Fonts

With the advent of computer software and PCs, everyone now has the capability of desktop publishing, complete with fancy fonts.

However, with these innovations come problems, especially if you’re sending your resume via email (as an attachment) to a prospective employer.

Generally speaking, only classic fonts such as Times New Roman and Arial are universal on PCs.  Designer fonts like BlackAdder II, Broadway, Mistral, and Stencil must be purchased or downloaded from free font sites on the Internet.  Because of this, a resume created using BlackAdder II might look great on your computer, but once it’s transmitted to the employer’s computer, another font will likely be substituted.  What does that substitution do?  Well, for one, it throws off formatting, potentially stretching your perfect one-page resume onto two or more pages, because fonts differ in height, depth, and the amount of spacing between characters.  And while BlackAdder II is a rather elegant, stylish font, the one the computer will substitute may very well be bulky and, quite frankly, ugly.

Therefore, if you’re going to be sending your resume as an attachment to numerous employers, it’s always best to use Times New Roman or Arial.  That way, you know your formatting and the overall look of the resume will remain true.

Bullets

Like designer fonts, designer bullets add flair to a resume.  And like those fonts, designer bullets are not universal on all PCs.  So if you choose one that’s a check mark, a small arrow, a five-pointed star, or anything other than the universal round bullet, those dynamite designs may very well turn up as question marks or numerals on the hiring manager’s computer.

Remember, the best time to use designer fonts and bullets is when you’re “snail” mailing your resume to an employer or handing it to them in person -- that is, when you have a hard copy of your resume for distribution.  For those resumes being sent as attachments, it’s best to go with traditional fonts and bullets.

Templates