Resume Font Size: Ensuring Readability and Professionalism
Published on August 7th, 2024
Your resume is your first impression on a potential employer, so it's important to make it as visually appealing as possible. One key factor is font size. Choosing the right font size and resume templates can help your resume/CV stand out and be easy to read.
Thumb Rule
The general rule of thumb with font size is that 10 to 12 points is always the best starting point. Since not all fonts are created equal, this may change very well.
Let's check out a few common fonts and their recommended sizes:
- Arial: clean sans serif displays best at 11 point size.
- Times New Roman: It is classic, so 12 points should be the ideal size.
- Calibri: This is a default MS Word; it reads well at 10.5 or 11 points
By following these tips, you will be able to make a professional job resume that looks great, too.
Various areas of your resume might need different font size to set it in an order of hierarchy.
- Headers: Bump up font size to larger size so the bumps pop around 14-16 points.
- Body Text: Stick to 10 to 12 points for easy reading.
- Footers: Same as body text unless you wish to do a special emphasis.
Extra Tips
Always remember, where are you going to see your resume.
- Print: Use standard sizes and points (10-12 is preferable) for legibility on paper.
- Digital: Ensure that the font size will be attractive on all mobile phones and tablets.
What to Avoid
- Overlarge: A body text size over 12 may give a unprofessional and scanty appearance.
- Too small: Fonts below 10 points may be hard to read, sending hiring managers away.
Finally, consider the font style and white space:
- Font Style: The style should be selected according to your industry and experience.
- White Space: Allow plenty of white space around blocks of text, this way, the information will be 'readable' but not cluttered.
Conclusion
Picking the ideal font size for your resume is a very important task, as you will want your document to both look great and be readable. Experiment with different font sizes and fonts until you find what works just right for you.
If needed, let HireQuotient's AI Resume Builder choose the best font size according to the industrial standards. It doesn't just tailor your resume to particular jobs; it does so in styles that make it a professionally designed one.
Authors
Thomas M. A.
A literature-lover by design and qualification, Thomas loves exploring different aspects of software and writing about the same.
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