What Kind Of Paper For A Resume

After you’ve agonized about the information included on your resume, the layout, the font, the colors, now you get to worry about what kind of paper to print your resume on. There are different weights, colors and textures of paper to consider. You may wonder why you can’t just use your regular white printer paper. Well, you could, but when other applicants are going the extra mile, you won’t want your resume moved to the bottom of the stack because it doesn’t stand out.

When choosing what kind of paper to use for a resume, there are a few different things to consider. It may be a bit confusing if you’ve never worried about what kind of paper to use before. The main idea behind choosing resume paper is to create a professional, elegant resume that stand head and shoulders above the crowd. That is easy to read, feels good to the fingertips and demands attention.

The first thing you want to decide is what thickness or weight you wish to use. Card stock is way too stiff, and would be almost like handing in your resume on cardboard. Regular printer paper is flimsy and will appear cheap when alongside other heavier weight resumes. An ideal paper weight for a resume is anywhere between 16 lbs. and 25 lbs. This weight paper is less inclined to fold and wrinkle, while still being flexible and will stand out in a pile of resumes.

A watermarked paper is ideal for a resume because it appears more professional and elegant. The next step in your resume paper choice is the color. Ivory or off white paper is easier on the eyes and is preferred for resumes. Although common color choices include granite, blue/gray, other neutral tinted pages. Avoid glossy or bright white paper for your resume.

The final choice you have to make is the material of your paper. That’s right all paper isn’t made from wood. It is advised that for a resume you select paper that is at least 25% cotton fiber. If you really want to go the extra mile you can select 100% cotton fiber or linen resume paper. These provide a smooth texture that is subtly sophisticated and elegant.

While all of these options may seem a bit over the top, professional resume services offer all these choices and more, because they know what employers are looking for in a resume. After working so diligently to create the perfect resume why would you want to diminish its impact on a potential employer by submitting it on simple printer paper? You wouldn’t. It is important to consider the overall impression your resume will make on a potential employer. Consider that if an employer is advertising an open position they are likely receiving several resumes each day. More than likely they will file all the resumes until they feel they have enough to make a decision. Only then will they begin to look at them. If your resume blends into the stack who knows if they will even look at it before they give the position to someone else who had an attention-grabbing page in the midst of all the regular ones.