Save a CV – PDF or DOC?

In the past, CVs were often delivered in person in paper form. At that time, the most important issue was how to write a CV that would interest the recruiter and whether it was necessary to sign it. Now, however, when online job advertisements and online recruitment interviews dominate, we also have the question of the format of the CV in which it should be saved.

In What Format Should We Send the CV?

We usually consider two main formats – DOC and PDF. Which one is worth choosing? As recruiters emphasize – PDF. Why? There are two main reasons. First of all, you don’t have to worry that when the recruiter opens this file on their computer, its content, colloquially speaking, will “fall apart”.

It is also worth remembering that during a recruitment interview, the person conducting it likes to have a printed employee’s CV in front of them. Unfortunately, just like in the case of opening the application itself, so when printing it, when the file is in a Doc format, the data included in the CV may change its position when printed. While a cut decorative element may not be significant, a fragment of our experience certainly is. Most job applicants use Word (Microsoft Office) to create their resume though.

Importantly, changes cannot be made to the PDF file, so we do not have to worry that anything will be added or removed from it without our consent. A CV in PDF format also reduces the likelihood that it will be read incorrectly by the programs used by the recruiter, in which the search for information about the candidate is carried out, for example, based on keywords.

How to Change CV Format from DOC to PDF?

If we create a CV in Word Doc, the first thing that usually comes to mind is to save it as a PDF. So how do we change its format now? The easiest option is to use the option that Word itself offers us, i.e. when saving the document, just expand the slider with formats and select PDF. Remember to take another close look before sending your CV to the recruiter to make sure that no data has been moved.

We can also use online tools such as Smallpdf or SwifDoo’s Word to PDF Online Converter. 

What Program Should I Use to Create a CV?

Until recently, the most popular CV creation program was Word. Now, however, more and more people decide to create more creative CVs using free online graphic programs. Users can start with a blank document and create their own CV in Word based on their own ideas or choose from a variety of professional CV templates. In just a few minutes, you can illustrate your career progression.

There are also many creators on the web that make it easier for users to create a CV.

How to Edit a CV in PDF

So how do you edit a CV in the right format? The easiest way to do it is definitely in a CV creator, where you will get a ready-made CV template to fill out online and save immediately in PDF, but also Word and TXT (none of the free CV creators have these functions ).

Of course, you can also save a ready-made CV in Word after editing as a PDF by selecting the appropriate option, such as the SwifDoo PDF for Windows.

In Closing

CV in PDF or DOC¸ or maybe some other format? If you are wondering about this, we have only one good answer for you: HR experts definitely choose PDF. Such an extension gives a hundred percent certainty that when opened on the employer’s computer or printed, the file will look exactly as you saved it.

This is especially important due to the growing popularity of CVs with graphic elements, which tend to be displayed differently on different devices.