Appropriate paper for academic job search?

October 28, 2009 2:41 PM

What type of paper should I use to send materials (CV, cover letter, teaching philosophy) for an academic job search? Is linen too much? Should it be anything other than pure white?
posted by one to education (14 comments total)

I've been on two dozen search committees in my career and read literally thousands of academic job applications. I assure you it hardly matters as long as what's on the paper is impressive. Anything more than a tasteful white cotton bond (not laid or linen) is overkill and calls attention to itself.
posted by fourcheesemac at 2:45 PM on October 28 [1 favorite]

Oh, and very likely what will happen is that your original will be photocopied or scanned (badly) and pass through most of the readers' hands in that form.
posted by fourcheesemac at 2:46 PM on October 28

I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it; just make sure you don't go so far as to use some sort of stock that doesn't copy well, for the reasons fourcheesemac pointed out.
posted by craven_morhead at 2:51 PM on October 28

In my field (computer science), linen would be overkill.

I'd advise you to consider printing single-sided: At some places I interviewed, some people I met with only had every other page of my double-sided CV.
posted by espertus at 2:54 PM on October 28

repeating much of the above advice -- especially since an awful lot of academic postings pretty much require electronic submission, there is usually no reason to break out the fine paper. A new toner cartridge, if you are running low, couldn't hurt, though.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:07 PM on October 28

Argh. The new toner cartridge couldn't hurt, if you are sending in paper. Because it will be photocopied a lot.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:08 PM on October 28

I used this Color Copy Paper for my academic job search and found it to be a good balance between classy and overkill. It's a heavy, bright white paper with a smooth finish that looks nice (good contrast), prints easily, and feels smooth. Anything heavier or with any texture would be to much, especially since any texture could interfere with subsequent copies made by the department you're applying to.

Remember that your materials will be copied and given to multiple people, so most people won't see your nice paper anyway. I just felt better using slightly nicer paper up front. I agree with espertus to keep everything single-sided. I also used paper clips instead of staples so the poor person copying my materials at the other end didn't have to mess with unstapling my stuff, and remember to keep a fairly decent margin on all sides in case your stuff gets copied somewhat crooked on the other end.

More than you wanted to know, but best wishes for your search!
posted by BlooPen at 3:09 PM on October 28

Be particularly careful about paper with any sort of texture in it because it tends to smear (or come off with a sticky note) even if you use a laser printer.
posted by DrGail at 3:26 PM on October 28

As someone who has read many academic resumes, please don't use cream colored weighty flecked paper or anything like that. Plain white and one sided will do fine.
posted by the dief at 3:56 PM on October 28

Nobody cares.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 4:00 PM on October 28

I've read thousands of consulting resumes, mostly in e-form but several hundred on paper. NO colors, NO weird textures, essentially nothing that will make the reviewer think about paper instead of you. You only have the reviewer's attention for a few minutes.

That said, I'm sort of unimpressed by really cheap (thin) copy paper.
posted by charmcityblues at 4:10 PM on October 28

You should use the following kinds of paper:

If you're using departmental letterhead for the first page of your cover letter, you should use the paper that's on.

For all other pieces of paper, you should use whatever cheap-ass white paper is already in the printer or copier.

Anything more than the cheap-ass white paper that's already in the machine is overkill.

And overkill here doesn't mean "going beyond the call of duty" and maybe it's still helpful. At best, nobody gives a fuck. At worst, well... I'm not proud of this, but I tend to look at things like especially fancy paper as something between special-snowflakeism, not quite understanding how things work, and trying to distract me from the content.

Likewise, in my own field I recommend just using the same boring CV design as everyone else. No name in giant sans-serif letters, no lines down the side, just straight-up information in the same format as pretty much everyone else's so I can digest it easily.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:17 PM on October 28

Nthing basic copy paper. I've read hundreds of academic job applications and I can say that I've never been impressed by the quality of an applicant's paper. The content is what matters.

That said: typography is important, but as ROU_Xenophobe writes, the best typography doesn't draw attention to itself. Keep in mind, though, that many of those who are reading your application are in our 40s, 50s, 60s, or even 70s, and that we may need reading glasses but are too vain to have gotten them yet. Reasonable font sizes (at least 12 points, maybe 13) and plenty of white space are both good.

One sided, please, and if you use inkjet, make sure it won't smear when wet.
posted by brianogilvie at 6:47 PM on October 28

The paper doesn't matter. As others have said, we are making copies or emailing around your CV so we can all at least be partially knowledgeable about the candidate when we do the meet and greet.
posted by trii at 7:18 PM on October 28