Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
CalibriSans serif · body 10.5–12 pt
Most industriesDefault in Word
Preview uses Carlito, a metric-compatible open version
Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
Arial / HelveticaSans serif · body 10–11.5 pt
TechOperations
Preview uses Arimo, a metric-compatible open version
Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
GaramondSerif · body 11–12.5 pt
LawAcademiaPublishing
Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
GeorgiaSerif · body 10.5–12 pt
FinanceConsulting
Preview uses Gelasio, a metric-compatible open version
Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
CambriaSerif · body 10.5–12 pt
HealthcareGovernment
Preview uses Caladea, a metric-compatible open version
Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
LatoSans serif · body 10–11.5 pt
MarketingStartups
Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
RobotoSans serif · body 10–11.5 pt
EngineeringProduct
Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
Source SansSans serif · body 10.5–12 pt
DesignData
Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
MerriweatherSerif · body 10–11 pt
EducationNonprofit
Jordan Rivera
Senior Product Analyst
Led a pricing review across 14 markets that lifted gross margin 3.2 points in two quarters. Built the weekly KPI report used by 40+ managers.
Times New RomanSerif · body 11–12 pt
Very traditional fields only
Preview uses Tinos, a metric-compatible open version
Quick answer
If you don't want to think about it, use Calibri or Arial for a modern look, or Garamond or Georgia for a traditional one. Set body text at 11 pt, headings at 13 pt and your name at 18 pt, with margins between 0.5 and 1 inch.
Recommended sizes
| Element | Size | Weight |
|---|
| Your name | 14–20 pt | Bold |
| Section headings | 12–14 pt | Bold or small caps |
| Job titles and employers | Same as body | Bold |
| Body text and bullets | 10–12 pt | Regular |
| Dates and locations | 9–11 pt | Regular or italic |
Serif or sans serif?
Serif fonts (Garamond, Georgia, Cambria) have small strokes at the ends of letters. They feel established and suit law, finance, academia and government. Sans serif fonts (Calibri, Arial, Lato, Roboto) are cleaner and suit tech, marketing, design and startups. Both read well. Consistency matters more than the choice.
Pairing two fonts
One font is enough for most resumes. If you want contrast, use a serif for your name and headings and a sans serif for the body, for example Georgia with Calibri, or Merriweather with Source Sans. Never use more than two.
Keep it readable by applicant tracking systems
- Use a standard font that's installed on most computers, or export to PDF so the font is embedded.
- Don't use copy-and-paste "fancy" fonts or symbols in your name, titles or headings. Tracking systems read them as unrelated characters.
- Avoid text in images, text boxes or headers and footers. Some systems skip them.
- Use plain round bullets (•) and standard section names like "Experience" and "Education".
Fonts to avoidComic Sans, Papyrus, script fonts and anything condensed or ultra-light. They're hard to read at 11 pt and come across as unprofessional in most fields.
Questions
What is the best font for a resume?
Calibri, Arial, Garamond and Georgia are the safest choices: easy to read, installed on almost every computer, and read correctly by applicant tracking systems. Pick a serif like Garamond for traditional fields and a sans serif like Calibri or Lato for tech and business.
What font size should a resume be?
Use 10–12 pt for body text, 12–14 pt for section headings and 14–20 pt for your name. Fonts with small letters, like Garamond, need the upper end of the range.
Is Times New Roman bad for a resume?
It isn't wrong, but it can look dated, and at 10 pt it's small and dense. Georgia or Garamond give a similar traditional feel and read more comfortably.
Can I use fancy copy-and-paste fonts on my resume?
No. Unicode styled letters look like random symbols to applicant tracking systems, so your name or job titles may not be read at all. Use a real font from your editor's font menu.