- Resume Tips
- Resume Tips
- Best Resume Writing Services
- Things To Avoid On A Resume
- Resume Paper To Use
- What To Include In A Resume
- How To Write A Bio
- How To Write A Personal Statement
- Lied on Your Resume?
- Resume PDF
- Avoid Age Discrimination
- Words and Phrases You Shouldn't Include in Your Resume
- How Many Skills Should You List On A Resume
- Send A Resume As A Pdf
- Resume Critique
- Make A Resume Stand Out
- Resume Spelling
- Resume Past Or Present Tense
- How To List Projects On A resume
- Best Resume Action Words
- How To Quantify Your Resume
- Resume Bullet Points
- Are Resume Writers Worth It
- How Many Jobs To List On Resume
Landing a new job can be a daunting task. The job search might seem like a simple process of applying for a job, completing an interview, and landing the job. However, the process is a lot more intricate than three simple steps.
One small step that is often overlooked is making sure you send your resume in the correct format. You might be asking yourself, “Should I send it as a PDF or a text document? Is there a difference?”
The format does matter, and there are some differences, pros, and cons to choosing one format over another. Knowing which situations work best with each format makes it easier for you to choose the correct format for each job application.
Key Takeaways:
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Unless the employer specifically requests another file type, you should send your resume as a PDF.
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The most common other file type for resumes is a Word document.
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Some applicant tracking systems (ATS) struggle to read PDFs, however most are now compatible.
Which Formats to Save a Resume As
When saving a resume, there are two main options: a PDF or a word document.
There are many places where you can write a resume. Some people may write a resume from scratch in a word document, and others may code their own. Most people, however, use online resume builders or premade templates to write their resumes.
When using an online resume builder or template, you may have fewer options for saving a resume. You may only have one chance to save a copy of your resume before your subscription expires on the site.
If this situation is similar to yours, make sure you download a copy of your resume in every format available on the online builder so that you have the most flexibility later when thinking about which resume format to use when sending your resume to a potential employer.
When to Send Your Resume as a PDF
There are several advantages to sending your resume as a PDF. These include:
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Avoids formatting errors. When sending your resume to a potential employer, you want to make a good impression. Sending your resume as a PDF will help make sure your resume loads correctly and that there aren’t any roadblocks for a potential employer to read it. The last thing you want is to write a beautiful resume and have it come up as a jumbled mess when it tries to load on a computer different than yours.
As you’ve probably encountered, Macs and PCs have different programs for loading documents. Sometimes document formats don’t transfer over correctly between devices — that’s why sending as a PDF is so important.
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Prevents it from being changed. PDF documents cannot be easily edited by a reader. When you send a resume as a PDF you ensure that the document will remain how you wrote it. This prevents any undesired rearrangements by third parties.
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Looks professional. PDFs are simple and clean, which gives your resume a more polished look. Whereas a Word document might include grammar suggestions or other design elements that draw the reader’s attention away.
When to Send Your Resume as a Word Document
There are several advantages to sending your resume as a Word document. These include:
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An employer or recruiter requests your resume as a Word document. Sometimes employers or recruiters will want a word document form of your resume. If the application specifically asks for a text or word document version of your resume, then do not send a PDF copy.
An employer will want a word document version for the following reasons:
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They can edit your resume to take out identifying information to make the hiring process fairer.
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They can open it up in older software types (maybe their resume scanners need older formats)
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Be able to add information to the resume relevant to your application.
Meanwhile a recruiter may want you to send them a Word document so that they can make edits to your resume before sending it off to potential employers.
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It can help with online applications. The first situation is one that many job seekers encounter on online applications that is often incredibly frustrating. All you have to do to finish the online application is to upload your resume. But you can’t upload your resume because you have to enter the text into an online text box instead. Frustrating, right?
For this reason, you will want to have a copy of your resume in a text document or word format. Then you can easily copy and paste your resume into the online application. If you haven’t come across this situation yet, you will, and you will wish you had a word document version of your resume.
PDF Resumes And Applicant Tracking Systems
In the past, a major disadvantage to sending your resume as a PDF was due to applicant tracking systems (ATS). ATS act as automated filters that select which resumes employers and recruiters will see based on parameters such as years of experience and keywords related to the job description.
It used to be that PDFs were not easily read by ATS, even if the applicant had all the right qualifications. This still can be the case in some regards, however, most modern ATS are PDF friendly.
If possible, you should try to research what type of ATS the employer uses before you send your resume.
Final Thoughts
Writing a resume can be tricky, and making sure it stays in perfect condition from your computer to your recruiters can be stressful. Knowing the types of formats you can save your resume is important, so you can be sure your resume is utilized in the best way possible by your recruiter.
If you are ever wondering which format is better and there are no instructions on the application, just remember: when in doubt, send as a PDF. No matter what you choose, be sure that there are no errors in your resume and if you want to send it as a text document, try viewing it on a different computer than the one you made it on.
With these tips, you will be well on your way to making a great impression with your recruiter and be confident that your resume will stand as a professional and reflect your capabilities as a potential employee.
- Resume Tips
- Resume Tips
- Best Resume Writing Services
- Things To Avoid On A Resume
- Resume Paper To Use
- What To Include In A Resume
- How To Write A Bio
- How To Write A Personal Statement
- Lied on Your Resume?
- Resume PDF
- Avoid Age Discrimination
- Words and Phrases You Shouldn't Include in Your Resume
- How Many Skills Should You List On A Resume
- Send A Resume As A Pdf
- Resume Critique
- Make A Resume Stand Out
- Resume Spelling
- Resume Past Or Present Tense
- How To List Projects On A resume
- Best Resume Action Words
- How To Quantify Your Resume
- Resume Bullet Points
- Are Resume Writers Worth It
- How Many Jobs To List On Resume
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
