use a Paragraph)
Use a short block of text (2-3 lines) right under the Job Title to describe:
- Your day-to-day responsibilities
- Team size
- Budget or P&L ownership
- Reporting line
**Visual Role:** This acts as a "floor" for the reader—it establishes context before the achievements.
### 2. The Impact (Use Bullets)
Use 3-5 sharp bullet points underneath the paragraph to list **Results**:
- Revenue generated
- Costs saved
- Speed improvements
- Awards or recognition
**Visual Role:** These are the "spikes" of high performance—the numbers that prove your value.
## The Golden Ratio
**Paragraph:** 20% of the space
**Bullets:** 80% of the space
If a detail doesn't include a number or a result, move it to the paragraph. Keep the bullets for the wins.
## Example Structure
> **Head of Operations | TechFlow Solutions (2020–2024)**
>
> Led a 45-person operations team across three UK sites, managing a £12M budget and reporting directly to the CEO. Responsible for supply chain, logistics, and customer fulfilment.
>
> - Reduced order-to-delivery time by 38% through warehouse automation
> - Cut operational costs by £2.1M annually via supplier renegotiation
> - Achieved 99.2% on-time delivery rate (up from 87%)
Scope in the paragraph. Impact in the bullets. Clean and scannable.
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*For more on CV visual design, explore our [Format & Layout](/format-and-layout) insights.*