Is a 10-Point Font Too Small For An Australian Resume?
Details do matter.
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Contributing Editor | HR, careers & job search
I founded three separate companies over the past decade to help leaders and organisations do their best work. Arielle Executive helps leaders get noticed while Arielle Partners & Talent Avenue connect organisations to Australia's best leadership talent.
Last updated: December 21st, 2023
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Most likely. But there are some exceptions to the rule. Font sizes vary from font to font. Some fonts in 10-point size are the equivalent of other fonts in 11.5 points.
To put it into font nerd language, fonts at the same point size can have different X-heights and cap heights .
This is why, before you ask “ is a 10-point font too small for an Australian resume? “, you need to choose your font type .
It just so happens that I wrote a comprehensive guide to choosing the right font for Australian resumes .
Assuming your font type is locked in, let’s help you pick the right size.
(Related: What Is The Best Formal Letter Format? )
Best Font Sizes For An Australian Resume.
Below is an Australian resume example that uses font sizes and types that I recommend.
- Your Name : 32 points, Arial Nova, bold
- Your Title : 13 points, Arial Nova, bold
- Resume Heading : 20 points, Calibri, all caps
- Resume Body : 11 points, Calibri
I recommend that you dial those font sizes into your resume. Feel free to experiment with them, but aim to not deviate by more than 10% from the sizes above.
Expert Tip.
You can use font size to make micro-adjustments to the length of your resume. For example, if your Key Assets sections is awkwardly spilling from the 1st page to the 2nd, decrease the font size by 0.5 points and see if that improves alignment without making the text appear dense.
How Much Does Font Size Matter, Really?
If your font is too small, hiring managers will find your resume too hard to read. If it’s too large, your resume will look unprofessional and unnecessarily long.
Ultimately, it’s the strength of your experience and your ability to sell yourself during job interviews that get you the job offer.
That said, Australian employers value attention to detail, and using the right font size is one way of demonstrating that you have it dialled in.
Once you choose the right font size, read these guides to make sure your resume helps you land a role in the Australian job market:
- How To Write An Australian Resume
- Resume Templates That Work In Australia
- Resume Writing Tips To Impress Australian Employers
– Irene
P.S. Do you have a question about font sizes? Leave it in the comments below. Let’s start a conversation!
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Below is my shortlist of five resume fonts that I have found to leave the most positive impression on Australian hiring managers. 1. Open Sans. As a simple, beautiful, minimalistic sans serif font, Open Sans keeps your resume looking modern and crisp. Here’s an example:
The ideal font size for a resumé is between 10 and 12 points. This ensures it’s nice and easy to read without being too cramped or leaving too much white space. Your headings can be slightly larger; around 14 to 16 points.
Discover the best resume font size, explore the importance of resume readability, review two resume templates and consider some helpful resume writing tips.
Use a professional resume font — the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations notes that Calibri and Arial in size 11-point are good options. Your document margins should be 1 inch on all sides. If you need additional space, you can reduce the margin size, but they should not go below half an inch.
When making specific formatting decisions like margin size or font style, your goal is to deliver a document that allows employers to quickly see why you’re a good fit for the job. In this guide, we will discuss the best ways to format your resume for your career objectives.
You can use font size to make micro-adjustments to the length of your resume. For example, if your Key Assets sections is awkwardly spilling from the 1st page to the 2nd, decrease the font size by 0.5 points and see if that improves alignment without making the text appear dense.