Formatting Resumes

Resume Formatter

Overview

Transform resume YAML files into professionally formatted PDF documents using Typst templates. Choose from 5 templates optimized for different use cases.

Quick Start

# Step 1: Convert YAML to Typst
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py resume.yaml executive --output resume.typ

# Step 2: Compile to PDF
uv run scripts/compile_typst.py resume.typ

# Result: resume.pdf

Available Templates

Template Selection Guide

Need?
├─ Professional default → Executive
├─ Modern/creative → Tech Modern
├─ Maximum density → Modern Dense or Compact
└─ Clean/understated → Minimal

Executive (default)

• Best for: Most professional roles, senior positions
• Style: Clean hierarchy, navy/blue accents
• Font: Inter
• Features: Professional layout, good whitespace balance

Tech Modern (new)

• Best for: Modern tech/creative roles, distinctive aesthetic
• Style: Deep lavender palette, pill-style skills, modern typography
• Font: Carlito (Calibri alternative)
• Features: Single-page optimized, creative competency display, professional but contemporary

Modern Dense (new)

• Best for: Extensive experience requiring optimal space usage
• Style: Categorized inline skills, tight but readable spacing
• Font: Inter
• Features: Single-page target, 20-25 bullets + summary + skills, strategic density

Compact

• Best for: Extensive experience, dense content
• Style: Maximum density without sacrificing readability
• Font: Inter
• Features: Tight spacing, small section headers

Minimal

• Best for: Clean, understated presentation
• Style: Monochromatic with single blue accent
• Font: Inter
• Features: Generous whitespace, subtle hierarchy

Workflow

Convert YAML to Typst

uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py   --output 

Templates: executive, tech-modern, modern-dense, compact, minimal

Options:

• --output / -o: Output file path (default: stdout)
• --skip-validation: Skip schema validation for legacy YAML formats

Examples:

# Executive template (default)
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py resume.yaml executive --output resume_executive.typ

# Tech Modern template (modern/creative)
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py resume.yaml tech-modern --output resume_tech_modern.typ

# Modern Dense template (maximum density)
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py resume.yaml modern-dense --output resume_modern_dense.typ

# Compact template (dense)
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py resume.yaml compact --output resume_compact.typ

# Minimal template (clean)
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py resume.yaml minimal --output resume_minimal.typ

Compile Typst to PDF

uv run scripts/compile_typst.py  [--output ]

Example:

uv run scripts/compile_typst.py resume_executive.typ
# Creates: resume_executive.pdf

# Or specify custom output name:
uv run scripts/compile_typst.py resume_executive.typ --output brent_skoumal_resume.pdf

Typst compiles in a single pass with no auxiliary files to clean up.

Schema Validation

The formatter validates YAML against the resume schema before rendering. This catches structural issues early:

# Validation runs by default
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py resume.yaml executive --output resume.typ
# Output: Warning: Weak verb 'worked' in achievement: Worked with vendors...

# Skip validation for legacy YAML formats
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py legacy_resume.yaml executive --skip-validation --output resume.typ

Validation checks:

• Required: contact. Recommended: summary, experience, skills, education
• Proper nesting: contact.name, experience[].positions[].achievements
• Content quality: Warns about weak action verbs

Review PDF

After compilation:

1. Visual review: Check formatting, layout, spacing
2. Content review: Verify all sections rendered correctly
3. ATS test: Copy-paste text to ensure proper extraction
4. Print test: View in grayscale for B&W readability

Iterate if Needed

1. Edit the YAML source (not Typst)
2. Regenerate Typst from updated YAML
3. Recompile to PDF
4. Review again

Why edit YAML instead of Typst:

• Easier to maintain and update
• Can regenerate with different templates
• Works with resume-optimizer skill

Prerequisites

Typst Installation

macOS:

brew install typst

Linux:

# Via cargo (requires Rust)
cargo install typst-cli

# Or via package manager (check availability)

Windows:

winget install --id Typst.Typst

Verify:

typst --version

Quick Customization

Change Colors

Edit the color definitions at the top of the template:

#let primary = rgb("#1e3a5f")    // Header and section color
#let accent = rgb("#0369a1")     // Links, dates

Change Font

All templates, near the top:

#set text(font: "Inter", size: 9pt)  // Change font name

Common alternatives: "Helvetica", "Arial", "Source Sans Pro", "Roboto"

Change Margins

#set page(margin: (top: 0.4in, bottom: 0.35in, left: 0.5in, right: 0.5in))

Tips for Best Results

Content preparation:

1. Optimize YAML using resume-optimizer skill first
2. Keep resume to 1-2 pages
3. Use consistent date formatting
4. Ensure all required YAML fields present

Template selection:

1. Executive for most cases
2. Compact if you have 10+ years of detailed experience
3. Minimal for creative/design-adjacent roles

PDF generation:

1. Always review PDF before submitting
2. Test text extraction (copy-paste from PDF)
3. Check both screen and print appearance
4. Keep source YAML for easy updates

File naming:

Good: firstname_lastname_resume.pdf
Good: firstname_lastname_companyname.pdf
Avoid: resume.pdf, cv_final_v3.pdf

Complete Example

# Starting from YAML resume:

# 1. Convert to Typst with executive template
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py resume.yaml executive \
  --output resume_executive.typ

# 2. Compile to PDF
uv run scripts/compile_typst.py resume_executive.typ \
  --output final_resume.pdf

# 3. Review PDF
open final_resume.pdf  # macOS
# or
xdg-open final_resume.pdf  # Linux

# 4. (Optional) Generate alternative template for comparison
uv run scripts/yaml_to_typst.py resume.yaml compact \
  --output resume_compact.typ
uv run scripts/compile_typst.py resume_compact.typ \
  --output final_resume_compact.pdf

Integration with Other Skills

Complete resume workflow:

1. Extract: Use extracting-resumes to convert PDF/DOCX to YAML
2. Optimize: Use optimizing-resumes to improve content and tailor for target role
3. Format: Use formatting-resumes (this skill) to generate final PDF
4. Iterate: Make updates in YAML and regenerate

This workflow keeps resume data in editable YAML format while producing professional PDF output.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: vibewith-brent
• Source: vibewith-brent/claude-resume-skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.