Recruiters Reveal the 7 Best Fonts for Your Resume in 2020

Studies have shown that recruiters typically only scan a resume for around six seconds before deciding whether an applicant is suitable for a role.

With just six seconds to demonstrate your qualifications for a position, every detail counts. To create a sense of style, professionalism, and uniqueness, it is important that you take care and consideration when choosing your font.

But which fonts pass the six second resume scan besides Times New Roman? Also, what fonts should you avoid to make sure your typeface doesn’t distract the recruiter from the content itself?

Here we asked HubSpot recruiters to indicate the seven best fonts for your resume in 2019, as well as the things they consider when it comes to design in general, so that your resume can stand out in the stack.

Speaking to recruiters, it quickly became clear that classic fonts are still the best options. When in doubt, you want to make your resume as clear and concise as possible, even if it means giving up your preferred font.

For example, Johanna Fleming, a recruiter at HubSpot, told me, “I’m a huge fan of the resume classics – Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, and Cambria. I’m a bit old school, but I think they are the cleanest and exude professionalism. “

Additionally to the question of which font size is best, said Johanna, “12 is ideal – no less than 10.5.”

Riley Kundtz, MBA Campus Recruiter at HubSpot, commented: “I find the classic formatting and Times font helpful when reading a tight résumé of an experienced MBA candidate.”

Another HubSpot recruiter, Rich Lapham, agreed and said, “Me would stick with the classics like Times New Roman or Arial. My personal recommendation would be Garamond – I think it makes it look so much more professional. Recruiters have an idea of ​​the skills they are looking for on a resume. So when you’re trying a new style or format, it can be more difficult for recruiters to find the information they’re looking for. Keep it clean and simple. ”

Holly Peterson, Senior Recruiter at HubSpot, also supports more traditional fonts: “I like Arial, Tahoma, and you can’t go wrong with Times New Roman! Anything that is italic (or too bubbly) is too difficult to read, for example would.” I stay away from Comic Sans. “

Despite the preference for Times New Roman by some of the recruiters I’ve spoken to, not all recruiters prefer it. For example, Glory Montes, Associate Campus Recruiter at HubSpot told me, “For me, it’s all about legibility and cleanliness. This means that I prefer sans-serif fonts like Helvetica to sans-serif fonts like Times New Roman. Overall, I’d just stay.” away from a font like Times New Roman. It’s overused and reminds me of long nights of writing coursework in college. “

Ultimately, you should consider the position you are applying for when choosing a font. In Glory’s view, certain more creative roles could benefit from a more unique font than Times New Roman.

Paulina Valdez Franco, Senior Recruiter at HubSpot, also supports fonts other than Times New Roman. She mentioned: “My two favorite fonts for 2019 are Helvetica if you’re looking for a clean and classic look and Georgia if you’re looking for a more modern and fun look. The latter is also designed to be easy to read on screens. “

Paulina also added, “Arial and Calibri are good choices if you want to be on the safe side.”

Bridget LeMon, a recruiter for HubSpot’s tech campus, agrees that “It is perfectly acceptable (and increasingly common) for candidates to stray from the Times New Roman and Calibri resume norms. Avenir Next and Muna are two great options when.” It’s you looking to break the status quo. ”

It’s important to note, however, that most of the recruiters I’ve spoken to have been reluctant to offer a font at all.

For example, Heta Patel, a HubSpot recruiter, said, “I usually don’t pay too much attention to fonts. I’m more concerned about whether the resume is properly formatted. Submitting a PDF helps with that.” So your formatting does not change. “

HubSpot Sales Recruiter Kelsey Freedman agreed, “Honestly, I don’t really care about the resume font as long as it’s clear and in PDF format. I usually only review a resume for 20-30 seconds. A traditional font is so good. I’d recommend using script or bubble fonts or something like that to distract. “

Ultimately, and as expected, your content still matters most – however, having a clean, crisp font will help avoid any irritability you might cause to a recruiter with a distracting, messy design.

Ashley Hodder, a technical recruiter at HubSpot, endorsed that idea: “I think a resume shouldn’t have a distracting font and be easy to read. [But] What excites me the most is the content. Depending on the role, I see candidates share direct and compelling snapshots of their work. I’m looking for indicators that show data orientation, autonomy, and consideration for the business impact. “

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in November 2018 and has been updated for completeness.