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Free Tool

Resume Format Checker

Get a fast, honest verdict on your resume's font, font size, and required sections. Client-side only.

Resume format is the silent reason many resumes get filtered out. The wrong font breaks ATS parsing. Type that's too small loses recruiters skimming on mobile. Missing standard sections means automated systems can't find what they expect. This tool checks all three in seconds — no upload, no signup.

Which sections are on your resume?

How it works

A few steps, no signup

  1. Step 1

    Enter the font name you're using on your resume

  2. Step 2

    Enter the body-text font size in points

  3. Step 3

    Tick the sections present on your resume

When to use

The right moment

  • Before sending a fresh round of applications
  • After a template swap (sometimes templates use non-standard fonts)
  • When you're not sure if your format is hurting you

Examples

What you'll get

ATS-safe defaults

Input: Calibri, 11pt, all 5 standard sections

Output: Verdict: Format looks ATS-safe.

Common bad combo

Input: Comic Sans, 9pt, missing skills section

Output: Verdict: needs fixes — switch font, increase to 10-12pt, add skills section.

What this tool isn't

Honest limitations

  • We don't analyze your actual PDF — you enter the inputs. We can't catch a font that's embedded incorrectly or a section header that's an image, for example.
  • ATS systems vary by employer. The recommendations here are widely-applicable defaults, not employer-specific guarantees.

FAQ

Common questions

What font is best for a resume?

Calibri, Arial, Garamond, Helvetica, Verdana, and Times New Roman are the safest defaults — they parse well in ATS systems and render the same across devices. Avoid Comic Sans, Papyrus, Impact, and Courier New.

What size should resume text be?

Body text should be 10-12pt. Smaller is hard to skim; larger crowds the page. Section headers can be 12-14pt.

Does this tool look at my PDF?

No. Nothing is uploaded. You enter the inputs and the verdict is computed in your browser.

Land more interviews with the full platform

Every tool above, plus AI job matching, one-click resume tailoring, and application tracking. Free to start.