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These Are The Best & Worst Fonts To Use On Your Résumé

Photographed by Jessica Nash.
Your résumé and initial email correspondence are the two pieces of information hiring managers consider before setting up an interview, and so you need to make a good first impression. There are lots of tips on proper email etiquette and what to include on your résumé, but Bloomberg Business took things one step further and consulted three typography experts on the perfect font. Their favorite is a design-world classic: the simple, sans-serif font Helvetica. (For those not familiar with the design terms, serif fonts have a small stroke at the bottom of each letter, while sans-serif fonts do not). Of course, Comic Sans has long been the unloved child of the font world. It's constantly mocked for being tacky and totally uncool. Using it on your résumé is tantamount to showing up for a job interview in a clown costume. Obviously, that's not your intention — unless you're interviewing for the circus (in which case, we want to hear that story!). On the other hand, all three experts argue that Helvetica is both beautiful and professional. Brian Hoff, creative director of Brian Hoff Design, argued that Times New Roman should never be used — as it sends the message that you're not considering the look of your résumé at all. He compares it to wearing sweatpants to an interview. If you're looking for something a little more formal, the designers suggest Garamond or Didot. And, what about emoji? Matt Luckhurst, the creative director at the brand consultancy Collins, expressed his support of the beloved characters. While it would be mighty impressive if you created your entire résumé out of emoji, that's not necessarily a skill that will nab you a job. Save those talents for showing off in a group text, or sending cryptic messages to your mom. (Bloomberg Business)

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