Find a site where you can download fonts for free. They are typically used for headers or other shorter texts, because they’re not the easiest to read. It might seem like an obvious rule, but it’s also often broken. Remember that the presentation of your resume and cover letter together are a way for you to self-brand. Cons: Helvetica is only pre-loaded on Macs, so it will convert to a different font on other systems. @cforsey1. Ashley Hodder, a Technical Recruiter at HubSpot, seconds this notion -- "I think a resume shouldn't have distracting font, and it should be easy to read. Font choice is a crucial part of any marketing team’s design. In addition, the way we’ve thought about resume fonts in this article is a good model for how you should approach all of your introductory materials during the job application process. These are the five broad categories that fonts fall into: Serif: Serif fonts, like Times New Roman, belong to one of the largest and most common “font families.” Letters in serif fonts have decorative serifs, or little “tails,” on certain character strokes. But a slightly larger font size gives employers a better impression; one study at Stephen F. Austin University showed that resumes using 12-pt. Monospace fonts have also become a popular design choice in recent years because they’re a bit nostalgic, calling back to the days of typewriters and telegrams. Depending on the role, I look to see that candidates are sharing direct and compelling snapshots of their work. While … Hey Christie, I really appreciate the kind words! Sans serif fonts are more contemporary in look and feel than the more conformist and traditional serif fonts. Fantasy: Fantasy fonts are not useful for resumes or cover letters–there might be an out-there exception, but I haven’t found any yet–but they are used for decorative and design purposes, like signage and certain marketing materials. Pros: Lato is an increasingly common choice for resumes because of how readable it is. Cons: Georgia is so widely used and familiar that it might not make you stand out among other applicants. Pros: Calibri can be easily read on any computer and won’t mess up the formatting no matter where it’s sent. © 2020 CULTIVATED CULTURE. Cons: Avant Garde is, well, avant garde. HubSpot uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services. It’s also consistently rated one of the favorite fonts of designers, so it could be good for any aesthetic-focused or creative profession. Next, we’ll go over how to make the best possible impression with your resume typeface. Other sources indicate that it’s not just the font choice, but the consistency of that choice with other aspects of marketing, that really makes the difference. Studies have shown recruiters typically scan a resume for only about six seconds before making a decision on whether an applicant is fit for a role. Alternatives: Adelle Sans is similar to Open Sans and is a great substitute. For instance, I'd stay clear of Comic Sans. Georgia … I look for indicators that show data orientation, autonomy, and thoughtfulness about business impact.". The first decision you have to make in terms of selecting a resume font is which font family is best for your goals. Also, I’d recommend keeping things to a single color. Calibri. Rebuilding your resume? [But] what I get most excited about is the content. Think about it: You’d probably feel confused if you went to a fresh fruit smoothie shop and saw grungey, gritty, dark decor. Finally, it’s versatile: It comes in a variety of weights. Here's what you should remember: Acceptable resume fonts include Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, Helvetica, Georgia, Tahoma, Verdana, Trebuchet MS, … Regular font size for resumes is 12 points, typically in Times New Roman or another classic, easy-to-read font. Alternatives: Roboto is somewhat similar in style to Helvetica and Arial. ", Additionally, when asked which font size is best, Johanna said, "12 is ideal -- nothing less than 10.5. If your brand messaging is consistent across design and content, form and function, font and tone, you’re much likelier to make a sale–or, in this case, to get invited for an interview. Larger fonts are acceptable for headings, your name, or titles of sections. While you might make a different decision for your resume font in your job search–if you’re in an ultra-traditional and more conservative profession that expects a high level of formality, for example — sans serif fonts are generally the best option. Remember that readability is one of the most important aspects of resume font choice. size will produce around 500 to 750 words, the ideal length … Best Fonts for Resume Times New Roman Arial Calibri Helvetica Cambria Georgia Garamond Avenir Next Muna It’s frequently rated as one of the more attractive typefaces. Anything that is cursive (or too bubbly) is too hard to read. Tip #2: The next rule of using bold and italics on your resume are to do so consistently. So if you want to give a … This serif font is another Microsoft Word staple. To Glory's point, certain more creative roles might benefit from a more unique font than Times New Roman. Given that resumes are essentially marketing documents, I wondered to what extent the research might also apply to fonts you might use in your resume. You’re designing for the recruiter’s or employer’s first impression of you with your cover letter and resume. In addition to choosing a font, you can also use various formatting styles to make certain areas of your resume stand out. You’re selling yourself in every aspect of your self-branding, from content to timeliness and format. Recruiters have an idea of the skills they are looking for on a resume, so if you try a new style or format it can be tougher for recruiters to find the information they are looking for. The typeface was inspired by 16th-century design and is often used in print. Inspired by the 1920s German Bauhaus movement, Avant Garde is a unique typeface that is having a comeback after being used frequently in 1970s advertisements. It might be a good choice for a future-forward company. Spoiler alert: The days of using … For more information, check out our privacy policy. I’m a little old school, but I think they are the cleanest and exude professionalism. Like each applicant, each font has a “personality.” If a font is difficult to read or doesn’t reflect the job you’re applying for, it could leave a recruiter with a bad taste in their mouth (even if they aren’t aware of it). Written by Caroline Forsey Alternatives: Brandon Grotesque and Open Sans are both similar to Lato. Other experts are generally in agreement over the best fonts for resumes, with a professional certified resume writer recommending Georgia and Helvetica in addition to the fonts … Lucas de Groot. This is partly because the workforce has gone increasingly digital, making even professional interactions slightly less formal and more straightforward and concise. The opinions expressed here are solely those of Austin Belcak & Cultivated Culture & do not reflect the opinions of any other company, entity or individual. It’s not a default or standard resume font, so it’s not the best choice for an executive-level position in a traditional field. That’s because, due to your past experiences, you probably already associate smoothie shops with breezy, tropical environments and bright, cheery colors. Ultimately, and as expected, your content still matters most -- however, a clean, clear font will help avoid any irritability you might cause a recruiter with a distracting, messy design. You may have noticed that a few of the fonts I recommended don’t show up when you try to find them in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Pros: Open Sans is wildly popular for web design for a reason: optimal readability. Marketing automation software. But, besides Times New Roman, which fonts pass the six-second resume scan? Cursive: Cursive fonts, like the famous Comic Sans, are meant to appear handwritten or “scribbled” to give text a personalized touch. ", Riley Kundtz, MBA Campus Recruiter at HubSpot, further noted, "I find the classic formatting and Times font to be helpful when reading a dense resume from an experienced MBA candidate. Your resume font should activate those connections in your recruiters’ and potential employers’ minds, causing them to connect you with traits like professionalism, honesty, and skill. If want to do this yourself, I only recommend changing the colors for: I’d recommend picking three of those four so you don’t go overboard. 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. Overall, I would just stay away from a font like Times New Roman. I'm more concerned about whether the resume is formatted in a clean way -- submitting a PDF is helpful with this, so your formatting doesn't shift. Your resume, cover letter, and other application materials should look like they’re part of the same package. Thanks so much for taking a minute to read through the post, I’m so glad it was helpful. No matter how much you might want to include your high school volunteer history, it’s much more important that a recruiter sees only the most relevant and applicable education and work experience right away–no muss, no fuss. Its letters are tall and … The good news is, you can easily download and add them yourself without spending a dime! You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. Monospace: Commonly associated with newspapers and typewriters, monospace fonts like Courier and Courier New were designed so that each letter would take up the same amount of space on a given line. However, some said that … Serif fonts are those will additional strokes at the end of each character. A pattern with your resume, but I think it makes it look that much more professional your! And thoughtful the dates during which you worked at a particular job not you... Straightforward, right they look good cons and alternatives ’ m so glad it was helpful check! 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