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Best Font For A Resume: Which One Is It?
According to research, recruiters take approximately 6 seconds to skim through a resume. During that time, they will focus on several important fields and quickly make a decision whether or not you’re the right fit for a job. Needless to say, this gives job applicants very little time to make an impression.
Font, design, and layout are the best ways to leave an impression. The font, in particular, can be very effective. Proper font can avert attention to your resume but can also be used to show your uniqueness, professionalism, and style. But at the same time, the candidate shouldn’t overdo it by picking a font that is not suitable. Ultimately, you don’t want to blow a good business opportunity just because you were willing to gamble on the font, right?
Here are some tips that will help you choose the right font for your resume. Read on!
What are the best performing fonts?
But choosing the right font for resume is far from easy. There are certain fonts that work well in all industries while there are those that are common for specific professions. In the end, it all depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
In general, there are the 7 best font options for your resume:
- Verdana
- Calibri
- Trebuchet MS
- Helvetica
- Cambria
- Garamond
- Georgia
Most people will choose either Helvetica, Calibri or Verdana. These 3 are perhaps the most popular and acceptable ones. However, there shouldn’t be any trouble if you pick one of the remaining 4 fonts from the list. Traditional fonts are usually more accepted by the general public.
The biggest issue when choosing any other font is readability. Some people let their artistic persona take over which is a big mistake. The main priority of a font is making resume readable. Anything that is perceived as an obstacle can pose a problem. In terms of font size, it Is best to go with either 11 or 12. Anything less than 10 can be too small and pose issues to some recruiters.
Advantages and disadvantages
Minor differences between fonts can play a big difference in the eyes of a recruiter. Picking just the right option can be crucial when applying for a job so it’s necessary to consider all the alternatives beforehand. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages when it comes to these fonts:
Verdana
- Pros: It is ideal for all those who want to maximize their application and insert as much stuff as possible
- Cons: It doesn’t provide the same visual appeal as some other fonts on our list. It is pretty basic and will not catch the reader’s attention
Calibri
- Pros: Calibri is the safest option there is. There are lots of advantages in terms of readability and professionalism; no one can complain against it
- Cons: Everybody uses it. Definitely not the one you need if you want to stand out
Trebuchet MS
- Pros: It looks pretty neat but it also has a little bit of style to it. Professional enough to pass the eye test, stylish enough to attract attention
- Cons: When using MS Word, certain functions will not be available such as text figures. Because of that, you might need to pay for the commercial version
Helvetica
- Pros: In terms of its appeal, most recruiters say that Helvetica is the best sans-serif
- Cons: If you’re using a Mac computer, it will be rather easy to find it. But, it isn’t preloaded in MS Word so you will have to buy it
Cambria
- Pros: With this font, the user will be able to quickly and efficiently go through small text sizes. It is a good solution for sizes such as 11 and 12
- Cons: Not ideal for modern jobs. Performs worse when used for professions such as graphic design and IT
Garamond
- Pros: Garamond is very popular within the economy and finances. It also works well for designers. There are lots of advantages to it such as readability, style, professionalism and so on. Furthermore, it is not really common which gives you an edge
- Cons: To some people, it might look a bit too old and rustic. This is precisely why it performs well for “traditional” jobs
Georgia
- Pros: Georgia can be found almost anywhere regardless of what program you’re using. It is classic enough to be omnipresent but not everyone is using it. In fact, it can be a great alternative to traditional Times New Roman
- Cons: Like most other relatively popular fonts, a lot of candidates will use this option
We recommend that you perform a test before sending a resume. Change your font several times and after each change, read it a bit. How do you feel about it? Do you think it’s a good fit? If it works for you, there is a good chance it will also work for a recruiter!
Consider the industry
As already mentioned, one of the biggest variables that have to be considered when choosing a font is what kind of a job you’re applying for. This also has to do with how recruiters perceive “the ideal candidate”. For example, discipline and precision are very important for engineering jobs. This is why stiffer lines perform much better. Artistic jobs and even graphic design give you more leeway in terms of creativity. Medical professions require warmth and care; it would be best if you choose “softer” options.
If you want to learn more about the preferential font, we recommend that you do a Google search. You can also use LinkedIn to an extent. Try searching for other resumes created by professionals within an industry. You can quickly notice some patterns. Extract that knowledge and try to find fonts that are performing well and that are being shared online. This will be your starting point when deciding what option you should pursue.
