Why you shouldn't use Times New Roman as a resume font

When you open up a Word document to start writing your resume, your software will probably default to Times New Roman or another very standard font. And, since that's the font you used all through high school and college to type up your term papers, you might think it’s a safe bet to use on your resume -- after all, your teachers seemed to like it, right? But on your resume, Times New Roman really isn’t a good choice. For one, it makes you look lazy -- if you couldn’t take the time to select a more interesting font, how do you expect to convince a hiring manager that you’d show attention to detail in other aspects of your work? Secondly, it’s boring. Although your resume must be concise and to the point, it doesn’t need to look like a college essay. Plus, so many people use Times New Roman as a resume font, you risk having your resume get lost in the pile.

A great font can make your resume pop, and the best strategy is to find one that fits your personality. Don’t pick something that’s completely wacky and off the wall, but spend some time trying out different fonts until one stands out to you. Make sure you select something that’s clean and easy to read -- an unreadable resume is much worse than a boring one. We’re fans of sans-serif fonts, but if you prefer serif, there are plenty of non-Times New Roman options to choose from. With so many cool fonts available, there’s no excuse for having a boring resume!

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--Angela Silak & Cindy Kaplan