What file type should i save my resume as

However, PDFs are also not without their faults, the main offender being the lack of compatibility with some applicant tracking systems.

Saving your CV as a PDF ensures that the formatting stays as is, and no changes can be made to the document. Some applicant tracking systems cannot read PDF documents.

One of the main reasons for this is that plain-text files are devoid of any formatting elements or text effects such as bold text, italics, indents and spacing. Presenting your CV without structure or formatting can make it uncomfortable for the recipient to read. Despite this, there are still a few benefits of choosing plain text for your CV. You can place a plain-text CV within the body of an email, rather than sending it as an attachment. Submitting your CV in plain text means all spacing will disappear.

This can make your CV hard to read. Plain text strips out text formatting such as bold text and italics, so some of the points that you wanted to emphasise on your CV may get lost. In recent years, it has entered the world of CV submission. These can be sent as email attachments that open directly in the recipient's browser, as well as posted to a website or online portfolio.

The HR manager or recruiter can view your CV in their email browser, rather than needing to download it. Believe it or not, hard-copy CVs are not entirely extinct. Companies will expect you to bring a hard copy of your CV to your job interview, for instance. Occasionally, companies will actually accept them as an alternative to a digital application.

It's best to check the job description or the careers page on the company website to see if the company accepts or even prefers hard-copy applications. At TopCV, we recommend a Word. This is because of the importance of its two major benefits: maintaining formatting and being read by applicant tracking systems. The design and layout of your CV is essential to making a polished impression, as well as to direct the HR manager's eye to the information that best showcases your value.

That said, the merit of a PDF file format should not be ignored. However, not all companies use this software. There is another detail regarding saving your CV that too often is overlooked: the file name. Regardless of what file format you've chosen to submit your CV as, the recruiter or HR manager will see its name. Therefore, you must take care that it is neither unprofessional nor confusing. Generic titles that make sense on your own computer may be unclear to a new reader, so avoid names like 'cv.

This will ensure you can apply for any job using the requested resume file format. Word is fine for more simple resumes without many design elements. Word offers lots of templates, and there are even more available for download around the web.

This allows you to find a good resume format for your industry and job type. Word docs are an accepted resume format in just about every company. It is the safest option for ATS resume screening tools.

If a company uses this technology, your resume will be screened correctly. Here are some of the benefits of converting your resume into a PDF: PDFs ensure your resume maintains consistent formatting.

This is especially important if you put effort into the design. There will not be any missing fonts, spacing issues, or other formatting issues such as overlapping text. It will appear exactly the same way it was saved. The document will appear consistent on every device type, including mobile. PDF readers are standard on most smartphones.

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