Fonts for Resumes & Cover Letters — Use Carefully
Most resume advice tells you to stick with standard, professional fonts — and for the body of your resume, this advice is correct. ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software, which most large employers use to screen resumes, struggles to parse unusual characters and formatting. However, there are specific, strategic places where subtle Unicode styling can make your resume stand out — particularly in digital resumes, LinkedIn profiles, personal websites, and email signatures.
Where Styled Text Works on Resumes
Your name at the top: Many resumes use bold or stylized text for the candidate's name. Unicode bold (𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵) renders consistently across devices and applications.
LinkedIn headline: Recruiters scan headlines quickly. A styled headline stands out among hundreds of identical-looking profiles.
Email signature: Your professional email signature is a personal branding opportunity. A subtly styled name or title makes you more memorable.
Personal portfolio website: If you have a personal website, Unicode styling can be used freely without ATS concerns.
Where NOT to Use Styled Text
Body text of resume documents being submitted through application systems — ATS software often can't parse unusual Unicode characters and may filter your resume out.
Section headers in submitted resumes — same ATS concern.
Your contact information — phone numbers and email addresses need to be in plain text so they can be copied accurately.
Cover letter body content — keep cover letters in plain professional formatting.
Best Styles for Professional Use
For any professional context, stick to the most universally readable styles. Bold Sans-Serif for names and headlines. Italic for subtle emphasis on key skills or achievements. Small Caps for refined section dividers on personal websites. Avoid decorative styles (Bubble, Vaporwave, Gothic, Zalgo) entirely in professional contexts — they undermine credibility.
Email Signature Templates
A professional email signature with Unicode styling: 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 / Senior Product Designer / Acme Corp / [Personal Website]. The bold name treatment makes you stand out in long email threads where everyone else's signature is plain text. Keep the rest in standard formatting so important contact information is parseable.