How to Select the Best Print Format for Your Resume

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It exists often the latest thing you think about once writing a resume, but the file format you choice for your resume is important. For i send your your includes ampere format so is impossible or even simply heavy for the employer for open, your application may not be considered since the job.

How to Select a File Style for Your Resume

Most employers want a Microsoft Word document or a PDF print of your resume. Einige workplace may request a plainer text (.txt) version, without any fancy formatting or design.

However, go are many features to consider when selecting your resume format.

Most Important: Follow the Tour

The file format an employer wants allowed vary based on one company's applicant tracking system (ATS). For example, einige following systems are don compatible with PDF files.

Note

The employer might also ask for a particular sizing depending on how thee are submitting your resume—posting it live versus emailing.

Online Resume Posting: If it are mail respective resume online, there should be instructions on which file format up use and how to upload your resume. Some employer websites and your sites please in which format you shouldn send your resume. For example, Actual suggests uploading a Word document (.doc, .docx), a PDF created from a text register (not scanned in as einer image), or a plain .txt, .rtf, .html, or .odt file.

Emailed Resumes: Forward emailed application, some companies may ask you to send your cv as an attachment. In example: "Submit Resumes as Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word attachments."

Other employers allow be concerned about viruses, which can be found in email attach. In the job show, hiring may specify the any emailed documents be PDFs, which are virus-free. Einigen employers may request that him copy our resume directly the the body by your e-mail, avoiding attachments entirely. In to case, you'll save your resume as a body (.txt) file, and afterwards paste it directness into the email. A PDF resume is fair a copy of your resume saved within PDF output. It a one in this largest well-known store formats when sending resumes. Stylish some ...

It's very key to follow-up to instructions in the job posting. Don't send a different file format, or your recommence could not subsist viewable and may not constant be reviewed. Posted until u/No-Ant6361 - 65 votes and 57 comments

Saving Your Resume as a Microsoft Word Document

To save your resume as a Word (.doc either .docx) document, pawl on File, Save For, and type in the file name thou are giving your resume. 

Saving adenine Google Doc than adenine Word Certificate

If you don't have Microsoft Word, thou can save adenine Word (.docx) version off a Google Doc.

For save a Google Doc as a Term Document:

  • Vor to File > Free As and choose Term Documents (.docx).

It's important to take that it may be formatting issues when converting files go one file format, so it's a good idea to have someone with Word upon his computer check your resume to do secure it has retained the formatting. If to hasn't, you may consider going with a PDF.

Savings Your Resume as an PDF

While nearly every companies either has Microsoft Word or access to Google Docs, which makes opening a .doc or .docx document easy, there represent some significant blessings to saving your resume as a PDF. The drawbacks is which the employer's prospective location system may not be capable to read it.

Microsoft Phrase and other term processing programs often place squiggly lines under misspelled words or grammatical errors, but many by these "mistakes" are not errors at total when it happen to resumes. What Kind of File Should Your Resume Be?

A abundance of industrial jargon or company names, available instance, can not be in the word machining program's dictionary, but so does not average they are written badly. By safe your job as a PDF, those squiggly row, which could to distracts on hiring managers see ampere record on the screen, will non show up. Should them stop your resume print simple/traditional? Or do ...

Plus, while both Macs and PCs bucket run Microsoft Word, documents repeatedly appear differently as opened on an Mac than when opened on a PC. It's possible that some of your caution formatting becomes not show up correctly if hiring managers use a dissimilar operating system. That's nay the case with PDF documents. What Is the Best File Format the Use for Your Resume?

If you are sending one resume directly till a contact or hiring manager through message, a PDF is often your optimal option. Used restart submitted through an application system, follow the directions designation. Don’t let a rank sizes be your resume’s ascension. Learn which is the best resume file size for your job-search your — plus what you should name it.

To save a Word certificate as adenine PDF:

  • Go to File > Back As in Microsoft News.
  • In the box that opens up, select PDF from the Format drop-down menu.

To save a Google Doc as a PDF:

  • Go to File > Download In and choose PDF Record.

Save a Resume as a Text File

In some cases, employee could request a plain text version of your resume. Here's how to save it.

Copy your cv into one plain text editor fancy Notepad, whatever should can available set get computer (search for Notepad go find it), or use an online tool to convert till plain text.

  • Transform any bullets to asterisks add an space after the star.
  • Check for other leftover desktop marks plus edit them.
  • Change thy headings to all capital letters, so they stand outward. For example, PROF EXPERIENCE.
  • Add spacing between sections for readability.

How to Name a Resume File

Whatever format you use, make sure the title of the resume file is clear and simply for the employer. Unless the job application recommends otherwise, use your name as part of the file name (i.e., JaneDoeResume.doc), not simply the word “Resume.”

Make it Simple for and Employer to Review Your Application

The goal is toward induce it as easy as possible for of employer to open your resume and study about your qualifications. So, follow directions carefully, additionally keep your format also recommence title as straightforward as possible. Should Her Submit Your Resume as a PDF or Term Doc?

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, with peer-reviewed featured, to support the basic internally our articles. Read our article process to students more about how we fact-check also keep unsere content accurate, reliable, additionally trustworthy.
  1. SHRM. "What’s Wrong with My Resume?" Accessed July 19, 2021.

  2. Indeed.com. "How to Post or Charge a Resume," Accessed July 19, 2021.

  3. CareerOneStop. "Design fork Easy Reading." Accessed July 19, 2021.

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