Question: I’m about to start sending out resumes to apply for jobs and would like to use recycled paper. I looked on your site and you mentioned some online stores and westside stores. Do you know of any in the Pasadena area or nearby? I’d prefer to buy it in store and see it for myself if possible. Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks, Bo
Answer: Do people still use paper resumes these days? Isn’t that kind of, um, slow? Email it!
Okay okay — I realize that even if you email resumes, you want to take a spare copy or 2 to interviews in case your prospective boss is an idiot and didn’t look at the deets of your accomplishments yet. So — My 3-point advice:
One: I’ve never given a shit what sort of paper my resume’s printed on — and in fact most paper I’ve used has been kinda crappy — but I’ve never had trouble getting a job. Scented pink resumes might work if you’re an actor in Legally Blonde, but from my experience, employers are too harried to care ’bout that stuff.
Which is to say — Perhaps seeing the paper for yourself before buying is just not that important. I’m all for seeing before buying for other stuff — i.e. clothes and esp. shoes — but paper doesn’t make that list.
Two: With that in mind, you might try the 100% post-consumer content, acid-free 24-lb. bond, ENVIRONMENT® Recycled Writing Paper — or some of the other great recycled papers available online.
Three: If you must see and feel the paper first hand, first try Kelly Paper, which offers lotsa good recycled paper options. The Pasadena branch’s at 56 Waverly Dr.
If that doesn’t work out, both Office Depot and Staples offer recycled-content paper — but I have to say that products from other companies with comparable post-consumer content looks and feels better. I mean, I’m glad Office Depot and Staples got on the recycled bandwagon, but it’s like they picked the shittiest stuff, perhaps as a way to make consumers believe recycled paper is undesirable. If you have to resort to this option, please don’t assume that the quality of most recycled paper is the quality of their crap.
That said, I’ve definitely used Staples’ recycled paper for a resume before — and gotten hired. Which brings me back to point one –
Resume paper is so 1980s. In our company, we get resumes of prospective employees by e-mail and print them out on the office laser printer. It’s a courtesy thing to have a printed copy or two of your resume going into an interview, but it’s not a big deal if you don’t have one, and nobody pays any attention to the paper.
Comment by don hosek — September 16, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Being an employer, as well as an environmentalist, I have to say that resumes DO mean a lot in terms of how they are presented. If someone sends me a resume on some strange paper and it looks like a Picasso, I won’t take it seriously. I don’t want to hire a person who is flippant or insincere about his/her own career. Presentation means a lot. If a resume is sloppy and carefree, then I am influenced into thinking that the person will have that same attitude. If there’s bad spelling and grammar then I assume the person would produce the same low quality work if in my employ. So, if you’re serious about getting a job, then be serious about your resume. Most times it’s the only thing that represents you, especially if you can’t get in to see an employer.
Comment by vic — September 17, 2007 @ 10:35 am
vic — Most of what you said has v. little to do with the paper itself, which is what’s under discussion here. No one’s arguing that bad spelling and grammar’s acceptable on a resume.
Comment by Siel — September 17, 2007 @ 11:12 am
I agree with Siel about the poor quality of Staples paper. But I still purchase it in lieu of non-recycled paper. I think I’ll check out other options as while.
Bo, I agree with everyone else that the greenest solution is to email your resume. However, another paper option is to check out FSC.org (Forest Stewardship Council) to look for vendors who sell paper made from regulated & sustainable forestry practices.
Comment by Tammi B. — September 17, 2007 @ 11:14 am