Should you send your resume as a pdf or word document? What are the pros and cons of pdf and doc? Read on to find out the answer.
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert
Should I submit my resume as Word or PDF?
Some call it the paradox of choice. Some, informed decision-making. The truth is: You’re here because what seemed obvious turned out to be a head-scratcher.
This guide will show you:
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Congratulations. Your perfect resume is ready (not ready yet? Read how to make a resume here). Time to send it out. The problem?
Should you send your resume in a Word or PDF format? Well—Both file types are extremely popular, and it’s this very popularity that makes it so difficult to decide upon the best format to send a resume.
Not to worry. Before making the decision of whether you should send your resume as a PDF or DOC, answer the following questions:
As easy as this. Go back to the job listing to see if the employer states whether they’d like to receive a PDF or DOCX resume from you. If you don’t find any information, move on to the next question:
If you're emailing your resume straight to the recruiter's inbox—Send your resume as a PDF. That’s it. If you want to learn more about the advantages of PDF files, go straight to the next section.
If you’re submitting your documents via an ATS system— Send your resume as PDF. Or DOCX. The choice is yours.
The ATS will parse your resume in search of resume keywords, so the text will be sucked into the system, and your resume formatting will be lost anyway.
A caveat: Some old-school ATSs may have problems reading resumes submitted as PDFs. Especially if the formatting is on the creative side. If you want to be 300% sure any kind of ATS will parse your resume, send it as a doc. Always use an ATS-friendly resume template.
Expert Hint: 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS. Not sure what ATS is? Go here.
Recruitment companies prefer “doc resumes.” Why? A resume in Word is easy to edit.
Recruitment companies will want to remove your contact details, rearrange your resume sections, or edit your resume job description to boost your chances. PDF has come into being as a delivery format. As such it’s not the best choice if you’re planning on editing the document.
Expert Hint: Consider sending your resume both as PDF and Word. Send the PDF version to the recruiter, and submit the doc to the ATS.
Here’s a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of each file type:
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In the vast majority of cases, you should send your resume as PDF.
Unless the job ad specifically defines what file format is required, or you have mixed feelings whether the ATS will scan it right.
Most of the time, though, you’ll need Microsoft Word to create and/or edit your resume, but you’ll be exporting the ready-made document to PDF. Thus—You’ll end up with two files: a resume in PDF and Word.
Keep these in mind when choosing the best file format for your resume:
What are your thoughts? Did you send your resume in a Word or PDF format? Want to share advice on how to send a resume online, and what format is the best? Give us a shout-out in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.
Written by Maciej Duszynski, CPRWExperienced in the education management industry, Maciej shares his knowledge for every step of your job hunt, from landing an internship to moving to an executive position. Maciej has helped job candidates at all stages of their career paths, from interns to directors to C-suite members, to thrive in their job. His mission is to help you find the right opportunity and create a job application that gets you the career you deserve.
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