Over 99% of recruiters use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter candidates. Your font choice is not about taste. It is the difference between getting seen and getting silently filtered out. Preview any font against a real resume, then copy the one that works.
Put these insights to work. Create a professionally designed, ATS-optimized resume in minutes.
Recruiters spend just 6 to 8 seconds on a resume during their first review. You have very little time to make an impression, so your font becomes your silent ambassador of professionalism. Your resume must first get past Applicant Tracking Systems before a human sees it, and ATS parsers can be picky about text recognition. Uncommon or decorative fonts risk being converted incorrectly.
Readability is the lifeblood of an effective resume font. Hiring managers skim through hundreds of applications at a time. Your font should help them scan easily instead of forcing careful reading. Stick to faces designed for sustained reading at small sizes, and avoid novelty weights or condensed styles for body copy.
Serif fonts have small lines or strokes (called 'serifs') at the ends of letters. These decorative touches give text a formal, traditional, and professional look.
Sans serif fonts don't have decorative strokes and look cleaner and simpler. They show simplicity, clarity, and modern style.
Sans serif is usually the safer bet for modern job applications. Recruiters read on screens first, ATS parsers handle them better, and the look matches how most companies present themselves today.
Microsoft made Calibri its default font in 2007, and it has become a gold standard in business. This modern sans-serif typeface has clean lines and rounded edges that give it a warm, professional look. Perfect for law, finance, healthcare, and business roles.
Arial keeps its position as one of the most used sans-serif fonts with its clean, modern look and even character widths. The simple design reads well both digitally and in print. Perfect for tech, marketing, business, and finance.
Times New Roman may not be as popular as it once was, but this classic serif font still holds its ground. The Times newspaper commissioned it in 1931, and now it serves candidates in traditional industries well.
Georgia came to life in 1993 just for digital displays. This serif typeface has a slightly larger x-height and stays clear at any resolution. Many people say it feels friendlier and more personal than Times New Roman.
Garamond brings 16th-century elegance to modern resumes. This serif typeface's delicate details make it perfect for academic positions. You can fit more information on your resume with Garamond because it uses space well.
Google's flagship font Roboto offers excellent readability with its friendly, open curves. This modern sans-serif is widely used across the web and mobile apps, making it instantly recognizable and professional.
Open Sans is a humanist sans-serif with excellent legibility. Its neutral yet friendly appearance makes it perfect for resumes across all industries. It's optimized for print, web, and mobile interfaces.
Lato combines serious and warm qualities with semi-rounded details that give it a feeling of harmony. This versatile sans-serif works beautifully at any size and is highly readable on screens.
Merriweather was designed specifically for screen readability. This elegant serif font has strong letterforms that remain clear even at small sizes, perfect for detailed resume content.
Inspired by urban typography, Montserrat offers a clean geometric look that feels both modern and professional. It's particularly popular in creative and tech industries.
Styling should highlight key information without overwhelming readers. Bold formatting works best for section headings, your name, and job titles. Italics can emphasize specific details. Avoid underlining as it can cause ATS parsing issues. Standard capitalization (not all caps) works best.
Classic fonts that show credibility are everything in traditional sectors like law, finance, and corporate environments. Times New Roman remains prominent in legal circles, with Cambria and Georgia as formal yet modern alternatives. Some courts even specify acceptable fonts for legal documents.
Clean sans-serif options dominate tech and business environments where professionalism meets readability. Calibri has become the corporate gold standard because of its simple yet authoritative look. Roboto and Inter create a polished, modern technical feel.
Creative fields welcome more typographic personality. Montserrat and Poppins offer modern geometric looks popular with designers. Garamond brings elegant serifs that work well in marketing materials.
Clean, modern fonts that work well on screens and are highly ATS-friendly. Sans serif fonts usually have wider shapes and consistent design that makes them easy to read even in small sizes.
Classic, traditional fonts that convey professionalism and authority. Serif fonts have small decorative strokes at the ends of letters, giving text a formal, traditional look.
This range ensures readability while fitting enough content on the page. Text smaller than 10pt becomes hard to scan.
Mixing fonts can look unprofessional. Use bold and italic for variation instead. This attention to detail shows potential employers your professional approach.
Stick to common fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia that ATS systems can easily read. Uncommon fonts might make your resume display as 'tofu' - blank boxes.
Creative fields can use more unique fonts; conservative industries like law and finance prefer traditional choices like Times New Roman or Georgia.
Your resume will likely be read on a computer first. Choose fonts that render well digitally. Sans serif fonts often have an edge for electronic submission.
Comic Sans, script styles, and decorative fonts are never appropriate for resumes. They look unprofessional and often cause ATS parsing errors.
Using the same font across all application materials creates a professional, cohesive look that shows attention to detail.
Some fonts look different when printed. Always do a test print before submitting if you're handing in a physical copy.
All of these fonts are already wired into the Careerkit editor. Switch between them mid-draft without losing a single line of content.
