What is the ideal paper to print your resume. Learn about the types of paper, weights, thickness, colors and choose the best one to print your resume.
One of the most important steps when creating your CV is choosing the best paper to print your resume on. There are many types of sheets in which you can present this document, but which is the most appropriate?
In the digital age, it is normal to think that when you are looking for a job, the only thing you have to do is your Curriculum Vitae in Word and export it in PDF, accompany it with a motivation letter and that’s it, but do you need a printed version? The indicated answer is yes.
There are two times when you need to have a printed resume in your hands: at job fairs and at job interviews. In both situations it is very important that you have your CV with you. So, what is the ideal paper to print a resume?
What paper to print the resume on?
Like everything in life, the first impression is what counts. Therefore, when you deliver your resume, not only must it have a professional, complete design and with perfect spelling, you also have to print it on the correct paper.
The best paper you can choose is: cotton, almond or white and with a grammage between 80 and 100 gr. This way it won’t be too thick, but it won’t be too thin either.
Imagine that the rest of the competitors have a good CV design and their information is as complete and correct as yours, the type of paper can make a difference. A poor quality, yellow sheet with slightly smeared ink will give a sloppy impression of your profile. Who would hire a person who delivers a CV on wrinkled, low-quality paper?
Types of paper for the CV and its characteristics
Perhaps you had never thought that there are different types of paper and that there are some that are recommended for certain documents and others that would not be a good option. Therefore, here we will explain what types of paper exist and if your resume would look good printed on them or not.
coated paper
Also known as coated paper, you can find it in matte or with a glossy feature. This is the paper that is most used to make catalogs, pamphlets, flyers or even to print magazines due to its zero porosity.
Its smooth characteristic allows the printing to have no imperfections and to have a long duration. For this reason, we recommend that you choose a couché paper to print your CV. However, in case you want to be more original and present your CV designed by hand, this is not the right paper, as it absorbs ink slowly and can make the whole document dirty.
Bond paper
This type of resume paper is made from cotton fibers. It has a high quality and is quite resistant. It does not have special coatings and you can find it in different colors. It usually weighs more than the rest of the papers.
Its use is normally in the printing of office documents or school work, there are even many notebooks that are made with bond paper.
Therefore, bond paper is an option to print your resume. Be sure to choose white or slightly pearlescent, especially if your CV template contains many colors.
Cardboard
This type of paper is characterized by being much thicker than the rest. Its thickness makes it resistant, however, it is more flexible than other papers more similar to cardboard. It’s typically used for business cards, so it’s not recommended for printing your resume.
Remember that it is about standing out from others, but not about being a problem for recruiters, with a very thick resume, it will be difficult to move, for example, from a fair to the office and it could be uncomfortable for the reader.
Recycled paper
Recycled paper tends to have a yellowish tint and a lot of porosity. It works for prints, however official documents don’t look quality if they are printed on it. Despite this, it is very important to contribute to the environment and be aware to do the least possible damage to the planet.
If your application is for an environmental NGO or you are a biologist or something related to caring for the environment, without a doubt, the best option is to print your CV on recycled paper, sacrificing quality for the message.
Unfortunately, there are companies or positions that demand quality and, perhaps, if you apply for a lawyer or as an economist and have your CV printed on recycled sheets, it could seem like a bad idea to the recruiter. That will depend a lot on the turn of the company and the values and philosophy.
offset paper
The offset is a paper that does not have coatings and, therefore, the absorption of the ink is quite fast. In addition, it is one of those with the greatest weight options, as well as colors. It does not reflect light, which is why it is widely used in prints.
It is widely used in the publishing industry, as well as for writing, which is why it is also often found in schools, since its absorption capacity means that there are no stains when writing on it.
However, if you are considering printing your resume on offset paper, be aware that it tends to dull colors. In case your design is in black and white it is a good option, but if you have a colorful design, another type of paper will be more suitable.
What is the grammage or thickness of the paper
Once you have decided on the type of paper you want for your resume, you must choose the weight. What is the grammage?
As its name indicates, they are the grams that the paper weighs, which is not necessarily proportional to the thickness, there can be a very thick but light paper like opaline, or very thin and heavy like cardboard.
What kind of paper weights exist
The weight of a paper can range from 60 to 250 grams or even more. Next, we will tell you what type of documents each weight is recommended for.
Grammage from 40 to 60 grams
This amount of grammage is normally used to print newspapers or magazines of supermarket offers. It is extremely thin and is not recommended for printing your CV.
Grammage from 80 to 100 grams
It is used to print documents, school work, office receipts, brochures and to make conventional photocopies. You can print your resume with these parameters.
Grammage from 100 to 170 grams
It is used for printing brochures and advertising posters for supermarkets, events such as concerts, plays, among others. You could try to print your CV with a weight of 100, but do not exceed the thickness.
Grammage from 200 to 250 grams
It is used to print magazine covers or flyers. A weight of this type for your Curriculum Vitae could already be excessive, it all depends on the impression you want to make and the type of company it is, if it is an advertising agency, it could be a possibility.
Grammage from 250 to 350 grams
These weights and above are for printing postcards, business cards, other types of flyers, and more.
Grammage greater than 350 grams
These weights are indicated for book covers or for binding documents such as theses or other thick documents.