Hey everyone, I had an opportunity to ask a large group of recruiters – “Do you read resumes in their original word format? Through a webpage? Through another program?” I was interested in finding out if style really matters, amongst other things 
The answers may surprise you……
- Hello Sam, Generally, resumes come to me via email as attachments in word or pdf format. Pdf is preferred, since word has several formats (ie: Microsoft 2003, 2007, etc).
- document attachments are preferred .. or a resume that’s formatted correctly in a copy/paste direct email to me. I will never follow a link to a website – it could potentially be a virus. Paperless – isn’t that the ONLY way to go!?
- Word Format, Bottom to top.
- Word format. I do not go to resume links either b/c of virus potetntial and b/c if someone cannot take the 5 seconds to attach a resume like I asked, I am not interested.
- In whatever format they arrive, though I prefer Word or pdf (to a lesser extent) I read left to right, top to bottom, once over fast, twice for where/what, third for specifics. During the interview, I test for step logic, market knowledge, business acumen and the ever-present soft skills.
- E-mail Attachments. *.doc or *.docx
- Generally via email or through our ATS system
- Hey, Sam! Word documents ONLY. Please don’t send me a pdf, or just cut and paste into the body of your email. The first is difficult to edit/reformat, and the second one shows a lack of professionalism. I never go to a link/website due to the virus factor.
- From left to right. I read them in email attachments, (Word documents usually) Never read them on job boards as I do not use internet candiadtes or boards. Sometimes I read them on my Blackberry as they come in late at night. (A recruiter never sleeps) I have gotten one or two in the mail which was quite effective, I read those much more carefully. Edit to add: PDF files are automatically deleted. Never send pdf. It’s rude. It ites up your computer and takes forever to load. PDF is a surefire way to ensure that your resume gets tossed aside.
- Word is usually the most common sent via email and saved to VMS systems like Taleo. I will scan monster and other job boards to see if the person is worth calling or adding to the Dbase but I usually ask them for a plain text format such as word to send to me to add to my system. This serves a few purposes, one I dont have to play around with the formatting from job boards, two I can upload an attachment much easier then saving a cut and paste and saving into word to import, three you usually get the most recent copy or resume geared towards your position if multi copies exist such as a Management vs a Hands on tech resume, and last of all you can see how serious they are about the position by the turn around time between your call and the emailed resume. So my long winded answer is Word.
- I receive almost all my resumes as attachments. I prefer Word documents, though I’ll read whatever format is sent (all resumes need to end up in Word, however). I scan once for career summary, years of experience, certifications/education, and applicable skills/tools; then I read more in depth for where/what. I rarely, if ever, read a resume from top to bottom; rather, I bounce to locate the information I need.
- Original format, doc or pdf
- If e-mailed I scan-view in html preview. Trash them if they don’t qualify. Save them if they closely qualify. Also print those out. Highlight them, make notes/questions on hardcopy. Have it available for phone/in-person interview. Would not read from website, unless it is a LinkedIn Profile. Do not/would not use another program.
- I prefer Word…I hate when it is in plain txt format!
- Word Format No webpage resumes No virtual resumes Not through another program – people still use Word Perfect?!!?
- Yes. Each of the above.
- Word is highly preferred.
- Extra dirty, with 3 olives! When working, mostly through e-mail directly from a candidate or through a job posting board.
- A dedicated recruiter will read a resume in whatever format you send it in. Most prefer it to be sent in a word or rich text format because that is easiest and most used. Primarly we will look at every format though because if the recruiter knows their client and how their client likes their resume they will end up re-formatting them anyway to make them easier to read, highlighting specific experience, and in the format the client prefers. I send every resume out in the same format so that they are easily recognized as being from my company and/or me. Some clients require no letterhead so this is a good way to get around that. The most important part of your resume is sending it with it geared toward the job and with information that is beneficial to the reader. The actual file type that it comes in will be a moot point if you are a great candidate for the job.
- yes in the original format; word and pdf are the most common
- Word Resumes
- Ideally formatted. Most Job boards will have that option
- As many have stated as a Word document. I especially agree with xxxx “if someone cannot take 5 seconds to attach…” what calibre of candidate can they possibly be? It’s about perception and a jobseeker should not be asking a hiring manager or recruiter to do anything extra i.e. follow a link, click too many times etc. Of course, it’s not just the format it’s received in that matters but importantly the content. What does it say about you?
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