Resume Font Mistakes That Cause ATS Parsing Failures
Font choice might seem trivial, but the wrong font can cause the ATS to misread characters, replace text with garbled symbols, or fail to extract content entirely. This guide covers which fonts work reliably with ATS systems and which ones to avoid.
Why Fonts Matter for ATS
ATS parsers extract text by reading the character encoding in your document file. Standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman use universal character encoding that every parser recognizes. Non-standard, decorative, or custom fonts may use proprietary encoding that the parser can't interpret.
When the parser encounters unrecognizable characters, it either replaces them with placeholder symbols (like □ or ?), skips them entirely, or produces garbled text. Any of these outcomes means your resume content is partially or fully unreadable to the ATS scoring algorithm.
The risk is highest with decorative, script, and symbol fonts. Even some popular modern fonts can cause issues if they use ligatures or advanced OpenType features that the parser doesn't support.
Best Fonts for ATS Compatibility
The safest fonts for ATS are the most common system fonts that come pre-installed on Windows and macOS. These fonts use standard character encoding that is universally supported by all parsing engines.
Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Helvetica, Georgia, Cambria, and Verdana are all excellent choices. These fonts are not only ATS-compatible but also highly readable, making them effective for both automated and human review.
For a modern look without sacrificing compatibility, Calibri (the default Microsoft Word font) and Garamond are popular choices. They look professional while maintaining perfect ATS compatibility.
| Font | ATS Compatibility | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Arial | Excellent | Clean sans-serif |
| Calibri | Excellent | Modern sans-serif |
| Times New Roman | Excellent | Classic serif |
| Garamond | Excellent | Elegant serif |
| Helvetica | Excellent | Professional sans-serif |
| Georgia | Excellent | Screen-optimized serif |
Fonts to Avoid
Decorative fonts like Papyrus, Comic Sans, Brush Script, and Impact should never be used on resumes—both for ATS compatibility and professional appearance. Script fonts that mimic handwriting often use ligatures and special character forms that parsers can't read.
Custom or downloadable fonts from sites like Google Fonts, DaFont, or FontSquirrel can be risky. If the font isn't installed on the system doing the parsing, the parser may substitute a default font, potentially changing character widths and breaking your layout.
Symbol fonts (Wingdings, Webdings) should never be used for any resume content, including bullet points. The parser will see these as meaningless symbols rather than the icons you intended.
Font Size and Formatting Considerations
Beyond font choice, font size affects parsing accuracy. Body text should be 10-12pt for reliable extraction. Text smaller than 9pt may not be extracted by some parsers, while headers should be 12-16pt for clear section detection.
Bold, italic, and underline formatting is generally safe and can help the parser identify headings and emphasis. However, avoid combining multiple formatting effects (bold + italic + underline) on the same text, as this can occasionally cause parsing issues.
Stick to a maximum of two fonts on your resume—one for headings and one for body text, or just one font throughout. Using too many fonts creates inconsistency that can confuse section detection algorithms.
Pro Tips
Use Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman for guaranteed ATS compatibility
Keep body text at 10-12pt and headings at 12-16pt for reliable parsing
Use only one or two fonts throughout your resume for consistency
Avoid decorative, script, and symbol fonts entirely
Test your font choice by checking if the text copies correctly to a plain text editor
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using decorative fonts that look creative but can't be parsed by ATS
Downloading custom fonts that aren't installed on the ATS parsing server
Using Wingdings or symbols for bullet points instead of standard bullet characters
Setting font size below 9pt for additional content, which may not be extracted