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Create ResumeBest CV fonts are more than aesthetic choices — they determine how reliably your CV is parsed by ATS and how quickly recruiters can scan your achievements. In 2026 hiring stacks, readability, spacing consistency, and character clarity impact both machine parsing accuracy and human perception.
This page explains which CV fonts actually work, why some fail, and how to choose the right one strategically.
Applicant Tracking Systems extract text character by character. Certain fonts introduce:
•Unusual character spacing – ATS misreads letters or concatenates words
• Nonstandard glyphs – Special characters distort keyword matches
• Inconsistent line breaks – Sections merge or lose hierarchy
ATS scoring models prefer:
•Standard character sets
• Linear text flow
• Predictable spacing between letters and words
Fonts that distort character codes can reduce keyword extraction accuracy — hurting match scores before recruiters ever see your CV.
Recruiters typically spend 6–8 seconds scanning a CV. Poor font choices increase cognitive load, causing:
•Misread numbers or metrics
• Misaligned bullets
• Reduced clarity between roles, responsibilities, and outcomes
Fonts that increase scanning friction decrease perceived professionalism and reduce interview invitations.
A reliable CV font must:
•Be ATS-friendly — Extracts cleanly and accurately
• Be easily readable — Particularly at 10–12 pt
• Maintain consistent spacing across platforms
• Avoid decorative glyphs that interfere with parsing
•Arial – Highly legible; excellent ATS results
• Calibri – Default modern choice with spacing clarity
• Times New Roman – Conservative but highly machine‑readable
• Georgia – Professional serif with good line flow
• Verdana – Wide spacing, great for digital viewing
These fonts strike the right balance between ATS extraction and recruiter readability.
Preferred when:
•ATS extraction accuracy matters most
• Recruiter wants clean, modern appearance
• Target role is corporate or technical
Recommended: Arial, Calibri, Verdana
Preferred when:
•Roles favor classic presentation
• Printed review is expected
• Subtle formality is asset
Recommended: Times New Roman, Georgia
•Comic Sans
• Brush Script
• Lobster
• Any fonts with unusual glyphs
These break ATS parsing and increase visual noise.
•Reduce readability
• Cause character distortion in ATS extraction
• Compress numbers and keywords — lowering recognition
•Name/Header: 14–16 pt
• Section Headings: 12–14 pt
• Body Text: 10–12 pt
Too small: Hard to read
Too large: Reduces content density (bad for ATS)
•Use 1.0–1.15 line spacing for clarity
• Avoid excessive spacing — breaks content continuity
• Stick to left alignment — justified text can introduce parsing errors
ATS systems treat justified formatting unpredictably, often merging lines that should remain distinct.
Your CV may be opened in:
•Windows Word processors
• Google Docs
• PDF viewers on Mac
• Cloud‑based ATS previewers
Standard fonts ensure consistent rendering across platforms — preserving layout and extractability.
In 2026 pipelines:
•ATS algorithms increasingly weigh text extraction confidence
• Recruiters reject resumes with mangled bullets or misread metrics
• Font choice can subtly alter whether your key achievements are recognized at all
This means font has an impact beyond aesthetics — it influences scoring.
Use ATS-optimised Resume and resume templates that pass applicant tracking systems. Our Resume builder helps recruiters read, scan, and shortlist your Resume faster.
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