PDF or Word Doc: Which Resume Format Works Best?

Formatting your resume for job applications is an important step to getting your resume noticed by recruiters. While it depends on which ATS software companies use, at the end of the day, it’s about implementing best practices to help with your job search. So here’s the million-dollar question for resumes: Word Doc or PDF?

Microsoft Word Documents

Commonly known as “Word Docs”, these documents are file types that can be saved as a .doc or .docx file. These documents aren’t static and depending on the software or device you’re using—formatting can vary.

Pros:

• Great for collaboration to comment and edit directly
• Smaller file size compared to PDFs
• Many ATS systems can read Word Docs
• Most professionals are familiar with the software

Cons:

• Resume format and layout can change when opened on a different device
• Version control can be unpredictable when trying to press “Save” vs. “Save As”
• Lack of security, making it easy to modify
• Risk of sections accidentally being deleted 

PDFs or Portable Document Format

PDFs were created by Adobe to ensure consistency across a variety of platforms, or documents. What this means is recruiters can open your resume on their desktop and see the exact document you formatted to send them.

Pros:

• Layout and formatting are consistent across different platforms and devices
• No red squiggly lines or misspelling highlights, giving this format a professional appearance
• No one can edit your resume after sharing
• Ability to password protect your document

Cons:

• Large file sizes can be difficult to upload
• Tricky to edit the text in the document when needed
• No built-in tracking features
• Not always readable by ATS

How ATS Reads Your Resume

ATS are used by recruiters and hiring managers to parse the document into a digital profile, making information snippets in your resume uniform and searchable. The software collects, scans, sorts, and ranks job applications for open positions. While some ATS algorithms are outdated, here are tips to combat the software’s downfalls:

1. Keep Headings Simple
2. Use Consistent Formatting for Work Experience
3. Avoid Tables or Distracting Visuals

The Stronger Choice

While both formats have their strengths and weaknesses, PDFs remain compatible across different software and are graphically more appealing. While Word Docs perform higher on ATS at 88% vs. PDFs at 85%, the common misconception is that PDFs aren’t readable by ATS systems: the answer is the majority of ATS are capable of reading PDFs.

When In Doubt

A best practice for many job applicants is to edit their resume in Microsoft Word or Google Docs and then use an online tool to convert files to PDFs. Before submitting your resume for the role, see if the application shares any instructions on how to upload it. Doing research on what ATS and which formats are the most compatible might be the key to getting your foot in the door.

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