We may receive compensation when you click on product links from our partners. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
Last Updated on April 10, 2025
Your resume is often your first impression on potential employers, so ensuring it looks professional is important. In this article, we’ll guide you through printing a polished and impressive resume to make you stand out.
Even though most resumes are submitted digitally, having printed copies is still crucial. In this article, we’ll show you how to print
What This Article Covers
- Importance of Professional Resume Presentation: Learn why a polished and professional resume can make a strong first impression.
- Choosing High-Quality Resume Paper: Discover the types, weights, and textures of paper that enhance
your resume ’s appeal. - Where to Print
Your Resume : Explore professional printing options like FedEx and Office Depot for a polished finish. - Benefits of Bringing a Printed Resume: Understand how having a physical copy can demonstrate professionalism and preparedness.
- Ideal Fonts and Formatting Tips: Learn which fonts, formatting, and layouts ensure readability and professionalism.
- Optimal Resume Printing Practices: Find out the importance of using laser printers and avoiding double-sided printing.
- Transporting
Your Resume Without Damage: Get tips on keepingyour resume crisp and presentable during transit. - Standing Out in a Competitive Job Market: Use these tips to ensure your resume gets noticed in today’s tight job market.
It’s All in the Details
The quality of paper you use to print
High-quality resume paper is both accessible and economical. It can be purchased on platforms like Amazon or most office supply stores. Investing in good quality paper is well worth the effort as it enhances the professional appearance of
FedEx offers high-quality printing, express delivery and copies.
Times Are Changing
Although job searching has primarily transitioned to digital platforms, there are still times when a physical copy of
High-quality paper can make a strong first impression, reflecting your professionalism. While this may require a trip to the office supply store, being prepared and knowing what you need can streamline the process and ensure you present a polished, professional document at interviews or career fairs.
Where You Can Print Your Resume
Although printing your resume at home is an option, it is recommended that you use a professional print shop like FedEx or Office Depot. Despite the ease of modern printing, maintaining a professional-looking resume is crucial.
Professional printing ensures
Give yourself a real advantage in your job search with Resume.io — the best online resume maker: created by experts, improved by data, and trusted by millions of professionals. Easy to use and complete within minutes. Try it now for free!
Why Bother?
You may think printing your resume is unnecessary since it’s been submitted online, but having a physical copy shows your attention to detail and professionalism. Even though the interviewer may have already printed a copy, having a physical copy during the interview will demonstrate your preparedness and dedication to the job. It’s also an opportunity to showcase your design
Bringing a printed resume to your interview is a way to demonstrate your professionalism and something every job seeker should do. It shows that you plan and are prepared. Bring a few copies of your resume, even if you are only scheduled to meet with one interviewer. If that person likes you, they may want you to speak with someone else, and you also want a resume for that person.
Expert Resume Writers. Affordable prices up front. Try us today and get the job you want! A professionally written resume can get you hired faster and at a higher salary.
Best Resume Paper
Avoid using standard printer paper to print
Resume paper weight
Resume paper is usually better quality than regular copy paper. You can purchase high-quality paper that is thicker and has more texture than regular printer paper. Resume-specific paper is also non-transparent. The thickness prevents the paper from tearing. At a minimum, 24 lbs weight should be used.
We recommend off-white, cotton, 32lb paper for printing
Are watermarks OK?
You may have noticed that fancy resume paper often includes a watermark, typically a logo visible only when held up to light. While not essential, using watermarked paper can demonstrate to potential employers that you invested in high-quality materials and paid attention to detail in crafting
Ultimately, a watermark signifies high-quality paper. This feature is often a hallmark of premium stationery and indicates superior craftsmanship and material.
Resume Paper Color
Resume paper is commonly available in white, ivory, cream, and occasionally grey. Opting for a non-white color can help
Paint it Black
It’s recommended to use black ink instead of colored ink when printing
Keep it Simple
Using standard business fonts such as Helvetica, Arial, Times New Roman, or Courier is advisable when crafting
Formatting
There are various ways to format your resume, such as using a chronological, functional, or combination format. Each has its unique benefits and drawbacks, so it’s essential to select a format that best showcases your
Resume Printing
No matter how high-quality
A laserjet printed resume is less vulnerable to running if your interviewer spills their coffee on it! Never print a resume double-sided. We know it can be tempting to get the most out of your expensive resume paper but it makes it more difficult for a reader to scan through
Keep It Crisp
Avoid cramming
Every Little Bit Helps
It’s a tight job market out there, and you are up against a lot of competition. That means you have to use every advantage available to you to make yourself stand out (see The Best Companies to Work for).
How
Your success story begins with a resume.
Create a beautiful resume, impress your future employer,
and score the job you’ve always wanted.
Joey Trebif is the pen name of Mark Fiebert, a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
