Why White Space Makes Your CV Easier to Read
White space helps recruiters scan your CV in seconds. Learn why empty space isn't wasted space—and how it guides the reader's eye to what matters.
## The Counter-Intuitive Truth
Empty space on your CV isn't wasted space. It's working space.
White space—the gaps between sections, the margins, the breathing room around text—helps recruiters find what they need. Without it, your CV becomes a wall of text. Walls get skipped.
## What Recruiters Actually See
A recruiter spends 6-7 seconds on an initial CV scan. In that window, they're not reading. They're scanning for landmarks:
- Your name and title
- Your current or most recent role
- Key achievements that pop
White space creates those landmarks. It separates sections. It highlights headings. It tells the eye where to look next.
A cramped CV forces the reader to work. A spacious CV does the work for them.
## The Three Jobs of White Space
**1. It reduces eye strain**
Dense text exhausts readers. Recruiters review dozens of CVs in a session. Documents that are easy on the eyes get more attention.
**2. It improves comprehension**
When text has room to breathe, the brain processes it faster. Key points register. Details stick.
**3. It signals professionalism**
A well-spaced document looks designed, not dumped. It suggests you care about presentation—a quality employers value.
## The Cramming Mistake
Many candidates try to squeeze everything onto one page by shrinking margins and reducing spacing. This backfires.
A cramped one-page CV is harder to read than a clean two-page CV. Recruiters would rather flip a page than squint at tiny text.
> **Rule of thumb:** If you have to go below 10pt font or 0.5-inch margins, your CV has a content problem, not a space problem. Cut words, not white space.
## Where White Space Lives
Look for these areas on your CV:
- **Margins** — The frame around your content
- **Line spacing** — The gap between lines of text
- **Section breaks** — The pause between Experience, Education, Skills
- **Bullet spacing** — The air around each achievement
Each one contributes to readability. Neglect any, and the document feels cramped.
## Pre-Flight Checklist
Before you finalise your CV layout:
- [ ] Margins are at least 0.75 inches (ideally 1 inch) on all sides.
- [ ] Line spacing is 1.15 or higher.
- [ ] Clear gaps exist between each major section.
- [ ] Text doesn't run edge-to-edge.
- [ ] The CV passes the "squint test" (structure is visible from arm's length).
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*For more on CV layout, explore our [Format & Layout](/format-and-layout) insights.*