Maybe you have a great resume that’s ready to send out instantly with the click of a mouse, or maybe you’ve submitted 100 resumes this week and haven’t received a single response. If so, perhaps it’s time to make the most of your resume by printing it on good quality paper.
Submitting a paper resume increases your chances of job success dramatically. Presenting a hard copy resume to prospective employers makes you look more professional, helps you get the interviews you want, and prepares you for networking opportunities that will get you closer to landing your dream job.
[su_spacer size=”10″]Give Yourself Every Advantage[su_spacer size=”10″]
Imagine what it must have been like for hiring managers before the introduction of keyword filtering software. Put yourself in the position of a person charged with reading hundreds of resumes, and you will quickly recognize the advantage of printing your resume on good quality paper.
Electronic resumes often feature unintentional formatting, poor readability, and can easily get lost in the labyrinth of folders, sub-folders, and file types in a manager’s hard drive. Paper resumes, however, stay on executives’ desktops and can be handed around easily. A resume printed on nice paper also stands out from the typical clutter found on managers’ desks.
[su_spacer size=”10″]Be Prepared At Your Interview[su_spacer size=”10″]
Have you ever been to an interview where you meet several different people in the organization, perhaps over a series of days or as a terrifying police interrogation-esque experience?
Each person you meet at your interview may not have a copy of your resume, or may not have even seen your resume before meeting you. Bring at least three copies of your paper resume to your interviews so that you can hand one out to each person you speak with during the process.
[su_spacer size=”10″]What Does a Paper Resume Say?[su_spacer size=”10″]
Your resume and cover letter are a prospective employer’s first impression of you. A professionally presented paper resume package shows a person’s thoughtfulness and organizational skills. It also demonstrates that they are prepared to go the extra mile to get the job done.
Interviewing candidates for any position is, in part, collecting a series of clues about a candidate. When you arrive at an interview equipped with a well-organized, well-presented paper resume, you show your prospective employers how much you care about the position and what you can bring to the organization.
[su_spacer size=”10″]What Kind of Paper Should I Use?[su_spacer size=”10″]
Most office and home printers use 20 lb. Writing weight paper. If you want your resume to stand out from the pack, try printing it on a slightly heavier paper with a professional, engaging finish. We suggest using 24 lb. Writing weight paper.
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Warm White Linen Paper
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White Vellum Paper
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Smooth White Paper
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Ivory Linen Paper
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If your resume still needs a little help, check out our professionally created free resume templates.
[su_spacer size=”10″]Resume Writing Tips
Speak in Their Language
Most companies scan applicants’ resumes using keyword filtering software, so the first step to resume success is making sure that your resume contains the right keywords. Not sure what keywords to use? Try mimicking the language used in the job posting.
Customize for the Employer
Don’t submit the exact same resume to every employer. Instead, research your employer and customize your career objective according to your goals, their mission, and the job description.
Hard Facts Over Soft Skills
Give hard facts and statistics rather than generalizations about your work experience. Instead of saying that you increased sales, say how much you increased sales. Focus on achievements, not responsibilities.
Pay Attention to Format
Whitespace is your friend! Overloading your resume with black text reduces your resume’s readability, so make sure you leave enough whitespace to make your resume easy to read and understand. Use wide margins, clear type, and logical headings. 
Proofread
A resume with typos does not make a good first impression. Always proofread your resume at least twice, or have a friend or family member proofread it for you.
Account for Technology
Poor formatting can kill your application just as quickly as poor spelling and grammar. Sometimes, emailing a resume causes it to lose the formatting you spent hours perfecting. Try saving your resume as a PDF – that way, the formatting won’t change when you send it to a potential employer.
The bottom line? It never hurts to have a paper resume, but it can hurt if you don’t.
