Looking Good on Paper

RESUME APPEARANCE Presentation Quality

LOOKING GOOD ON PAPER

To ensure your resume projects a professional image on your behalf, pay attention to detail. The quality of your resume depends not just on the content, but also on the format. It depends not just on the verbal aspect, but the visual aspect as well.

APPROPRIATE FONTS

Choose a standard font (or typeface) for your resume and use only one font throughout. Do not choose a font that is too cutesy or novel. Do not use a script font. Do not use a poster font. The best fonts for resume use are Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond, Book Face, Calibri, Century, or similar styles.

Vary the treatment of your font by utilizing such emphasizing techniques as size variation, capitalization, bolding, and italicizing.

PAPER QUALITY

Among the important details of producing a resume is the quality of the paper. You should use high quality paper stock for your resume. Described as specialty paper or resume paper, it is generally a 24 lb. weight paper. Do not use cardstock, which is typically 65 lb. weight. Regular utility paper (typing paper, copy paper) is 20 lb. weight.

The paper can have a linen, granite or parchment finish. Oftentimes it has a high cotton content. The color should generally be non-white. Off-white, cream, ivory, buff, beige, tan or gray tones are appropriate. Blue, green, purple, or pink hues should be avoided.

The paper you use for your resume, cover letter, reference sheet, and thank you letter should match. And be sure to buy a box of matching business envelopes (No. 10 size).

You can usually find specialty paper at office supply or paper supply companies or retailers.

DETAILS

Always include a cover letter with your resume. Do not forget to put your signature on the cover letter. Tri-fold both documents together with the cover letter on top. Do not staple or fasten the two documents together.

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Michael Lebeau / 2012 Career Services / Birmingham-Southern College