The Three Worst File Types To Use When Sending Your Resume

In a previous post I discussed the best ways to send your resume via email – as a Word or PDF attachment. Sending in Word as a DOC or RTF file or as a PDF is your best bet because they are the most widely used out there. However in the case of PDF’s, be aware that non-text based PDF’s cannot be read by most applicant tracking systems. So when applying to larger companies it is a better idea to stick to DOC and RTF in Word, or even in some cases a TXT file (particularly when asked by a website to upload with that option listed). The whole point in applying is to get your resume in the hands of someone who makes hiring decisions so that you can be selected for an interview; if your resume can’t be read or opened from the start, the entire point is nullified. I have seen more than one exceptional candidate passed over because his/her resume was not able to be viewed.

Let me start with the three worst file types you can send your resume in. If you are using any of these, and have not garnered much response, the file type you are using may be largely to blame.

OpenOffice.org ODT

The biggest problem with ODT is that it is not universally supported by Microsoft Word (with the exception of MS Office 2010), and thus for the majority of resumes cannot be opened properly. In theory OpenOffice’s goal was to have an open standard file type, but that goal is far from coming to fruition. Even in the case of MS Office 2010, it is not used near widely enough to assume your resume in ODT can be viewed by anyone but a small number of people.

Microsoft DOCX

I know, some of you reading this right now may be scoffing at this because DOCX is becoming more common, after all it is an XML based version of MS Word. The problem though is that only more current versions of Microsoft Word are able to open DOCX. Again, the issue is that you will find that the majority of MS Word users have versions that are not as current, and thus will be unable to open your resume. And even if they can, any use of fonts that are outside the use of more generic fonts like Times New Roman or Arial will not be seen as you intended. It’s just as simple to save as a DOC and save yourself potential problems, so take an extra five seconds to do so and send that way instead.

JPG

While this option may be the safest of the three listed here, it can also be an issue when it comes to resume viewers who do not know what a JPG is (seems absurd, but I’ve seen it more than a few times), or when a resume saved as a JPG from a lower end software with low resolution meet high-resolution printers. The image is just not going to look right. The other major problem is that when it comes time to update your resume, you better have it saved in the program it was initially created in before saving as a JPG. You can’t edit a JPG (just like a PDF), so having just that to go by will mean having to recreate it from scratch.

One last file type that is not necessarily a problem but that also may not exactly be the best way to send in either is a TXT file. The reason is that it is basic computer text, and does not allow for any frills, fancy fonts or catchy formatting that can be created in MS Word. If your resume portrays a basic feel, your candidacy may reflect that also. TXT is interchangeable with another term you may have heard – ASCII. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the trick some resume writers use to fatten their pocketbooks with “necessary” services (converting a Word DOC to text).

The best file types to use are Microsoft Word as a DOC, as an RTF (Rich Text Format) or as a PDF in adobe. I will address these more specifically in an upcoming post, but be aware of these now because they are the most universally used and thus the easiest accessible by the vast majority. If your resume cannot be viewed in the file type you are using, you are spinning the hamster wheel – exerting lots of energy for no benefit.