- Sharon Hafuta
- 6 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
What story does your resume tell? From first impressions to the finer details, every design choice matters—even your font. Typography isn’t just decoration; it’s a powerful tool that can project professionalism, creativity, and clarity. The right font invites your reader in; the wrong one can turn them away before they’ve even started.
This article dives into the world of resume fonts, breaking down how to choose, size, and format your text with intention. Whether you’re crafting a personal resume, designing one for a client, or sharpening your graphic design skills, you'll find the insights you need to make every letter work for you. Let's explore how the fonts you choose can make your resume both eye-catching and impactful.
Understanding what is typography and its impact can help you make better design choices and elevate your design project.
Unleash your creativity with the Wixel editor's extensive library of fonts. Whether you're going for sleek, modern vibes or bold, artistic statements, there’s a font for every idea. Design invitations, social posts or logos with typefaces that help you personalize your project and make it truly your own.
Why font choice matters in your resume
Imagine your resume as a handshake. You’d want it to be confident and memorable, not limp or overwhelming. Fonts work in the same way—they convey tone, readability and intent, often before a recruiter has even read the first word. According to career experts, recruiters spend only about 6-7 seconds scanning a resume. That doesn’t leave time for hard-to-read fonts or overly playful typography to get in the way.
Your font choice has to balance professionalism with your personal brand. It should help guide the reader’s eyes effortlessly through sections like work experience, education, and skills. When considering resume design ideas, the right font can make a strong first impression.
10 resume fonts and when to use them
01. Arial
Arial might get a bad rap for being a default choice, but that shouldn’t overshadow its utility. This sans-serif font offers simplicity without sacrificing professionalism. Its even strokes and clean appearance make it a workhorse font for resumes in any industry.
Best for: Arial’s neutrality allows your content to take center stage, making it especially effective for job seekers who want their qualifications to shine without font-related distractions.
02. Book Antiqua
Book Antiqua brings a classic feel with its elegant serif design, but compared to some of its peers, it carries a softer, slightly more unique presence. Its wide, open characters make it highly legible without feeling overly stuffy or traditional.
Best for: If you’re in an industry where a subtle touch of creativity is valued, Book Antiqua is a wonderful way to merge clarity with personality.
03. Calibri
Calibri became the go-to font when Microsoft adopted it as its default for Word, PowerPoint and Excel. It’s a modern, sans-serif option known for its smooth, rounded edges. The result? A font that’s approachable, yet undeniably professional.
Best for: Its uncluttered design translates beautifully to resumes, making Calibri a natural fit if you’re applying for office-based roles. It sends the message that you’re up to date with modern professional standards.
04. Cambria
Cambria falls into the serif family, designed specifically for readability in both print and on-screen contexts. Its proportions and spacing feel slightly more contemporary than other serif fonts, offering a clean and polished aesthetic.
Best for: This font works especially well in resumes where detail is paramount. Its straightforward design keeps the focus on the content while adding a subtle touch of prestige.
05. Century Gothic
For those seeking a modern, sans-serif font with a touch of flair, Century Gothic is an excellent choice. Its geometric letterforms feel sleek and contemporary, particularly well-suited for creative industries such as design, tech and advertising.
Best for: However, its bold aesthetic means you need to use it sparingly. Pair it with minimal design elements to avoid overwhelming the reader.
06. EB Garamond
Classic and sophisticated, EB Garamond is the trusted font of scholars and traditionalists. Its timeless appeal lies in its elegant serif design, which evokes a sense of formality and refinement. Whether you’re applying for an academic role or a position where tradition holds value, EB Garamond’s understated charm speaks volumes.
Best for: Beyond its aesthetic appeal, EB Garamond excels in readability. Its proportions and spacing create a seamless reading experience, letting your achievements and skills shine without visual distractions.
07. Georgia
Georgia is a serif font that combines the classic appeal of serifs with a slightly less formal, more approachable style. It was designed with digital readers in mind, making it an excellent choice for resumes sent electronically.
Best for: The thick strokes and well-defined letters feel sturdy yet inviting, ideal for candidates entering fields like communications, education or media. Georgia strikes that perfect balance between tradition and warmth.
08. Helvetica
Helvetica is synonymous with modernity and clarity. This sans-serif powerhouse has been a designer’s favorite for decades, and for good reason. Its clean, straightforward lines convey confidence and professionalism, while its balance of boldness and simplicity lends itself to a broad range of industries.
Best for: If you’re looking to portray precision and professionalism—while avoiding a font that feels too elaborate—Helvetica is a no-brainer. It’s also highly versatile, whether showcased on a printed resume or an online PDF.
09. Tahoma
Tahoma is a clean sans-serif font that prioritizes function and flexibility. With narrow spacing and straightforward strokes, it feels equally at home in technical, corporate or administrative resumes.
Best for: One of Tahoma’s standout features is its adaptability to heavy text. If your resume includes granular details like statistics or complex job descriptions, Tahoma ensures that everything stays visually organized and digestible.
10. Verdana
Verdana was crafted for readability on digital screens, making it an outstanding option for electronically submitted resumes. With wider letterforms and generous spacing, Verdana ensures clarity even when viewed on small or low-resolution displays.
Best for: Its casual yet neat appearance makes it adaptable to a variety of industries. If you’re aiming for a font that feels friendly without sacrificing professionalism, Verdana hits the mark.
Ideal resume font sizing
Choosing the right font size ensures your resume is legible without appearing crowded. Remember to always view your resume at 100% zoom to ensure it's easy to read on screens and in print.
Here’s a quick guide:
Name: Your full name can be 18-22 points, ensuring it stands out boldly at a glance.
Headings: Headings can be slightly larger at 12-16 points to create hierarchy and structure.
Body text: Stick to 10-12 points for the main content of your resume. Smaller sizes may strain the reader’s eyes, while anything larger can look unprofessional.
What makes a font a best font for resumes?
Not all professional fonts are created equal when it comes to impactful resumes. To identify the best options, you should consider the following factors:
Readability
Job applications may involve busy recruiters skim-reading dozens (or even hundreds) of resumes a day. A well-chosen font ensures they can read your resume quickly and without strain. Crisp letters free of excessive flourishes or ornamentation make resumes easier on the eye, helping your information stand out.
Professional aesthetic
Fonts for resumes should exude professionalism while reflecting your personality. Successful typography strikes that careful balance. For example, a font like Helvetica conveys neutrality and simplicity, while Georgia exudes authority with a creative twist.
Appropriate tone
Each industry has unwritten rules about creative flexibility. For corporate positions, you're better off with conventional serif or sans-serif fonts like Garamond or Arial. Meanwhile, positions in tech or design might benefit from subtler personality markers like Century Gothic.
Learn more: Serif vs sans serif
Resume font selection tips
Selecting the perfect font means finding harmony between style, legibility and brand alignment. Here’s how to make the best choice:
Match your industry
For corporate or traditional fields like law or finance, it's best to use serif fonts such as Times New Roman or Cambria. For creative or startup roles, such as marketing or design, modern fonts like Montserrat or Lato are a better choice. Choosing the right font can even be part of your overall marketing strategy, reflecting the tone and professionalism of your brand.
Stick with standard fonts
Fancy fonts might look great in theory but can confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Stick with well-known fonts that ensure your resume remains ATS-compatible.
Limit font variations
Keep your resume design simple by sticking to one or two font styles—one for headings and another for body text. For example, pair Helvetica (headings) with Georgia (body text) for a structured yet approachable look.
Explore more font pairings to create a polished, professional resume that stands out.
Optimize for both print and digital
A recruiter might review your resume on a printed page or digitally on a screen. To account for both print design and digital design, choose fonts known for readability across platforms, like Calibri or Tahoma.
Pay attention to white space
Your choice of typography interacts with other elements, such as margins and spacing. Balanced white space between lines and sections improves readability while signaling professionalism.
ATS friendly fonts
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software programs used by employers to manage and filter job applications. These systems use specific algorithms to identify keywords and qualifications in resumes, making it important to choose an ATS-friendly font.
Stick to sans serif fonts
Sans serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica are the most commonly used and recommended for ATS compatibility. They have clean lines that make it easier for the system to scan and read your resume.
Avoid special formatting
Using special characters or symbols, such as arrows or bullets, can cause issues with ATS scanning. Stick to simple formatting such as bolding or bullet points. Also, avoid using headers or footers as they may not be read by the system.
Consider using keywords
Many ATS systems use keyword matching to filter resumes. To increase your chances of getting through the system, consider including relevant keywords from the job description in your resume. However, make sure to use them naturally and don't overstuff them.
Use standard headings
ATS systems are designed to recognize standard headings such as "Work Experience" or "Education." Using unique or creative headings can confuse the system and may result in essential information being overlooked.
Resume formatting tips
Your font is just one part of the puzzle; the formatting of your resume plays an equally important role. Here are some tips to bring it all together:
Use clear headings: Organize sections like “Work Experience” or “Education” using bold headings in a slightly larger font size.
Leave space: Use consistent line spacing (1.15 or 1.5) to ensure your resume looks neat and readable.
Limit length: Stick to one or two pages max, unless applying for an academic or research-heavy role.
Maintain constraints: Avoid making text too narrow or overly wide. Aim for one-inch margins to keep content balanced.
Stick to standard formats: Hiring managers tend to prefer resumes with clear sections, consistently aligned text and easy-to-understand highlights. Vertical layouts with left-to-right alignment are the most commonly accepted format.
Use visual hierarchy: Ensure your name, contact details and section headers are immediately noticeable by varying font size or styling. A subtle bold header, followed by lighter subheaders and text content, creates a clear reading experience.
Be consistent: Uniformity across your resume matters. From spacing to alignment to styling, maintaining consistency improves the overall aesthetic appeal and professionalism of your document.
Explore these fonts for more design inspiration:
Calligraphy fonts for elegant and artistic designs
Cool fonts to add personality to your creations
Cursive fonts for timeless designs
Cute fonts to bring charm to your designs
Free fonts: a curated selection
Fun fonts for playful and lively projects
Futuristic fonts for cutting-edge and modern designs
Graffiti fonts to infuse urban energy into your designs
Handwriting fonts to add a personal, authentic touch
Number fonts for creative numerical typography
Poster fonts to make your designs bold and eye-catching
Pretty fonts to enhance delicate designs
Professional fonts for polished and formal designs
Psychedelic fonts to inspire striking and retro visuals
Retro fonts for a nostalgic twist in your visuals
Scary fonts to give your designs a chilling edge
Script fonts for a touch of sophistication
Tattoo fonts to inspire edgy and unique designs
Resume font FAQ
Can I use multiple fonts in my resume?
Yes, but limit this to two fonts—one for headers and another for body text. This approach creates visual contrast without overwhelming the reader.
