Résumé Help: Font Update
Today’s sample has several possibilities for discussion. However, we’ll show today how a small, quick change can make a big difference. The proper font will help create a professional image and facilitate a quick read. If the font is too compact, it may interfere with readability. If it is too busy, it will distract from the message.
In the example below we see a very tiny 8.5-point Verdana font. That, coupled with minimal spacing make this a very frustrating document to read. If you have numerous résumés to read, the poor font choice may be enough for the reader to set this résumé aside and move on to an easier-to-read document. I would advise this candidate to bump his font up to 10 points. Also, he may want to shift to something more contemporary, such as Calibri. The smallest font size should be 10-point. If you go smaller, it creates a highly dense document and also impacts readability.
In addition to the font size in the body of the résumé, this résumé needs a bigger differential between the body font and the category heading font. For example, if we use a 10-point Arial font in the body, we will want to use a 12 or 14-point for the category headings. This large differential helps the reader easily navigate the résumé. sexpromo
If you are unsure about fonts, here is a quick guide:
Contemporary Choices
- Calibri
- Cambria
- Helvetica
Standards, But Still Appropriate
- Arial
- Book Antiqua
- Tahoma
Fonts to Avoid!
- Courier or Courier New
- Any scripted font (such as Edwardian Script)
- Any handwritten-style fonts (such as Comic Sans or Bradley Hand)
- Any playful fonts (such as Jokerman, Gigi, or Chiller)
- Any heavy or oversized fonts (Elephant or Franklin Gothic Heavy)
I hope these tips help you select the appropriate font for your résumé. Follow these guidelines to choose a font that matches your personality, fosters readability, and enhances your professional image. Fonts are just one aspect of an excellent résumé. For more advice on résumé writing, please follow these links:
Résumé Help: Structure is the First Step
Is It Acceptable to Add Some Color to My Résumé
To see additional résumé suggestions that will help you as you create your own résumé, please click on the image below.
If you would like a résumé critique, please contact Debra Wheatman at debra@careersdonewrite.com or visit us at http://careersdonewrite.com. The Résumé Help blog appears weekly on Mondays.
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