You’ve just finished writing the perfect resume. Now it’s time to decide what type of paper to print it on. A heavy/thick white or off-white paper is generally best to use when printing your resume and sending it by mail to employers.
The style and color of resume paper you select will depend somewhat on the type of job you’re applying to. The general rule of thumb is to stick with a heavy white resume paper. Every rule is meant to be broken so below we’ll give you a couple of instances in which selecting something other than a heavy white paper resume might not be suitable.
Office Jobs or Technical in Nature
If you’re applying for an office job we recommend that you maintain a conservative and to-the-point appearance with your paper resume selection. We think it’s best to stick with a heavy white or off-white resume paper and selecting the font Arial. Your resume will look professional and will reflect your professionalism.
Marketing or Creative Jobs
For people applying to jobs that are creative or in marketing it’s safe to step outside the norm and show some creativity with your paper, color and font selection. You want your resume to be a reflection of your creativity. Arial font on plain white paper just might not be creative enough to land you a job in marketing for Starbucks or Zappos. Just don’t go over-board.
QR Codes
Some applicants have resorted to adding a QR Code to their resumes. At this time it’s not advised to go that route as there is not standard when it comes to reading QR Codes. Why add something to your resume that may or may not work when a recruiter scans your QR Code?
Final Thoughts
Living in an electronic world, there will be times when your resume is scanned into a computer system and never physically seen by a hiring manager. Other times the hiring manager will be holding your resume while conducting the job interview.
In the end the resume paper weight, color and font selection if not too outrageous will probably not make or break your chances of getting the job. It’s just one of those final touches that gives you a slightly more polished and professional look.
Get hired with a job-winning resume at by visiting and following the expert tips in our Resume Center.