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10 Best Fonts to Use for Resumes

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Creative Market April 18, 2023 · 10 min read
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Fonts are the unsung heroes of the resume world. A great font makes it easy for hiring managers and recruiters to understand your experience and expertise — a key competitive advantage in a crowded job market. An inappropriate typeface has the opposite effect; it reduces your chances of moving on to the interview stage. As you’re deciding what fonts to use for a resume, look for options that are both readable and reflective of your professional brand.

What Is the Best Type of Font To Use for a Resume?

The best type of font for a resume is both readable and professional. As a rule, practicality trumps aesthetics. To ensure your resume is hiring-manager-friendly, choose a font that is:

  • Readable: Every word should be easy to read, both online and in print. Typically, the best readable fonts for resumes feature minimal ornamentation and ample spacing.
  • Visible: The font should have enough weight to create a strong contrast against a white background — this ensures that reviewers can see the text clearly. Avoid fonts that feature thin strokes or dramatic line-width variations; delicate lines tend to disappear when a reviewer turns down the screen brightness or prints the resume.
  • Straightforward: Fonts with artfully distorted shapes, a pronounced angle, or a squashed x-height might look beautiful, but they can distract the reader. Simple, straightforward fonts allow your resume content to take center stage.

Style is a secondary, but still important, consideration. The font you choose subtly influences the reviewer’s perception of who you are as a professional. Serif fonts are often perceived as traditional and formal; you might choose them if you want to convey stability and quiet confidence. Sans serif fonts give off a more contemporary, friendly vibe; you can use them to convey a sense of innovation and forward-thinking.

10 Best Fonts for Your Resume

The best resume fonts for you depend on a variety of factors, including your industry and the impression you want to create. To make your job search easier, we’ve gathered a selection of clean, readable modern fonts. Each one makes your resume look sharp and professional, whether it’s posted on LinkedIn or reproduced on an office copier.

1. Super Basic

Super Basic proves simplicity doesn’t have to be boring. The streamlined letters are ultra-clean and easy to read, even in large blocks of text. At larger sizes, the lowercase letters convey a fun, trendy vibe that’s reminiscent of social media branding.

Super Basic is particularly attractive in all caps; it features precise, even spacing and an impeccable balance of rounded bowls and crisp angles. The result is both stable and interesting — the ideal vibe for creative professionals.

2. Addington

When you need a serif resume font that’s equal parts practical and stylish, Addington is a natural fit. This elegant font favors graceful curves over sharp corners; the understated sweep of the serifs contrasts with the commanding straight strokes for a look that feels fresh yet grounded in tradition.

Addington is designed to perform well in blocks of text and larger headings. You can use it in the body of your resume to communicate steadfastness and sophistication. The intricacies of the font shine at large sizes and heavy weights, reflecting your trustworthiness and intellectual curiosity.

3. Averta Standard

Averta Standard is one of the best sans serif fonts for resumes with a great deal of text. The minimalist design provides plenty of room to breathe, so potential employers can skim your Work Experience and Education sections with ease. The included bold and black versions add considerable weight, creating a block-letter effect for headings.

A pronounced roundness and open apertures give Averta Standard a friendly, approachable look. At the same time, the perpendicular vertical and horizontal strokes feel solid and steady, giving your resume a sense of unshakable professional confidence.

4. Macaw

Macaw is a study in contrasts. Sharp, classic serifs establish a traditional tone, while rounded terminals keep things from feeling too buttoned-up. Alternative options for letters, including “g” and “a,” give you the freedom to customize the effect to match your personal brand.

Each of the 10 included font weights is designed for easy reading at any size; you can use Macaw to give your body text a modern, formal vibe. The set comes with true italics created by the designer, ensuring that every line of your resume is clear and readable.

5. Gilmer

Gilmer is a geometric font with straightforward shapes and crisp edges. Large bowls and a tall x-height create an impression that’s accessible yet confident. The stroke width is consistent throughout, so the font maintains its aesthetic when your resume is printed or photocopied.

The designer recommends Gilmer for smaller sections of text to maintain readability and showcase the simple beauty of the letters. Consider using Gilmer for your resume’s section headers or sub-headers.

6. Kenac

Kenac puts an unexpected spin on a standard serif font. It manages to integrate unusual shapes into each letter without distracting the reader. Add in varied stroke widths, and you have a font that blends traditional and modern styles.

Given its complexity, Kenac is best used for your name or resume headers. Choose the heaviest weight that’s feasible for your layout — it’s a great way to showcase the fascinating letterforms and communicate that you’re professional but never complacent.

7. Articulat CF

Articulat is a modern font with a distinct sense of style. It’s inspired by mid-century fonts; you can see echoes of 1960s design in the tasteful tapers and sweeping curves. In a nod to hand-lettering, select letters feature thick downstrokes and light upstrokes.

At a lighter weight, Articulat CF is sophisticated and quiet. The heavier weights have a self-assured sensibility — you can use them in the headers of your resume to establish yourself as a design authority and an arbiter of taste. The thick, strong strokes play up the subtle variation in stroke weights, creating an effect that’s simultaneously powerful and graceful.

8. Portoluce

When you’ve had a long career, your resume or CV may be extensive; if you need to pack in a high volume of text, Portoluce is one of the best serif fonts. This space-efficient option is designed specifically to be readable at the smallest font sizes, so reviewers can understand each detail on your resume.

Portoluce is a modern take on a traditional Roman design. The sharp corners and slight angles of the serifs give each letter a definitive edge. You might use this font when you need a Times New Roman alternative with a formal, progressive feeling.

9. Konnect

If you want to introduce a subtle hint of artistry into your resume without sacrificing readability, the Konnect font family is the ideal option. The base font is clean, with a large x-height and full letters. With 18 different weight options, it’s easy to find one that suits the amount of text on your resume.

What sets Konnect apart is the included options. The family comes with a range of swashes, discretionary ligatures, and stylistic alternatives — you can use them to change the visual impact of your resume while maintaining a consistent aesthetic. The alternate lowercase “a,” in particular, is an interesting opportunity to add a more traditional twist to this modern font. Or, swap in a decorative swash for the first letter of your name; the sweeping curves make a striking impact.

10. Traditional & Exceptional

Traditional & Exceptional is a simple set of fonts. The standard font features slight imperfections and variations on the vertical strokes, creating a look that’s reminiscent of vintage book typesetting or precise hand-lettering. As a result, it feels traditional but not overly formal.

If you’re new to font selection, Traditional & Exceptional can make your life easier. It provides just two choices: standard and italic. The italic version features a gentle angle, so you can use it to create a visual hierarchy while ensuring that the words remain legible.

What Fonts to Use for a Resume: Free Options

If you don’t have room in the budget for a premium font, there are plenty of free options. Many of these fonts come with your computer; if not, you can download and install them quickly.

Perhaps the most famous free font is Times New Roman, which is the default serif font on many operating systems. Other free serif fonts include Georgia and Garamond. If you prefer the clean, contemporary look of sans-serif fonts, check out free options such as Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, and Calibri.

What Makes a Great Resume Font?

We’ve talked about readability and general style — but what else should you consider when you’re deciding what fonts to use for a resume?

To start, remember that a great resume font should align with your resume format to create a stronger first impression. If you’re leaning toward formal, executive-style resume templates, a restrained font with classic proportions can help you maintain a dignified aesthetic. When you’re designing a resume with modern formatting, feel free to shake things up with a font that defies convention.

Keep in mind that you’re not limited to a single typeface. By using different fonts for the body text and headings, you can enhance the structure and make the document easier to scan. You might pair serif and sans serif fonts or create contrast by using a heavier-weight version for the headers.

Before submitting your resume and job application, review your font to make sure it supports your professional goals. Ask yourself:

  • Is there enough space between lines and letters?
  • Is the resume font size big enough to read easily?
  • Does the heading font stand out when you scan the page?
  • If the resume includes underlining, are the words clear?
  • Does the font reflect your professional style and character?

Fonts to Avoid on Resumes

Design choices are highly subjective; they depend on your personal preferences. However, when your career is at stake, some fonts are best avoided:

  • Casual fonts: Stay away from options that are too playful; fonts such as Comic Sans can give off a childish vibe.
  • Polarizing fonts: Some fonts, such as Papyrus, tend to evoke strong positive or negative feelings. When you’re writing a resume and cover letter, it’s always better to stick to a more neutral option.
  • Script fonts: Script lettering is often overly ornamented, which makes it hard to read. Many versions also have delicate strokes that disappear when your resume is printed or copied.
  • Handwriting fonts: Fonts that replicate printing or cursive writing are far too informal and potentially illegible to use on a professional document.
  • Graphic fonts: When you use a font that includes graphics, icons, or cartoon-style letters, it’s hard for hiring managers to see you as a serious candidate.

Font choice might seem like an insignificant aspect of resume writing, especially when you’re overwhelmed by career advice, but it can have a big impact on how hiring managers perceive you as a candidate. By selecting a font that reflects your professional style and helps reviewers take in information effortlessly, you can set yourself up for success.

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