Resume File Format: Which is Best?

Bring Your Resume Technology Out of the Dark Ages

Appropriate file format is crucial in digital resume delivery.  The majority of resumes are delivered via email or online job sites now.  You've put a lot into the design, content, format, and visual appeal of your resume and you want them to see it just the way you've created it.

I recently posted an article on this blog, 5 Signs Your Resume is Outdated, #4 was using outdated word processing programs or file formats.  The article that you are reading now is a more in-depth look at formatting and file types.

More than 500 million people are using Microsoft Word today so it would be a good assumption that you should email your resume as a Word attachment.  There are other word processing software on the market today and I still - on occasion - have a client who is using Word Perfect, Notepad, Lotus Notes, or an antiquated version of MS Word.  It makes sharing documents very difficult and worst of all - the client is not seeing or receiving the high-quality document I have created.

So for all of you holdouts using another other than a Microsoft Word version released in the last decade, I have strong advice for you...Get Microsoft Word!  Alternatively, OpenOffice.org has a freeware program that has a Word-compatible word processing application, Writer.  Though I have never used this program there are three things that immediately appeal to me about it.  First, it's free (hello!).  Second, it can open MS Word .DOC files and can save to .DOC files.  Third, it has out-of-the-box ability to export your documents to an Adobe PDF file.

I prefer sending a PDF version of a resume if sending by email.  Similar to taking a photograph of your document, a PDF document is neater and no matter how much formatting you have built into your resume, it will show up perfectly on the recipient's machine.  Your resume will look just the way you want it to regards of the hiring manager's computer settings, Word version, or font inventory.  Saving your document in PDF format is the only way to ensure your resume will be displayed exactly the way you intended it to be.

If you do not have a version of Microsoft Word that allows you to save in PDF format, you can simply download a free PDF software online.  There are many available for free download including pdf995 and cutePDF.  There are plenty of others too - just search for "free PDF download" and you'll have tons of freeware options.

It's important for proper, appropriate, and well-written resume content and formatting.  However, none of that will matter if the resume doesn't look the way you designed it to appear when the hiring manager opens it.  A professional resume writer can make sure that you have a well-written resume with high visibility statistics using well-researched resume strategy and ensure it gets to the reader in an appropriate format!  Want to talk to a professional resume to help you with your job search marketing campaign?  Click HERE to email Ramsey Penegar.

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Ramsey Penegar is an executive resume consultant and is certified as a  professional resume writer by the Professional Association of Resume Writers.  She has developed more than 650 resumes for executives all over the United States and for international clients as well.  With more than 10 years experience in marketing and sales, she has the skills to build effective job search marketing campaigns and attention-getting resumes.

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