Choosing the Best Font for Your Resume

In the competitive job market, a well-crafted resume can make all the difference in landing your
dream job. One crucial aspect of creating an impactful resume is choosing the right font. The font
you use not only influences the overall aesthetic of your resume but also plays a role in readability
and professionalism.

Why Does Font Matter?

The font you select can convey a lot about your personality and professionalism. It sets the tone for
your entire resume and can affect how recruiters and hiring managers perceive your application. A
clean and easily readable font ensures that your resume is visually appealing and can be quickly
scanned, which is crucial in a competitive job market.

Top Fonts for Resumes

1. Calibri: This modern and widely-used font is a popular choice for resumes due to its clean
lines and readability. It's a sans-serif font that provides a professional and contemporary look
to your resume.
2. Arial: Arial is a classic sans-serif font that is easy to read and looks clean on a printed or
digital resume. Its simplicity makes it a safe choice for various industries.
3. Times New Roman: A traditional serif font, Times New Roman has been a staple in resume
writing for years. Its timeless and professional appearance makes it a reliable choice,
especially for conservative industries.
4. Georgia: Another serif font, Georgia, offers a touch of sophistication and style. It is an
excellent choice if you want your resume to stand out while maintaining a classic feel.
5. Verdana: Known for its clarity on both print and digital formats, Verdana is a sans-serif font
that is easy on the eyes. Its wide spacing and clean lines make it a good choice for resumes
that need to be easily readable.

Tips for Choosing the Right Font:

1. Readability: Choose a font that is easy to read both in print and on-screen. Avoid overly
decorative or stylized fonts that may distract from the content.
2. Consistency: Maintain a consistent font throughout your resume for a polished and
professional look. Use bold or italic styles sparingly for emphasis.
3. Size Matters: Opt for a font size between 10 and 12 points to ensure readability. Headings
can be slightly larger for emphasis.
4. Industry Consideration: Tailor your font choice to the industry. Creative fields may allow
for more unique fonts, while conservative industries may require more traditional choices.

In conclusion, selecting the right font for your resume is a crucial step in presenting yourself
professionally to potential employers. The fonts mentioned above are just a few examples, and the
best font for your resume ultimately depends on your personal preference and the industry in which
you are applying. For expert assistance in crafting the perfect resume, consider ordering from
BestResumeHelp.com . Their professional resume writers can guide you on not just the best font but
also on creating a compelling and impactful resume that will set you apart in the job market.
Verdana remains one of the best professional fonts for resumes, CVs, and cover letters alike. Second,
how many years of experience you had at this company. Let’s go over each of the five main font
families, or broad categories, from which you have to choose when you’re writing your resume,
cover letter, or references. Examples of fantasy typefaces include Impact and Western. Try pairing it
with another sans serif font like Lato or Roboto. For example, you could use italics to denote the
dates during which you worked at a particular job. Find out everything you need to know about how
to create a resume that gets past the ATS. Avoid excessive variation in font sizes, as it can make your
resume look disjointed and unprofessional. Keep in mind that you can mix and match small sizes and
large sizes. Microsoft Word does not list Lato as one of its defaults, which means it won’t show up
for every recruiter or employer. If you find yourself squinting to make out the text, you need a bolder
or more spread-out font choice. Resume Examples See perfect resume samples that get jobs. But if
you want to stand out a bit or for your resume to have a bit more personality, it might not be the best
choice. Scan your LinkedIn Headline and turn it into a job-generating machine. White space is your
resume’s best friend, and will allow your reader to scan the documents quickly, cherry-picking the
most important parts with ease. Here's how to ace an interview by bringing the best version of
yourself. During some visits, we may use software tools to measure and collect session information,
including page response times, download errors, time spent on certain pages and page interaction
information. That dual nature gave it the “feeling of the summer,” so he named the font after the
Polish word for summer. It’s similar to the other fonts optimized for the web, with a more slender,
sleek typeface. You’re designing for the recruiter’s or employer’s first impression of you with your
cover letter and resume. But standing out from the pack isn’t always the best goal when it comes to
resume font. This involves (but is not limited to) using the same fonts, colors, and background for all
of your application materials. Additionally, it feels like a bold header font without being too
overwhelming for a resume. Keep in mind that you have to choose a font that is clean and easy to
read both on-screen and in print. This means that each letter slightly tilts a little to the left, and the
thinnest part of the stroke is actually off center. Sans serif fonts are considered more modern and
contemporary-looking, providing your resume with a fresher look. They’re the easiest to read and the
most widely accepted these days. Pros: You can find Georgia across writing platforms. It’s accessible
and a fine replacement font for other serif typefaces, like Times New Roman. There are enough
differences between the font weights to add some nice contrast to your resume. I would recommend
using it as a body font on your resume with a serif font like Merriweather or Lora.
The body of a resume should be all the same font type regardless of section. Moreover, if the other
candidates are also following the basic fonts, there is a high chance that your resume will not be the
one in limelight with Times New Roman formatting. Cambria was specifically designed for easy
readability on most screens, making it perfect for both, print and digital media. This font guide will
show you: The best resume fonts to choose and fonts to avoid. Have AI generate a personalized, job-
winning cover letter in. BTW, I’ve heard that Garamond is valued because it looks so well on Power
Point presentations. This leads to hiring firms dealing with an increased number of resumes to wade
through than ever before. Here is an example of how you can do the above in practice. If you pair
fonts, one for heading and one for text, make sure they both are easy to scan and read and do not
detract from each other avoid multi-colored fonts - it is safe to stick to black text to optimize your
resume for readability ensure your resume is accessible and easily scanned by including sufficient
white space use your resume font consistently throughout your resume in terms of size, spacing and
headings use the same font on your cover letter to keep your application consistent. Why it's a good
choice: modern and clean lines clear, simple and easy to read renders well on computer screens Arial
is a safe choice for most resumes and particularly for: sales jobs administrative jobs Consider: It is
one of the most used fonts and its generic quality may be considered too bland for jobs in creative
industries or trendy companies. Simply start customizing any Venngage template and you’ll be able
to choose Arial as your font. Learn how to write a post-interview thank you that wins job offers. Tips
and tricks for standard professional fonts to use on a resume. It can be tempting to choose a ton of
fonts in an attempt to make your resume more visually appealing. It might seem like an obvious rule,
but it’s also often broken. Sans-serif fonts are commonly used to convey simplicity and modernity.
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Surprisingly enough, when the Trebuchet font was designed, it really was named after those
machines that slung huge boulders in the ages of old. You can click here to read our full Privacy
Policy and Terms of Use. It also uses enough white space between each letter to make it easy to read.
Arial is the default font for Google Docs and a standard font for MS Word and will display correctly
on most computers. However it still needs to be easy to read and render well on screen. Its excessive
loops, curls, and uneven sizing make it difficult to read and can distract the reader from the content
of your resume. Here we will take a quick look at the factors you need to consider when deciding
which font you want your resume to be written in. What would you do? Most of us might not even
get past looking at the applicant's name before tossing the resume into the “no thank you” pile.
Performance and Personalization These cookies give you access to a customized experience of our
products. Our comprehensive guide to optimizing your LinkedIn profile. Using Kunstler Script on
your resume can give the impression of being outdated and overly formal, potentially alienating
prospective employers. Some of our readers might not have even been born when this resume font
launched. Pros: You can find Georgia across writing platforms. It’s accessible and a fine replacement
font for other serif typefaces, like Times New Roman.
Here’s a master list of the best resume tips out there, plus a bonus to make your life easier. It’s a
professional and easy-to-read font, and it won the TDC2 2005 Type System award from the Type
Directors Club. Learn how to create a job-winning LinkedIn profile picture. However it still needs to
be easy to read and render well on screen. What is the best font size and format for a resume. So, if
you’re creating a resume in Word, and your first instinct is to choose Times New Roman, don’t fight
it. They’re the easiest to read and the most widely accepted these days. Also, for the love of all
things resumes, double-check that all of your bullets line up. Editorial Guidelines Learn how our
experts create our content Media Mentions Discover where our work has been featured in Press Page
Read original data insights to boost your reporting. Don’t even think about going for fonts like
Papyrus, Comic Sans, Wingdings, Marker Felt, or Chalkboard. Excluding over-the-top headers and
design choices will ensure that you aren't unnecessarily adding length to your resume. Here are a few
questions about using fonts through a job application and interview process. Verdana doesn’t look all
that different from Arial and Arial looks like Helvetica. However, most of the support for these
claims have been anecdotal. It’s a good choice for a standard resume or for work at a digital-first
company. The body of a resume should be all the same font type regardless of section. Its circular
shape is a bit too decorative for a text-heavy document like your resume. The sans-serif font was
designed for Microsoft and works excellently on low resolutions gadgets as well. After your new
card is added, you will be billed on the date of your next billing cycle. It was created to be used in
place of Arial when sharing documents across different platforms. According to Google, “Noto
provides pan-language harmony, yet maintains authenticity. If you’d like to create a more modern
style resume, try space-efficient sans-serifs like Tahoma, Verdana, or Arial. A font like this will allow
your accomplishments to be the focal point of your resume. While not as old and classic as
Garamond, it was born during the Enlightenment and the reign of Marie Antoinette, so it’s a good
font for dressing up your resume. That might mean that it will not load when some hiring managers
open your resume. Find anyone’s professional email address in seconds. It is sans-serif which
basically means it looks modern and is very easy to read. Here's how to use the STAR Method and
story circles to nail every behavioral and situational interview question. Also, feel free to use bold
type, italics, and underlining to make your resume easier to read (and highlight the important bits).
Other serif fonts, those that have tails, that work well include Cambria, Georgia, Garamond, Book
Antiqua, and Didot.
Resume Checker Get your resume checked and scored with one click. Be ATS-friendly. If you use a
professional resume builder, you’ll be able to fill out your resume first and then play around with
fonts and resume layouts to find the best fit—without having to start each time anew. Anything more
than that will make your resume look cluttered and difficult to read. If you are experienced and have
many years under your belt, a serif font can give a better impression than sans-serif. For example,
essential cookies include: cookies dropped to provide the service, maintain your account, provide
builder access, payment pages, create IDs for your documents and store your consents. Avoid
intricate and unusual fonts and stick to the tried and tested resume fonts including those listed in our
top 10 above. During some visits, we may use software tools to measure and collect session
information, including page response times, download errors, time spent on certain pages and page
interaction information. Category Designer Date Created Sans-serif Matthew Carter 1996 Matthew
Carter created Verdana for Microsoft as the sans-serif sister to Georgia. Likewise, having too large
of a font size may overtake a mobile device screen if not properly formatted. And that can make it
appear too boxy or robotic for resumes. Here's what it may look like: Create my cover letter now See
more cover letter templates and start writing. You must also compare your resume with sample
resume models to ensure that your preference of resume font is readable on a wide range of devices.
Scan your LinkedIn Headline and turn it into a job-generating machine. Use bolding, italicising and
CAPITALIZING to emphasize important information such as your name and section headings, but
be consistent. Advertising These cookies are placed by third-party companies to deliver targeted
content based on relevant topics that are of interest to you. But if just one aspect, like font, is off, it
could undermine the entire message, weakening every aspect of your introduction. It might not
matter that you have the best skills in both instances, and you are well fitted to the position. Papyrus
is better suited for novelty purposes rather than formal documents, making it a poor choice for a
resume. Also, don’t forget about standard resume margins (one inch on all sides). Learn how to
create a job-winning LinkedIn profile picture. Learn how to write a cover letter that actually wins job
offers. Just as we discussed in the previous section, even “silent” choices like font and formatting
can convey tone as easily as your word choice. The good news is, you can easily download and add
them yourself without spending a dime. Verdana remains one of the best professional fonts for
resumes, CVs, and cover letters alike. Since then it has been used in their user interface across
different platforms and apps. Stay away from heavy and cursive fonts (no Comic Sans!). The thin
strokes and geometric influences make this resume font feel very modern from the instant you see it.
Learn our “silver bullet” Value Validation Project presentation strategy. Moreover, the creator of
Calibri appraises the typeface as a warm and soft font to use on a resume. I would recommend using
it as a body font on your resume with a serif font like Merriweather or Lora.