Cv Formats

Your CV format is the file you actually send: PDF, Word or a fillable form. The wrong choice does more than spoil the layout — it can make the document unreadable to hiring software. This guide covers which format to pick and when, and how to confirm your file will be read exactly as you wrote it.

The steps

1. Use PDF for the final send: the layout is fixed on every device
2. Keep a Word copy for edits and for employers who demand one
3. Only use a fillable form when the employer explicitly asks for it
4. Open the exported file, copy all the text and paste it into a plain editor to confirm it is readable
5. Name the file with your name and the role, never 'CV-final-2'

Practical tips

• A PDF exported from software or a CV editor beats a scanned PDF every time
• Avoid embedded images — the software reads the text, not the picture
• If the ad asks for Word, send Word and attach the PDF as a supplement
• The real pass/fail test is whether the text in your file is selectable

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending a photo or screenshot of your CV as a PDF
• Exporting Word with substituted fonts, which breaks the layout
• Sending a fillable version the system does not read as a text document
• Giving the file a generic name so the recruiter cannot file it correctly

Frequently asked questions

Should I send my CV as PDF or Word?

PDF by default, because it locks the layout on any device. Send Word only when the ad requires it or the file feeds software that needs editable text.

How do I know my format is ATS-compatible?

Open the file, select all the text, copy it and paste it into a plain text editor. If it appears ordered and readable, the file is text-based and compatible; if it is scrambled, incomplete or cannot be selected at all, it is an image — export it again.