The Impact of Font and Formatting on Resume Readability

When creating a resume, we are usually preoccupied with putting the correct information and details, and we tend to focus more on what to include in the work experience section and what not. The last thing on our mind is to choose the right font, but it is a make-or-break decision that we make without thought or intention.

Your resume could be outstanding by including marvelous work experience, qualifications, and skills, but if the formatting or the font size is not proper, all that information is of no use. Your resume should be written in such a way that even if the recruiter wants to skim through your data, they can get the full picture of your work.

You might not know, but font and formatting are given a lot of weightage by the recruiter when selecting the ideal candidate. When a recruiter receives a resume, the first thing they notice is the layout, if the layout’s good and easy to scan then they move forward. The second thing they notice is the font used in the resume, if the font looks readable, then only they will continue with the resume, or else it will simply be ignored by them.

For every position, recruiters get many resumes, they don’t have time to go through each resume thoroughly and check if that candidate is ideal for the position or not. While many large corporations use Applicant Tracking System (ATS), at the same time, many companies also use the six-second human screening process, in either case, you won’t have much time to impress the recruiter. Whatever type of screening process is used, you must be confident enough that your resume is designed and formatted in such a way that it would easily make you stand out from the crowd.

Choosing the Fonts for CV

Besides the content of your resume, the font used in it also holds a lot of value for the recruiter. As said earlier that a candidate only has a few seconds to impress the recruiter, so in order to convince the recruiter that you are the right candidate for the job, every second counts, and every detail matters. Fonts are used to evoke a sense of style, professionalism, and uniqueness in your text, and the right font can do wonders for you. Here are a few types of fonts that could be used for your resume:

Times New Roman

It is one of the most popular fonts that are used in every document, including resumes.
Advantage: It has a classic and professional look and it is the best choice for applicants targeting corporate positions.

Arial

It is a sans-serif font that has become quite popular because of its modern and minimalistic design.
Advantage: When their font sizes are low, at a certain point they are still readable. This makes it ideal for candidates trying to fit all the essential information in their resumes.

Georgia

It is a traditional serif font that is known for its elegant and classic look.
Advantage: It can be customized, which makes it a great option for applicants who like to add their personal touch.

Cambria

It has a classic design that features elegant serifs, which makes your resume look more professional.
Advantage: Its generous spacing between characters and lines makes the resume much easier to read and stand out from other fonts.

Helvetica

It is widely recognized in the design industry because of its clean, classic, and timeless look.
Advantage: It gives the resume a structured and a well-organized look, making it ideal for those in finance, law, and business management.

Choosing the Font Size For Resume

In today’s world, millions of resume templates are available over the internet, and those templates have the font size set by default. However, if you want to create a resume design from scratch, then you have to set the font size yourself. Whenever choosing a font size for a resume, try to keep it between 10-12pt for normal text and 14-16pt for section titles or headers. This font size is easier to read and whatever the font style is, the text will be clear to read. Once you have decided on the font size and the font type you need for your resume, you must stay consistent with it throughout the resume.

Formatting Your Resume

Once you have selected the best font type and font size, it’s time to properly format your resume.

Layout

For the layout, you need to keep a few things in mind:
Line spacing – The line spacing between text is advisable to be around 1.0 or 1.15. But you can change it accordingly.
Bullet points – Using bullet points makes your information easier to read. Limit them up to 6 points within each section.
Resume length – One page is more than enough. If you have 5+ years of experience then you can extend your resume to 2 to 3 pages.

Formatting the Sections Of CV

For a recruiter, an attractive resume is one where sections are listed correctly, which makes the entire content easier to read. The basic format that is generally followed is:
Contact Information – Start with the basics. Include your name, professional title, email address, contact information, and social media handles (if required or necessary).
Resume Summary – A resume summary is mainly a paragraph that sums up your previous jobs and qualifications in 50 words or even less.
Work Experience – Most HR consider this as the most important section. Make sure you list work experience that’s relevant to the position you have applied for.
Skills – A good skills section contains a good mix of hard and soft skills. Always tailor your skills according to the job description.
Education – When completing the education section, you must include:

• University name
• Major (s)
• Years attended
• GPA (Optional)
• Honors (Optional)
• Minor program (Optional)

Optional Sections – If you want to stand out of the crowd, you could also include the following in this section:

• Hobbies & interests
• Volunteering Experience
• Projects
• Languages
• Certifications & Awards
• Publications