Font Faux Pas

I guess some people get all riled up over a font. Who knew?

The other day a friend of mine was explaining to me that she had just finished helping her youngest son compose and print off his resumé. After showing it to one of her other sons, she discovered that she had, apparently, made a big mistake! A major “font faux pas”! She used comic sans as the font of choice. Such an embarrassment!

Well as it turns out he was right. The fonts most commonly recommended for resumes are Arial, and Times New Roman. Calibri, Bookman Old Style and Century are also mentioned. These fonts are best for resumés because they are simple and easy to read. Comic Sans, as the name suggests, was a font that was originally designed for use inside the word bubbles of comic strips. So, you can see why, if you want someone to take you seriously, it would not be appropriate for your resumé.

Font choosing or typography is a big deal. And a complicated one. The more you learn about the choices available and the design elements involved the more you will question your ability to create that yard sale sign or Christmas newsletter. Ignorance is perhaps best. Just choose something cute and be done with it.

Or .... if you do want to have some savvy in this area, there is a font of knowledge available (notably the websites below). The most important tip that I have found is that fonts are often compared to a wardrobe or a closet of clothes. They contain outfits that are appropriate for some occasions but completely wrong for others. So if you can make the right match you’ve got it made!

What Font Should I Use?

5 Must Have Fonts