Submitting a Resume by Email

[Clarkey]

Just a small question guys.

I am ready to send off a bunch of resume's via email. I'm wondering what file type I should use, Word or PDF? PDF is good for viewing stuff but it's also a bit of a pain to use and I think most people find them annoying. Word files are the standard but not as easy to read, especially if someone is just scanning.

Any opinions on which format I should use?

[Ironhorse]

I would much prefer to see a PDF myself. More universal, just about any recruiter will have a PDF reader on their computer. And you're not dependant on whether or not they have MS Word, what version, fonts etc.

And a word to the wise: don't send the resume out to 20 recipients at once, esp. with all the other recipients showing in the To: field. Take the time to address each one individually.

[Cube Inmate]

Why not both? The files can't be that big can they?

[JiriHrdina]

Word can also muck up your formatting that you've taken time to fine-tune on your resume.

In a previous job I looked at thousands of resumes give me a PDF every time.

One thing and this might be common sense (but so often it would get overlooked). Treat your email like your cover letter. I used to get tons where there was no message - just a resume attached. No message. No "HEY I NEED A JOB". Nothing. Needless to say they were all sent to the circular file.

[FlamesAddiction]

I made mine into an HTML and hosted it on a webspace, and just sent out the link.

Not sure if it's a good idea or not though. I added the word document in rich text format on the web page in case they wanted to print it out.

Before that, I was just sending the word document.


It's actually a very good question. I was never quite sure what to do either.

[Clarkey]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Word can also muck up your formatting that you've taken time to fine-tune on your resume.

In a previous job I looked at thousands of resumes give me a PDF every time.

One thing and this might be common sense (but so often it would get overlooked). Treat your email like your cover letter. I used to get tons where there was no message - just a resume attached. No message. No "HEY I NEED A JOB". Nothing. Needless to say they were all sent to the circular file.

Thanks for the responses guys. I think I'll go with pdf. I've always personalized every resume I send out, and I'll keep doing it.

JH, Would you consider the following email to be sufficient so accompany a cover letter/resume?

---------------------------
Dear Soinso,

I am interested in the XYZ position posted on your website, please see my attached cover letter and resume. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Clarkey
-----------------------

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

---------------------------
Dear Soinso,

I am interested in the XYZ position posted on your website, please see my attached cover letter and resume. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Clarkey
-----------------------

I think you should try to find out their real name. "Dear Soinso" seems a little informal to me.

[T I M]

I always put the resume in the body of the email, after the "cover letter", with the resume attached in word format. Then even if they don't like/have word, they still have a copy of my resume in the email, see: covering all your bases.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Put a brief message in your e-mail, like the one above... but keep it short.

I usually do this and then attach a more detailed cover letter along with my resume and any other documents the employer is requesting.

As for file format, I've always gone with word documents but I can see how that might cause problems with any sort of formatting you've done... PDF is probably a better choice. It can't be tampered with, either.

[Frank the Tank]

Don't most places state a preference? I know we do. PDF only for us, but thats due to our industry more than anything.

[ken0042]

When you generate the PDF, keep in mind the size of the final product. A 4 page resume shouldn't have to be over 200 KB (in fact it can be smaller.) If it ends up being 2MB you may find your resume gets archived sooner as many companies have Exchange folder size limits. If it's smaller there's a greater chance it will remain in the active file a little longer.

[BlackEleven]

If its a tech job, I would definitely go with PDF. I use a Linux machine at work and get very annoyed when someone sends me a .doc file. I can open it in Open Office, but there's no guarantee it will look the same...

[Frank the Tank]

I will not read any resume over two pages. And two pages is pushing it for me. I LOVE a one page resume. Short, to the point and clean. I don't care if you were in band in grade 9.

[Ironhorse]

I should also add that a lot of places (including my shop) will block emails with MS Word attachments, due to the proliferation of viruses that could be contained in them..

[MarchHare]

In my experience, most employers will specifiy which format they wish to receive resumes in. Nine times out of ten, Word is what they're looking for, but every now and then another format is preferred. I just keep three copies of my resume on file: one in Word, one in PDF, and one in ASCII plain text.

[tvp2003]

Depends on the job... I applied to a bunch of law firms last year and it is common to send things via PDF (of course, I didn't have any way of converting my application from word into pdf, so I sent it as a word document anyways!).

Also, if you have to send a copy of your transcripts, etc. a pdf might make the file smaller (I scanned my transcripts and added the image into the word document... needless to say, a couple of full size, high-res photos made the document very large).

If you are sending it to an office type job, either should be fine... just be sure to put something in the body of the email (as you've done above) so the reader knows what they are receiving.

[mykalberta]

All intra company unless otherwise requested format is PDF.

Its easy(free) enough to convert word docs to PDF.

Just make sure you follow up the Email with a phone call approx 1-2 weeks after.

MYK

[edn88]

PDF Format is the way to go.

Webpage is a great idea - if you are applying for a web related job - and your website should be spectacular.

[Flashpoint]

I hire people to test video games. Needless to say I get a lot of applications from all walks of life.

Your resume should be 1 page, and tailored to make me want to ask you questions in the interview. I go through dozens of resumes a day. Catch my attention. Include RELEVANT work experience. I don't care what you did 10 years ago. Educaton is great, but unless you are a Rhodes Scholar, I don't care what your GPA in college was. Tell me something about yourself that indicates you are used to working as part of a team - you played a sport, were in a band, enjoyed D&D as a child. Hobbies are a great topic of conversation.

You should always include a 1 page cover letter directed to why you want to work in MY company, and what your goals for helping my company are. If you send a generic 3 line letter, it shows that you don't have the work ethic I am looking for. It is fine for your email to serve as your cover letter, so long as it is professionally written (i.e. don't use 3liteSpeak with your Rubmypelt69@hotmail account).

Get someone to proof read your resume and cover letter. If you can't spell, you probably don't have the communication skills, or attention to detail I need in an employee. It puts you behind the other 52 resumes I got today right off the bat.

I prefer PDF format.

[Agamemnon]

I've gotten my last 3 jobs by sending out emails in Word format. I think a lot of employers might prefer Word because chances are they're not that technically savvy, and like working in stuff they know (Word). Also, sometimes on corporate machines Adobe takes forevor to load... pretty minor point, but it may rankle someone to have to wait 10 seconds for your resume to load.