Well-chosen fonts for a CV are important in all contexts, from brands to CVs. They not only enhance readability to a great extent, but they also help in building the writer’s personality. Furthermore, different font styles, sizes, and weights can guide the reader’s eye and emphasize key information.
Therefore, the next time you are writing a CV, remember that professional fonts are essential for creating the right mood and atmosphere. To assist you, here is a comprehensive blog guide on how, when, and which typefaces to use in corporate communications.
The Most Readable Fonts for a CV in 2025
While writing the resume, the choice of an appropriate typeface may initially seem irrelevant or minor. However, the reality is quite the opposite, where these seemingly negligible details deserve the utmost attention.
They are essential because they guide the reader about the order in which they should read a ProfessionalCV. More importantly, type styles can also have major control over how long it takes for an individual to read the entire document. Simply put –
- Formal and professional typeface = quicker skimming
- Unprofessional or fancy fonts = difficulty in understanding
So, What’s the Solution? Let’s Find Out
For a very long time, it has been known to the industry that fonts matter, and thus, the regular practices led to setting a few standards for everything where typefaces are used, such as branding, print media, digital applications, art, design, and obviously CV writing.
According to the observations, there are no experts or industry thought leaders who set the standard font for CVs. However, a few typefaces have surely become widely accepted criteria, such as:
- Arial
- Book Antiqua
- Calibri
- Cambria
- Garamond
- Georgia
- H𝖾𝗅𝗏𝖾𝗍𝗂𝖼𝖺
- Times New Roman
- Trebuchet MS
Now, to make the differences more evident, we are about to use the suggested format of a good CV below as an example of how a resume would look with two best fonts of a CV that are poles apart.
The First One in Georgia Typeface
Fanny Bill
(210) 345-3214
ABC Main Street, New York City, NY
Education:
May 2020 – Jun 2024 | Cornell University
Jan 2017 – Dec 2019 | Xavier High School
Experiences:
Aug 2024 – Present | Associate Professor at Cornell University, Sociology Department
- Responsible for weekly lectures on social behaviors.
- Designed and implemented a change in the course curriculum.
- Organized a field trip to the Tenement Museum.
Now, The Same Resume, BUT in Freestyle Script
Fanny Bill
(210) 345-3214
ABC Main Street, New York City, NY
Education:
May 2020 – Jun 2024 | Cornell University
Jan 2017 – Dec 2019 | Xavier High School
Experiences:
Aug 2024 – Present | Associate Professor at Cornell University, Sociology Department
- Responsible for weekly lectures on social behaviors.
- Designed and implemented a change in the course curriculum.
- Organized a field trip to the tenement museum.
Can you see the difference it makes by choosing various other types of font styles? We hope you do.
The Frequently Asked Questions of an Applicant
Q. Does font matter in a resume?
Yes, the typefaces play a major role in the impression a resume delivers. This means every font is unique and can create a different impact on the reader’s mind. Moreover, it affects readability more than you can imagine.
Q. Is Calibri better than Arial?
Honestly speaking, there is no sure-shot answer to whether Calibri is better than Arial or vice versa. They are both popular sans-serif fonts with different strengths and weaknesses. However, in general, the Calibri is considered a more modern and rounded design. The Arial is simpler with straight lines.
Q. What font looks more professional?
There are many fonts that look professional, but the most trusted ones are Arial, Helvetica, Calibri, Times New Roman, and Garamond. They are widely considered acceptable because of how elegant, simple, and readable they are.
Q. Is Arial ATS-friendly?
Yes, it is generally considered an ATS-friendly font because of its clean, sans-serif style and universal availability. Moreover, it is easy for the Applicant Tracking System to read, understand, and analyze this type of style. As a result, your chances of selection increase by a drastic 50%.
The Summary of Which Fonts to Use in a CV
You will only be hired when the employer can comprehend the formal document you sent their way. However, if that document is beyond their understanding due to poor format, typos, and imperfect font choice, then your chances of getting hired are reduced to almost zero.
Therefore, to save yourself from hurting your future opportunities, you need to focus on the typefaces also. The trick is simple. We have mentioned nine fonts of a CV in the style names in the blog above. You just have to pick one of them and proceed with writing your employment record using it. Then, send it to the employer and confidently wait for a call back from them.