Resume and Cover Letter fonts?

[JackFinn]

Tradition dictates the use of the ever-poular and standard 'safe' fonts. However, most people aren't angling for creative positions....

At the moment, I'm writing cover letters and resumes to try to propell myself into a full-time job in graphic design.
I don't want to be off-the-wall, but I am wondering what kind of suggestion you all have for fonts that have just a slightly different tone to them.

What are your thoughts?

Jack

[morea]

I like to keep it professional looking... nothing too wacky.

Remember, a lot of the time resumes are screened by corporate types as well as art directors. And corporate types, well, you know... ;)

[patkennedy78]

Do you have a identity created for yourself, like a logo and what not? If so keep in the same style. When I created my identity I picked a font with lots of weights and thicknesses. I used the standard Roman for body copy, and experimented with the rest to keep everything consistant.

If you don't have an identity, I'd stick with the more traditional looking fonts for your resume and cover letter. Any art director will see crazy or gimicky fonts as a sure sign of a noob with little or no typographic sense.

[Mynock]

Any relation to mac.FINN?

[patkennedy78]

Remember, a lot of the time resumes are screened by corporate types

Hey good point, I'm going to use comic sans for my resume, that way when the HR lady see it we'll have an instant bond.

"Oh my god, this guy loves comic sans just like I do, we need to hire him!" :rolleyes:

[morea]

there are some articles on "designertoday.com" that you might find helpful:

http://www.designertoday.com/Articles/3361/Creative.Resumes.An.Overview.aspx

http://www.designertoday.com/Articles/3444/Creative.Resumes.Considerations.aspx

http://designertoday.com/Articles/3535/Creative.Resumes.Information.to.include.in.your.re sume.aspx

[greyghost]

Hey good point, I'm going to use comic sans for my resume, that way when the HR lady see it we'll have an instant bond.

"Oh my god, this guy loves comic sans just like I do, we need to hire him!" :rolleyes:


ROFL!

Sad but too true :(

[budafist]

Yes, font choice is important to us. I'm not going to post what one I've used of course because then you might copy me, not that that our CV's would look anything alike just because of the font.

I've always gone with a semi serif. Serifs are nice for their readability and their business-like demeanor, but sans have a modern feel for them. So I pick a mix of both :D

[BJMRGTIVR6]

On the resume I had one font for my name and info (address, phone email) and the rest was bland Times New Roman or Garamond. This gave it some pop but not too much I thought.

Cover letter is all standard. And now the company I work for says they cannot accept anything but Word or uploaded resumes (which my boss, Art Director, hates)

[JackFinn]

Thank you for your responses,

After some research, I think I'm going to go out and buy linotype's Sabon font for my pdf and print resumes. It has a very subtle elegance and ease of reading. I'm still not quite sure about what I would use for a Word doc resume- maybe Minion, Garamond, or just Time NR.

As for mac.Finn, I dunno, I'm wondering if her name is a derivation of a last name, or her country of heritage....

Jack

[morea]

<cough> HIS </cough> ;)

[BJMRGTIVR6]

Sabon - that one is easy on the eyes. I used it for an Annual report a few months back.
I would almost say if you are going to send a Word doc that you shouldn't get too crazy and stick with TNR. not teh best font but then why would a company ask for Word and expect something better.

Just make sure to bring in several hard copies of your resume in teh font choice you like for them to keep.

[Six]

By all means be creative - that is the job you are applying for - but also be sure it is easy to read - professional. No one wants to wade through a lot of hard to read detail. Your portfolio is where you really need to shine. Your resume should remind them of how good it was (or might be) when they are plowing through a stack of fifty resumes late at night.

Six

[budafist]

If you're emailing Word files, keep in mind that things might move about!

I always design my CV in Indesign and email pdfs - if my employer that is a design company can't open pdfs, that's a problem.

[jlknauff]

Save the creativity for your portfolio.

[Six]

Here is one person's take on the subject.

Part 1
http://www.designertoday.com/Articles/3361/Creative.Resumes.An.Overview.aspx

Part 2
http://www.designertoday.com/Articles/3444/Creative.Resumes.Considerations.aspx

Part 3
http://www.designertoday.com/Articles/3535/Creative.Resumes.Information.to.include.in.your.re sume.aspx

Six

[Hendo]

I'd say be creative through-out your resume and portfolio, As long as it's readable. No script fonts. Like Budafist said. I'd be concerned if an agency that is hiring for design can't open a PDF. Let yourself go and design something cool!
No high end agencies want the plain black & white resumes anymore! They want to see creative right away... That will get you in the door to show your portfolio.
When I interview I look for the creative look that you don't see everyday.
Good luck.

[gab10068]

Studies have shown that serif fonts such as Georgia or Times New Roman are easier to read in hard copy than a sans serif font such as Arial. The serif font uses small horizontal lines that make the text easier to read than the rigid vertical lines of a sans serif font.
http://www.examplesof.com/cover_letter/

[Ned]

<cough> HIS </cough> ;)

Yes, most of the times unless we switch for the night.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Rise from the dead, oh Zombie thread!!

http://www.kidcrosswords.com/animated_dictionary/v_w_x_y_z/zombie.gif