What's the best font to use in a resume? How large (or
small) should your font be? When writing a resume, it's important to use
a basic font that is easy to read, both for hiring managers and for
applicant management systems.
Read below for advice on what font and font size to use, as well as sample resumes and resume templates.
Keep it Simple
There are a few reasons why it's important to keep the font on your resume simple.
First of all, many resumes are first read by applicant tracking systems
(ATS), not by people. Those systems work best when reading simple text
rather than fancy formatting. If an applicant tracking system can’t read
your resume, the hiring manager might just throw it out.
It's
also important for the hiring manager to be able to easily read your
resume. Basic, readable fonts like Arial, Verdana, Calibri, and Times
New Roman will ensure you your resume will be read.
When you are
selecting a font for your resume, the font size should be between 10 and
12 to allow for readability. It can feel tempting to make the font on
your resume very small, so you can include more information about each
job, and still have your resume fit on one page. However, resist this urge - a tiny font is difficult to read, which will ultimately defeat your resume's purpose.
Your resume should also be printed in black and white, not in color.
Other colors are generally distracting for a hiring manager.
You have some flexibility in your section headers. You can make these a little larger and/or bold.
You
should also make your name (at the top of your resume) stand at. You
can make your name slightly larger, and perhaps bold, underline, or
italicize it.
Be Consistent
Do be consistent in your
formatting. For example, if you bold one section heading, bold them all.
If you underline a company name, be sure the others are underlined as
well.
Also, don’t overuse capitalization, bold, italics, underlining, or other emphasizing features. Again, basic works best.
Get Creative (Sometimes)
Typically,
you should use a readable, print font such as Times New Roman, Arial,
or Calibri. However, if you are applying to a position in graphic design
or advertising (where resume layout and design might be part of your
assessment), employers might be open to alternative fonts, colors, and
even nontraditional resumes.
However,
no matter what, make sure the font you choose is readable for a hiring
manager. And think very carefully before using an alternative font. Make
sure it is not going to hurt your chances of getting the job. If you
know anyone who works at the company, consider asking them their
thoughts before submitting a nontraditional resume, or a resume with a
creative font or color.
How to Select a Font
Read below for two ways to select a font and font size for your resume.
Option 1:
- Select a font and font size from the list at the top of your document before you start writing the resume.
Option 2:
- Type your resume.
- Highlight the resume.
- Either select the font from the pop-up window (right click and then select “Font”) or select the font from the list at the top of the document.
- Select the font size you want to use the same way.
Confirming Your Font Choice
After
you have selected a font and font size, it is always wise to print out
and look at a copy of your resume. As you read, ask yourself: Is this
resume easy to scan through? If you have to squint to read, or find that
the font appears cramped, choose a different font or select a larger
size for your font.
If the page looks very busy and confusing –
for example, if there are too many words bolded, italicized, and
underlined – make the style of your resume simpler.
Resume Examples
Before
you start work on your resume, review free resume samples that fit a
variety of employment situations. These resume examples provide job
seekers with examples of resume formats that will work for almost every
job seeker.
Resume Templates
Resume
templates are great for formatting your own documents. Check out this
resume template for advice on how to order and organize your own resume.
