Developing
Documents & Content > Resumes/CVs
Resume Presentation & Mechanics
Paper
Select a high quality paper. Standard bond, office, or copy
paper is not the answer here. A 100 percent cotton fiber or other
high quality paper is essential. Use a heavier weight paper, at
least 28 lb. Some “Resume Paper” is in the 32 lb. range.
I use Crane’s Kid Finish – or one of their other high-grade
papers in appropriate weight – for resumes, but the key point
here is to use paper that looks and feels substantial, “presents” well.
This is vital to getting your resume recognized, and that’s
an extremely important part (the whole point) of this process.
Getting the resume recognized and read is obviously critical.
You can use a colored paper, though I say that with some
reservation. Only a subtle tint is acceptable, for example ecru
(white), a very light blue, or a light gray, etc. Keep in mind
that no color combination has the contrast value of black and white.
Also, some firms scan resumes to keep on file.
Use matching envelopes – Always. Some resume experts recommend
using a Resume Folder, but this doesn’t seem the more common
means of presentation and may represent little more than an added
expense as well as a handling issue for HR personnel.
Fonts
The old rules apply fully here and it’s unwise to deviate.
Stay with a standard serif font such as Times New Roman for the
main body of text (in the U.S.), and use (Bold) Arial or Verdana
(sans serif) for headings or section titles. Stay away from non-standard
or more artistic, specialized fonts – No exceptions. Use
italics only where appropriate for publications, etc.
Graphics
Graphics may not be a typical part of resumes, but I use
the same piece of pen and ink art on my resume as I do on my personal
stationery. I also use a shaded, vertically oriented margin bar
to offset the text. This may not be appropriate for all professions,
but for people in creative fields a conservative use of these techniques
can serve a purpose. An added benefit, of course, is the resume
doesn’t have the same look as the others in the stack. The
choices here are conservative, they don’t “yell” in
any respect, and are used with some due caution.
