Resume Font Size

sondra_finchley · #1 12-05-2006, 12:42 AM

Ive heard varying reports on this- currently I have it in 10 pt and Times New Roman, I just tried to change it to 11 pt and it killed all my formatting (obviously) but its slightly easier to read. I hate having to reformat and the 11pt makes me feel like everything is hanging out there (not that there are any lies or truth-stretching, but I have a hard time tooting my own horn).

Any opinions?

wordsmith · #2 12-05-2006, 12:44 AM

I actually knocked mine down to 10pt. (the template I use had it automatically at 12 pt., I think), to keep it the length I wanted.

ya never know.. · #3 12-05-2006, 01:26 AM

I always put mine in either arial or tahoma, I'm not a fan of plain old times new roman. And normally it's either 11 or 12, I think.

#4 12-05-2006, 01:43 AM

Mine is 12 pt. I like big type because it's easy for people to read. I also use arial.

I think 10 pt. is fine though, as long as it doesn't look too cluttered and it's formatted well.

Xander · #5 12-05-2006, 01:47 AM

I use 9 with Arial for general text, 10 bold for headers, and 9 bold italics for sub-headers... It's easy enough to read.

#6 12-05-2006, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xander

I use 9 with Arial for general text, 10 bold for headers, and 9 bold italics for sub-headers... It's easy enough to read.

9 pt. bold italics does NOT sound easy to read.

Xander · #7 12-05-2006, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitty

9 pt. bold italics does NOT sound easy to read.

It is.

MrNCG23 · #8 12-05-2006, 03:02 AM

12 pt. for things you want to emphasize, 10 pt. for bullets.
Larger fonts for distinct info like Name, Address, Contact, etc.

sondra_finchley · #9 12-05-2006, 10:10 AM

I put it into 11 and the formatting all went to hell- Ive got two text boxes on the side (seperated by a line from the other text) and the Language text box went into the great beyond, never to return. Now Im having difficulty replacing the damn thing. The 11 looks good- Ill try putting it into Arial or Tahoma (which I do like as well) as Im also not typically a TNR user, but over the years this thing has just evolved and I never changed font preference, even though I did for all other written work.

Anyone else stumble across old resumes from time to time and kinda laugh at how amature they look?

MollyM · #10 12-05-2006, 11:16 AM

Mine is Arial 12. It looks good. I will probably make it Arial 11 next time I add some stuff to it. I really try to keep the amount of text down as much as possible to what is truly important. Computer knowledge and software knowledge is assumed where I work. I'll put more specific details in the cover letter if the job requires CAD knowledge or something like that.

My sister did small font and small margins on one of her resumes. It just looked like a lot of text.

cache · #11 12-05-2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sondra_finchley

Anyone else stumble across old resumes from time to time and kinda laugh at how amature they look?

Just like paycheck stubs, which I have one of from every job I have worked, I keep one copy of my resume of each version I have done. It is funny to go back and read the 16y.o. version that was done on a word processor "I am a motivated self starter whose mom wrote this purpose statement for him"...wait, I don't think I actually put that last part in there

My attempts at glamourizing my McDonalds duties on the resume are funny:. "Resolved customer service issues to the satisfaction of the customer and the company" Translation: I gave pissed off people an extra apple pie.

weary · #12 12-05-2006, 11:32 AM

10 pt times new roman is not great when there's a lot to read. remember that whomever you are submitting your resume me to is reading A LOT of other resumes too. it's not really fair, but when one has to read a lot of resumes, it stops just being just about the buzz words and experience. if it's hard on the eyes, disorganized or a bunch of long paragraphs (as opposed to short phrases and/or bullets), it is more likely to be skimmed or put in the "read later" pile...just because it looks too busy/messy.

i would suggest 11 or 12 pt for times new roman for any resume over 1 page long. if it's arial, tahoma, veranda or something like those (larger, rounder) fonts, i think 10 pt is o-k. definitely bold, underline, or capitalize (all caps) titles, sections, etc.

yankeeyosh · #13 12-05-2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cache

Just like paycheck stubs, which I have one of from every job I have worked, I keep one copy of my resume of each version I have done. It is funny to go back and read the 16y.o. version that was done on a word processor "I am a motivated self starter whose mom wrote this purpose statement for him"...wait, I don't think I actually put that last part in there

My attempts at glamourizing my McDonalds duties on the resume are funny:. "Resolved customer service issues to the satisfaction of the customer and the company" Translation: I gave pissed off people an extra apple pie.

Why did you need a resume at 16? I don't recall doing one till I was 19, and I think I was ahead of the curve even then. But considering this is the generation that does internships in high school, maybe not...

wordsmith · #14 12-05-2006, 11:40 AM

I didn't need a resume till I was 23.

weary · #15 12-05-2006, 11:51 AM

i've had a resume since i was 15.

WOW....just saying that makes me feel old. that's 1/2 my life.