Resume Paper What Type of Paper Is Best for a Resume (12 Photos)

Resume Paper What Type of Paper Is Best for a Resume (12 Photos) We're about to tell you our take on the best resume paper. But firstMore often than not, all it takes to apply for a job is send a digital resume and cover letter. Do you ever need a print version?Yes.There are two situations when you need to have a paper resume at hand: career fairs and job interviews. Both can be quite critical for your job search.So, just click print, and youre good to go, right?Anything but. You need special resume paper.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowWant to learn all the ins and outs of proper resume formatting? See:Best Resume St ylesCreative Resume IdeasHow to Organize Your ResumeResume Layout ExamplesWhat Are the Important Parts of a Resume?1What is resume paper?Resume paper is designed specifically to print resumes on. And why is it so important?Because the type of paper you use for your resume is going to make the very first impression on a recruiter or potential employer. Poor quality resume paper will make you come across schlumpy and slouchy. Whod like to hire somebody like that?Good resume paper, in turn, will show your professionalism and attention to detail.SoWhats the best resume paper?If youre simply looking for a bottom line:32 lbs, 75-100% cotton is the best resume paper.And were feeling absolutely positive about this choice.Plus, heres our take on the details as to what makes the best resume paper:Ivory, granite resume paper is prettiest and most sophisticated.White, plain resume paper is the safest and the most standard pick.But why would you choose to believe us?Scroll on and see for yoursel f!Weve printed out sample resumes on over ten types of resume stationery to help you choose the type of paper for your resume that fits your tastes and needs!Now, lets see how different resume paper types will impact the way our resumes look when printed out.2Resume Paper Color: White vs. Ivory Resume PaperMost likely the first dilemma youll be facingwhite or ivory resume paper?Lets see how paper color influences the looks of our three templates:Crisp Resume TemplateOur Crisp template is fairly basic. Not too many graphics, not much color. Printing a simple resume like this one on ivory paper will add a nice, classy touch without risking illegibility.The verdict: its a closely fought contest, but well have to give the edge to ivory paper.Cascade Resume TemplateCascade consists of two contrasting columns. Its got more color than the previous template, but not much shading. Again, ivory paper looks very professional and can reflect your individuality. If youve got a high-quality print er, the dark column will look good on whichever paper color you go for.The verdict: 2:0 for ivory paper.Cubic Resume TemplateCubic, like Cascade uses a side column for showing some information. The difference? The column is light-colored. This subtle grey shading looks better on white resume paper.The verdict: white paper wins in this comparison.The Best Resume Paper ColorConclusionIf your resume consists of dark, uniform colors and white space only, it will look elegant and classy when printed out on ivory paper.For resumes that use light shades, white paper is the best option.3Resume Paper Weight: 20 lbs vs. 24 lbs vs. 32 lbs Resume PaperYouve picked a resume paper color that works best for you.SoNow you just have to print your resume out on a random sheet of paper in line with your color preferences, right?Not so fast.Another factor that influences the way your printed resume looks is resumepaper weight:Usually, youll have three options: 20, 24 or 32 lb resume paper.The best resu me paper weight choice? 32 lbs.It has the least show-through. Its also whitest and brightest. Plus, its the firmest of the three, thus least likely to crumple.Finally, 32 lbs resume paper has got a really nice feel. Theres simply something special about it.The Best Resume Paper WeightConclusion32 lbs resume paper wins this contest, hands down. Highly recommended for every resume.4Resume Paper by TextureThe next resume paper spec we investigate is texture.Think its irrelevant?Have a look. Youll be surprised by just how much resume paper texture can vary!To best show how texture influences the appearance of a resume, weve picked two templatesCrisp and Cascadefor this comparison.Plain Resume PaperPlain paper is always a safe choice. Its the most common paper texture, used in every office.In the picture above, you can see plain resume paper made of 100% cottonhigh cotton content adds some texture and extra softness to otherwise unexciting plain resume paper. (Well get to how important c otton content is for resume paper, read on to learn more about it!)See what different resume templates look like on this type of resume paper texture:And heres a handy table listing the most important pros and cons for using plain resume paper:Plain Resume Paper Pros and ConsPROSCONSWill work with every kind of resume designUnoriginalwont be memorableVery little chance of ink spillsNo premium qualityStandard and conventionalParchment Resume PaperParchment paper is all about that Old World elegance.Historically, all crucial documentscertificates, awards, government announcements, or official invitationshave always been written or printed on parchment paper.Its beautiful. But also somewhat pretentious.While a parchment paper resume might impress some employers, for others it will be a potential turn-off Hey, Stephanie, was this delivered by carrier pigeon or a guy on a high-wheeler?Note: the parchment paper we used for this comparison is ivory. Ivory parchment paper might appear greyi sh, with a green finish at times.Again, long story short:Parchment Resume Paper Pros and ConsPROSCONSVery elegant and classy to somePretentious to othersUntypical, might help your resume stand outRequires a very good printer and inkGranite Resume PaperGranite resume paper is perfectly balanced between traditional elegance and originality.This resume paper texture will show all graphic elements and text clearly, plus its very nice to the touch.Granite Resume Paper Pros and ConsPROSCONSNicely balancedsimple yet originalSlightly darker than other paper texture typeslight-colored elements or shades might be barely visibleEnvironmentally sustainablegranite paper is usually made from recycled contentSuitable for all types of printersLaid Resume PaperPaper with a laid finish is made to emulate the way paper looked when it was first invented. The manufacturing process uses a dandy roll to impress the chain lines pattern into the paper. Its very sophisticated and unique, butAvoid it if your resume has got many dark-colored elements that require a lot of ink or if you dont have a top-notch printer at hand.Laid paper, amongst all types of resume paper textures, is most likely to bring about printing errors.Laid Resume Paper Pros and ConsPROSCONSSophisticated and uniqueProne to printing errorsVery pleasant to the touchOne of the most expensive paper texture types5Resume Paper by Cotton ContentComparisonHeres the twistAll of the above comparisons could well be meaningless. Time to learn the real game-changer:Cotton content.Possibly the single most important feature of fine paper. Cotton content influences:Paper durabilityColor richness and depthPaper qualitycotton paper, as opposed to standard wood pulp paperis soft yet crisp.And, if you need more arguments in favor of cotton resume paperits extremely sustainable environmentally.Have a look at the below comparison of 100% vs. 0% cotton resume paper:Image: (Left) 100% vs. (Right) 0% cotton resume paperAs I mentioned earlier on, cotton content gives paper a little bit of texture. In result, as you can see in the picture, cotton paper (on the left) doesnt reflect light.High cotton content helps enhance the fonts and makes sure colors on the printed resume better reflect original colors of your digital copy.But theres one more difference you cannot seeonce you get to touch cotton paper, youll be stunned at how pleasantly soft it is.SoWith all these samples and information, its high time we announced our final verdict for the best resume paper, right?Not quite.Theres personal preferences, and then theres science and factual data6What Type of Resume Paper is Best According to Recruiters?This study compared how otherwise identical resumes performed based on what type of layout (formal vs. creative) a given resume had and what paper (white vs. colored) it was printed on.The formal, MS Word resume layout printed out on white paper performed best: 41% of the evaluation group members would accept candidates wit h this resume appearance.Formal resume printed out on light yellow, light green, or pink paper? Only 32% respondents would accept these candidates, with another 32% automatically rejecting them.Creative resume on white paper was the worst of the three: 42% instant rejections.While ivory paper was not included in the study, the message is clear: white paper is the safest choice, unconventional resume paper color will harm your chances of landing a job.Another interesting study has shown that more than 1 in 5 recruiters would reject a candidate whose resume was printed on decorative paper without batting an eyelash.In other wordsTextured, business paper is fine for a resume. Artistic decorative paper will sabotage your job-seeking efforts.Oh, and just in case you were wondering...7Whats the Best Resume Paper Size?The standard 8.5 x 11in. End of story.If you think that a non-standard resume paper size could make your resume stand out from the pile, youre half-right.But stand out, in th is case, would mean not fit. And when it doesnt fit, it gets thrown away.RightSo youve learned a lot about the best paper to print a resume on. Youve got your top pick.Time to go shopping!8Where to Buy Resume Paper?Youve got a couple of options:For basic, white resume paper, you can visit your local discount stores like Walmart or Target.If you want fancier resume paper, try professional office supply stores such as Staples or Xero copy stores, for instance, FedEx Office.If youve already decided what paper youre going to use for your resume, you can buy it online. Below youll find a list of handy links to the best resume paper online stores.Resume Printing Paper to Buy OnlineStaples resume paper: linkWalmart resume paper: linkSouthworth resume paper: linkOffice Depot resume paper: linkTarget resume paper: linkAmazon resume paper: link(Note that most resume paper types will come with a watermark that shows when looking at the resume against the light. If you dont want a watermark on your resume, prepare to pay a bit more.)As you can seeyoure spoilt for choice.But keep one thing in mindIf you dont know how to properly design a resume, itll look bad no matter how fancy a resume paper type you pick. Dont worry. Weve got you covered. Have a look at our handy guide: The Best Resume Layout (with Examples and Templates)Enjoy, and have fun writing your resume!Key TakeawayDoes your choice of resume paper make a difference? It sure does. Youve seen for yourself just how much of a difference.Always remember to have a physical copy of your resume during career fairs and job interviews.Use nice resume paper to print your resume on, and youll make a great first impression on prospective employers.Our suggestion is to use ivory, 32 lbs, granite, 75-100% cotton resume paper or white, 32 lbs, plain, 75-100% cotton resume paper.ButFeel free to pick a paper type that you like best!Last but not least, remember that while your choice of resume paper matters a lot, its the content o f your job application thats most important.Want to make sure youll write a perfect resume? You know, a resume that lands you the interview almost every time you send it? Betcha! So read our guide and learn how to make one: How to Make a Resume for Any Job (How-To Guide)