What’s the Best Resume Font, Size, and Format [2023]

In the professional setting, everything from your first application to a company represents you. One of the most scrutinized things for new applicants is their resumes. Of course, the focus is not only on the content written inside the resume itself, like previous accomplishments, personal skill breakdown, etc. Instead, recruiters also study the quality of the resume, like if it appears professional, well-formatted, clean, etc. In this article, we’ll explore what’s the best resume font, size, and format to use in 2023. 

Indeed, the resume’s appearance will also contribute to your potential hiring, so prepare it carefully. This post covers some suggestions- check out the options and frame yours accordingly. 

What is the Best Resume Font?

It is no question that the font of the content can create a type of theme for the document. While many font style options are available, some specific ones give off a professional appearance. Here are some of the top ones you should use. 

1. Lato 

Regarding high-quality font options for resume files, the Lato option is one of the default options available in many online builders. The font typeface looks chic but not overly like a cursive handwriting style. Instead, the characters look easily readable but slightly close-spaced when used in a text. 

The Lato font type is suitable for professionals to add a stylish appearance to their resume without making it seem too smooth. 

2. Arial 

In the professional sector, many people utilize this font type as their default style for resume building. The letters appear in block style with proper size variations between the capitalized and standard letter types.

3. Helvetica 

The characters in the Helvetica format have clean-cut, no-nonsense shaping, which assures easier reading comprehension for people seeing the document written in it. 

4. Calibri 

If you want to fill up your resume in one page with small but readable text within the framed area, Calibri is a suitable choice. This is because both the smaller and bigger text characters in this format are legible, giving off a warm appearance in terms of impact. 

5. Times New Roman 

Launched back in 1931, this type of serif typeface has not evolved heavily over the years, given the clear and readable nature of the font. 

6. Ubuntu 

The look of Ubuntu font type has a modern type of appearance with proper space between letters that assures easier readability. Even in smaller font sizes, the letters look legible and evenly sized. 

7. Bookman Old Style 

The different characters on these pages are evenly spaced, with old-fashioned markings on the letter edges that mimic ancient book text style. While it has an upright and blocky letter styling, this type of font gives off a classy appearance when used in resumes. 

8. Overpass

The Overpass font type was introduced in 2015 and is a relatively new style. The look of the typeface is properly spaced words that appear formal and sophisticated.  

9. Roboto 

The Roboto is one of the most commonly used fonts for professional documents, including resumes. The clear-cut and readable text style is normally noticeable in the Android smartphones’ default font text list. 

10. Cambria 

You can use the Cambria format in your digital resume if you plan to fit a lot of information into 1 page of the resume. The even character proportions and spacing in this typeface format make it possible to fit the text well in smaller font sizes. 

Resume Font Size

No matter what font you select from the above, the most common and ideal font size for resumes is 12. Larger fonts are ideal for the heading sections and emphasizing your name. But, it would be best if you keep it in 14. However, if you wish to add one more line but do not wish to go into a second page, you can keep your font size at 10.

Resume Size You Should Opt For 

The resume you provide to companies should include information about you and your qualifications. At the same time, you should keep the tone here short and to the point. However, it would help if you also highlighted your worth as a potential employee to them. 

Ideally, a resume should cover 1 page of content fully. If you have more information to add, extending the resume to 2 pages is suitable. Yet, if you are extending your content to fit 2 pages, format the content to cover information up to the last line on the second page. 

How to Layout Your Resume? 

You should add some elements to your resume and lay the content properly afterward. Moreover, it would be best to remember to keep your sentences and information concise and straightforward. 

As for what to add, here is a list to follow:

• Basic applicant information- This section includes personal details about the applicant, like the contact number, email ID, address, etc. 
• Work experience– Add information about past jobs, with company name/start and end date/role. 
• Education– Applicants mention their educational qualifications, like institute name, location, final scores/aggregate grade, etc. 
• Achievements– Additional achievements you made, like taking part in some competition, etc. 
• Skills– In this section, add information about your technical skills relevant to the type of job you are searching for. 
• Social links– Add other accounts for contact, like LinkedIn account information. 

Examples of Resume Layout

Without a doubt, a high-grade, well-designed resume can influence the recruiter’s decision to hire the person to some extent. So, it would be best if you focused on adjusting the formatting in your resume application, centering on aspects like font style, placement, margin size, etc. 

Here are some layouts you can utilize to prepare a scannable, well-structured, and legible document. 

1. Functional Resume Format 

This type of resume layout pulls more priority into highlighting the skills section, not the experience. Plus, a big portion of the resume page showcases the person’s educational qualifications, with the work experience at the last position. 

Important elements here include:

• Resume objective 
• Contact information
• Skills summary 
• Professional title 
• Additional skills 
• Education 
• Work experience 

The purpose of the functional type of resume is to showcase a person’s potential instead of achievements. Certainly, this is suitable for people just starting out in the job search field, like university graduates.

2. Chronological Resume Format

This type of resume layout prioritizes work experience, typically listed reverse-chronologically. The most recent professional position is added to the top of the listing and is a traditionally used resume format version. 
Important elements here include:

• Contact details 
• Summary of application 
• Professional experience 
• Relevant skills 
• Education 
• Extra information, special interests, or volunteer projects 

This format is suitable for more professionally-experienced applicants who have maintained a consistent inclining path in their careers. Moreover, suppose the applicant wants to apply for a job in the field they have continuously worked in. In that case, this resume format is useful for highlighting one’s proficiency and experience in the career.

3. Combination Resume Format 

The combination resume format is a mixture of the structural elements commonly seen in the previously mentioned format styles. To specify, applicants must highlight their professional skills and work experience equally. 

Important elements here include:

• Contact data 
• Summary of skill types 
• Additional Skills 
• Education 
• Work experience 

Those who have worked before but do not have multiple changes in their career (like a department-to-department promotion or shifting to another office) can utilize this style. People who have worked in the field for less than 3 years can use this version to showcase their skill set and experience in equal balance. 

Moreover, graduates can use this after gaining basic volunteer or internship positions can utilize this format.

How to Make Your Resume Quickly?

Now that you know what to add to the resume, you can prepare one. However, opening a document, formatting all the elements necessary for the perfect resume, and then filling up relevant information will take a long time. 

Comparatively, it would help if you tried a reliable tool like GFG Resume Builder to prepare your resume quickly and without errors. The online tool comes preset with the necessary elements that a resume should detail, like standard information about the applicant, work experience, etc. 

Indeed, you will get available templates in the resume builder that you can use as the base option and download for free. As for data protection, this online tool assures that as well, as it does not store user information in the servers. So, no one else can access and save whatever data you add to the resume, like address and personal information. 

Best Resume Formatting Tips

The primary goal of your resume is to showcase your skills and experience. Hence, it is crucial to keep tips and tricks in mind to grab the attention of employers. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

• It is best to keep your resume on one page using a small font like 10 or 12.
• Never set your margin to less than 0.5 line spacing.
• Be mindful of the formatting and save the resume in PDF to keep your formatting and fonts intact. 
• Be precise by providing brief information in each section in sentences or bullets.
• Keep your resume as simple as possible, and use easy-to-read fonts.
• You can use underlines in the resume to keep it organized and clean.
• Keep your font color black. But you can use a different color in the headings to differentiate them from the main text. 

Conclusion

Indeed, planning the font, resume size, and overall structure of the content well will help you create visually appealing forms with legible content. Use the right tool to build a suitable resume with preset templates, and customize it as necessary. Additionally, select a professional and simple font that will be easy to read. Consider using typographical emphasis such as italics, all capitals, or bold to offer visual interest.