Do I have to use fancy-schmancy résumé paper for my résumé and cover letter?
Eight or ten years ago, I would have said, “Yes, absolutely; use a creamy matte stock with high cotton content to add elegance and reduce glare.” (Bright white paper can be hard to look at.) Today, your résumé might be discovered online or transmitted via CD or e-mail attachment. If you are sending out a paper copy, it will most likely be photocopied and circulated. I now recommend using fairly heavy (28-pound) white coated (for smoothness) matte (nonglare) stock. The heavier paper will ensure that if the résumé is printed on both sides there will be no bleed-through. Many so-called résumé papers are textured and thus don’t photocopy as well as smoother papers. 3. Do I need different résumés for different types of jobs? It’s best to have a single, all-purpose résumé, not several customized for various purposes. A good cover letter will direct the reader’s attention to specifics about your background and experience. 4. I’m posting my résumé online; there’s no provision for a cover lette
