Resumé Writing: Helvetica Is The Best Font To Write Resumés

Resumé writing is best done with a thoughtfully selected font, such as, Helvetica, according to Bloomberg Business. Equating Times New Roman to a comfortable pair of worn sweatpants, Kitroeff explains that Helvetica is a classy and functional typeface that shows some thought went into the presentation of a resumé. Fonts have become important in writing, and the logic is that a 12-point Times New Roman font is standard for a student paper. Using something different shows a bit of individuality and decision-making when writing a resumé.

Brian Hoff, creative director of Brian Hoff Design, explains the issue.

“Helvetica is so no-fuss, it doesn’t really lean in one direction or another. It feels professional, lighthearted, honest. Helvetica is safe. Maybe that’s why it’s more business-y.”

“Business-y” is crucial when applying for a job and writing an effective resumé. It doesn’t really matter what industry a job applicants wants either, since so many resumés end up on the desk of someone in human resources.

Proxima Nova is another “cousin” of Helvetica, while Comic Sans is the general example for silly writing and not appropriate for resumés.

“It (Comic Sans) should not be on your résumé unless you are applying to clown college,” says Hoff.

Courier, another classic in the font world, is also an outdated choice. Its appearance as a typewritten expression makes it a poor choice for today’s modern resumé writing. Using a computer to make something look decades old is simply not professionally ideal.

Helvetica is ideal when writing a resumé, because it is easy to read and carries no flowery designs. It also holds a good size that is similar to Times New Roman, which means that resumé writing can still fit pages nicely. Most importantly, it is different enough to standout from the sea of Time New Roman resumés. That’s the key.

(Photo courtesy of Sawayasu Tsuji/Getty Images/ Bloomberg Business)