Part of my job is to hire and so I end up looking at a lot of resumes.
The vast majority of resumes are PDF files, although sometimes I encounter something different like .docx.
I try to not let that bias me but it inherently makes me think less of the candidate when they submit a resume that strays from this de facto standard.
A PDF file has several advantages -
- Interoperability - The PDF enjoys support from a wide range of applications and software. Almost every piece of software knows how to open it or export to it (where applicable). Compare that to a
.docxwhich my browser can't even natively open (causing me the added inconvenience of downloading the file and opening it in another application like a caveman). - Formatting - PDF files allow for richer formatting including text, images, and basic styling. It is a compiled format that optimizes for presentation. Misspelled words don't appear with red squiggly lines everywhere. A PDF also ensures that your document renders consistently on every platform so that it looks the same however it is viewed.
- (Lack of) Editability - PDF files can not be (easily) edited by accident (or maliciously).
Ultimately, when I see a non-PDF file I have to assume that the creator either did not know how to render their document as a PDF or did not want to take the extra 10 seconds to do so.
For a candidate applying for a technical position, I'm not sure which is worse. 🙈