It’s no secret that your resume is an essential tool in a job search. And while it’s important to ensure your resume is formatted correctly and looks professional, it’s also necessary to use the correct fonts.

Not sure what fonts are best for resumes? Check out this guide for some tips on the best fonts to use and how to format them correctly.

A well-formatted and professional-looking resume can make all the difference in helping you stand out from the competition. So look at these font suggestions and formatting tips, and start recreating your resume today!

The font of your resume is vital!

There are two reasons your fonts for resume matter, according to Muse career coaching expert Heather Yurovsky.

First, your human resume reader. The aesthetics of a resume are vital because it gets your reader focused on the actual content and experience rather than being hung out on poor font choice.

Second is the applicant tracking system (ATS), which helps recruiters and hiring managers to find qualified candidates.

An ATS reads some fonts better than others, and specific fonts work best depending on what job description you’re applying for.

Remember three things when choosing a font for your resume: readability, legibility, and accessibility.

• Readability refers to how easy it is for someone to understand what you wrote.
• Legibility is how easily a person can see what you wrote. (Resume font size plays a vital role here)
• Accessibility is how well the font works within the context of the rest of the document.

Selecting a resume font

How can you determine which of these older, simpler-to-read fonts is ideal for you?

“There is no perfect answer,” says Yurovsky. “What works well for one person doesn’t necessarily work well for another.”

She suggests starting with what feels most comfortable and familiar to you. After that, it’s up to you to decide if you’d prefer a serif or sans-serif font.

An excellent way to determine which font suits you best is to look at the capital T in the font name.

Serif fonts have long tails that hang off the ends of each letter. Sans serif fonts don’t have those tails, so they tend to look cleaner and crisper.

“If it looks like I’m reading a book, I go with a sans serif,” Boggs explains.

But choosing a font isn’t just about aesthetics; there’s another critical factor to consider.

For one thing, different types of fonts lend themselves better to specific jobs. In addition, some fonts are easier to read while others are harder to read, depending on where you emphasize the letters.

10 Simple and catchy fonts to try for your resume

The font you choose for your resume should stand out from the crowd. This includes choosing something easy to read and understand while conveying a professional image.

You want to make sure that it looks good enough to stand out among the sea of resumes submitted daily.

Pick a font that fits your personality. While some people think that a creative resume with bold fonts is the way to go, others find that softer, more subtle styles are more effective. Use your judgment and select a font that suits your needs.

While there are many font styles, I have gone down to 10 suggestions you might be interested in trying. Explore these:

1. Calibri

Calibri is one of Microsoft’s standard fonts. It’s been around since 2001 and is used in many software products. For example, you might see it in PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and even Outlook emails. It’s the same font that appears when you type something into the search bar on Google.com.

The font itself has a lot of fantastic qualities. It’s easy to read and understand and looks pretty good. If you want to make sure that your resume stands out from the crowd, Calibri is probably a safe choice. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

2. Arial

Arial is one of the most popular fonts out there, and it is one of my personal favorites. It is easy to use, and it looks great on every device.

The Arial font is commonly associated with official documents such as letterheads, memos, reports, etc. This font is often considered safe because it is widely used and well known. It is also easy to read and understand.

Arial is part of Microsoft Office, and most browsers support it.

3. Times New Roman

Personally, Times New Roman is the first font I have known since I was introduced to computers. Most people will agree that it is probably the most traditional and classic typeface to use on a resume. It’s also one of the most common fonts used by recruiters and hiring managers. It’s the default font on Microsoft Word.

The font is known for being easy to read, clean, and professional. Plus, it’s been around since 1884 and still looks great today.

If you want to play it safer, this is the # 1 font.

4. Georgia

Georgia is one of the most popular fonts out there. It’s even been called “the default choice for resumes.” But what makes this font special? And why do people love it?

The font has become extremely popular among designers, especially those working in advertising, graphic design, and web design. You’ll see it everywhere online today. It’s also very similar to another well-known font, Arial. This similarity is likely why many think Georgia looks like Times New Roman.

But while Times New Roman is often associated with old typewriters, Georgia looks quite good on computers. It’s much easier to read and doesn’t look too dated. Plus, it’s an excellent option for anyone looking to make their resume stand out.

5. Verdana

Verdana is one of those fonts you know is good because it looks great. Its wide spacing makes reading easy, and its rounded corners make it look like something out of the future.

Verdana is one of the most popular fonts today, especially for headlines and body copy.

This typeface is readable, easy on the eyes, and looks great in small sizes. If you’re looking for something simple and futuristic, Verdana is perfect for your next project.

6. Garamond

The typical font family has been around since 1585, making it one of the world’s oldest typefaces. Like many great fonts, it didn’t start as a headline face. It was initially designed to be used in books and manuscripts because it was considered easier to read than other faces. But the font found its way into headlines, too.

Garamond isn’t just a timeless choice; it’s also versatile. You can use it for headings, body copy, and even logos. And it looks good in different sizes — from small text to large display ads.

7. Arial Narrow

Arial Narrow is a condensed version of Arial that makes it easier to read on screens and mobile devices. This font is ideal for headlines, headings, body copy, and display types. You can use it in print, too, although some designers find it challenging to work with because of its thin strokes.

8. Helvetica

Helvetica is one of the most recognizable fonts around. Its clean lines, serifed letters, and simple sans-serif typeface make it easy to read. And because it’s been around since 1957, you might think it’s old news. But there are some pretty exciting things about Helvetica — like how it became so ubiquitous. You can read more of his history here.

Helvetica quickly became a standard for digital printing, packaging, signage, and logos in the decades following its release. By the 1990s, it had become synonymous with corporate branding. Today, it’s used almost exclusively for headlines and body text in print media.

9. Tahoma

Microsoft released the first version of its web browser, Internet Explorer, in 1995. Microsoft chose the typeface Tahoma because it had a clean look and could be read easily across platforms. Over the next two decades, Tahoma became one of the most popular fonts today. Today, you’ll find it everywhere, from Apple devices to Android phones.

10. Book Antiqua

Book Antiqua is a typeface designed by American typographer Robert Slimbach. It is named after the ancient Roman script used to write Latin texts during the Middle Ages. Its design includes many ligatures, including some rarely found in modern fonts, such as full stops, commas, colons, periods, and question marks.

Book Antiqua is a typeface designed for use in books. Its purpose is to provide a clear and legible text while maintaining a traditional appearance. It is similar to Times New Roman but features a smaller x-height. This makes it ideal for reading material such as novels and poetry.

How about font combinations and pairs?

When leveraging combinations and pairs of multiple fonts, I recommend avoiding them altogether. There are many reasons why. First off, there isn’t enough space on a resume to use too many fonts. Secondly, it takes longer to read and understand what’s being written. Last but certainly not least, it makes everything harder to read.

The rule of thumb should be to stick with just one font on your resume. This ensures consistency and allows us to focus on the most critical aspect of our resumes – our skills and abilities. If we’re writing about ourselves, we want to ensure that everything we write is easy to read and understand.

Is it advisable to use colored fonts on your resume?

The answer to this question depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to look professional, stick with black text on white paper. But if you’d like to stand out from the crowd, try adding some vibrant colors to your resume.

I’m not talking about putting bright red letters on a dark background. Instead, use different colored fonts on a light background to add personality to your resume.

For example, if you wanted to highlight your experience working with computers, you could use a bold yellow typeface on a light blue background. Or, you could choose a fun font like Comic Sans, which makes everything seem friendlier.

You don’t necessarily need to use colorful fonts on every section of your resume. Pick one or two areas where you think it’ll help you stand out.

How to format Your Resume

Your resume is more than just a collection of bullet points. A well-written resume tells potential employers about your skills and experience.

The best resumes are concise and highlight specific accomplishments. They don’t go into detail about your entire career history. If you’re looking for work, focus on your most recent jobs.

Include the following sections on your resume:

1. Your contact information

You’ve probably heard it a million times: “Make sure your contact information is current.” But what does that mean? What do people look for in a potential employer? And how important is it anyway?

Your contact information includes such essentials as your full name, professional title, email address, phone number, mailing address, and even social media accounts.

You might think having a great cover letter will make all the difference, but according to CareerBuilder, over half of hiring managers say they don’t consider resumes.

So, let’s take a closer look at what employers want in a candidate and why it matters.

2. Your resume summary

Your resume summary should highlight your most relevant skills and experiences. For example, if you worked in marketing, focus on what campaigns you ran and how they helped grow your organization.

If you have a lot of experience, try to summarize your entire professional journey in one concise statement. Here are examples of good resume summaries:

• “I’m looking for a role where I can use my background in accounting to support the growth of our small business.”

• “I am seeking a position within a fast-paced environment where I can apply my knowledge of digital media planning and execution to build and manage client relationships.”

3. Your work experience

The “work experience” section is an essential part of your resume. Regarding hiring decisions, recruiters are looking for people who can do something.

They don’t care what you did, just how well you did it. So, make sure your resume highlights meaningful experiences that demonstrate your skills and abilities.

A recent study found that resumes with fewer job duties receive more callbacks than those with more detailed descriptions.

This suggests that recruiters are interested in seeing evidence of tangible results. And according to CareerBuilder, companies prefer candidates with three to four years of professional experience over those with less than one year.

So, focus on demonstrating your achievements rather than listing your responsibilities.

For example, you could say, “Improved revenue by 20% by implementing a social media strategy.” Or “Created Facebook ads that resulted in increased brand awareness and sales.”

Quantify your contribution so that the reader understands exactly what you accomplished.

4. Your skills

In a recent survey, 64% of hiring managers say they look for candidates with relevant experience. But what does that mean exactly? Is there such a thing as too much experience? Or is it better to focus on the types of skills employers seek?

We asked career experts to weigh in on the topic. Here’s what they had to say.

What’s the Difference Between Hard and Soft Skills?

Soft skills: are those social and communication abilities that help us interact with others effectively. They include things like being able to work well under pressure, having strong interpersonal skills, and being able to communicate effectively.

These are often referred to as softer skills because they don’t require technical knowledge.

Hard skills: refer to physical or vocational skills that allow us to excel in specific fields. They include things like typing speed, math proficiency, and working memory.

While some people think hard skills are more important than soft skills, according to experts, both are equally important.

5. Your educational background

This is one of the most common sections on your resume, especially for recent graduates. So what do you put here? Only include the information that matters. If you went to college, list the school name, major, and graduation date.

You don’t want to write about how much fun you had parties every weekend during the first year. Also, keep in mind that schools are constantly changing their names, so you might want to update this information.

6. Sections that you may include

If you want to make sure people remember you, it’s essential to provide excellent customer service, offer discounts, give away free stuff, etc.

But what about those times when you don’t have anything else to say? Or maybe you don’t know much about yourself. What if there are some things about you that you could tell potential customers, colleagues, friends, etc.? Well, here are some options.

Hobbies and Interests

You already told us how you spend your spare time. Maybe you enjoy playing video games, watching movies, reading books, listening to music, traveling, cooking, etc.

If you have hobbies outside of work, why not mention them? This section can show off your personality and passions.

For example, I love hiking and camping. So, I include information about my favorite activities in my resume. This helps me stand out because employers see that I am passionate about outdoor adventures.

Volunteering Experience

Maybe you volunteered for a nonprofit organization, participated in a charity event, worked at a soup kitchen, tutored kids, taught English abroad, etc. All of these experiences add value to your resume. They show that you care about others and are willing to put effort into helping others succeed.

Projects

This is another way to highlight your skills and talents. Did you build a website? Write a book? Create a mobile app? Whatever you did, make sure you describe it in detail.

Include what you learned, how long it took, and how well it turned out. This section allows you to demonstrate your ability to execute projects.

Keeping your resume interesting

The best way to keep your resume interesting is to avoid using too much information, according to Muse career coach Jillian Lucus. “If you’re listing every single thing you did at each position, it’ll just feel overwhelming,” she explains. Instead, focus on what makes you unique.

Lucas recommends highlighting key accomplishments such as client wins, promotions, and awards. She also suggests including hobbies and interests, volunteer work, and education. If you want to include a list of skills, stick to the three or four most relevant ones.

Another option is to break down your experience into sections like “Education,” “Work History,” and “Skills.” This allows you to highlight specific areas rather than having everything on one page.

Regarding resume layout, Yurovsky recommends sticking to a standard 12-point font size. He adds that while some resumes are better formatted, there isn’t anything wrong with using a plain white background.

Resume fonts and format: The bottom line

The key to selecting a resume font and formatting is to think about what you want your audience to take away from reading your document.

If you’re applying for a creative position, you’ll probably want to avoid anything too corporate. On the flip side, if you’re applying for a sales role, you might want to go bolder.

I recommend sticking with a simple typeface like Arial and clean resume formats. These ensure consistency across your documents while allowing you to express yourself without getting too fancy.

Use a 12-14-point font size since most people scan resumes. Include white space around important information, especially dates and contact info.

Bold and italicized text is fine for headings, subheadings, and keywords, but try to limit those elements to no more than 10% of the total word count.

And finally, make sure everything you write is legible. Don’t use big block letters, small caps, or other formatting tricks that make it harder to read.

If you need some help crafting a winning resume, our team of experts is more than happy to offer their guidance. Let us know how we can help!