"PDF or Word?" is one of the most common resume questions, and the advice online contradicts itself. The short version: the type of PDF matters more than the fact that it is a PDF.
Text-based PDF vs image-based PDF
A text-based PDF is created by saving or exporting from a word processor. The words are stored as text, so you can select, copy and search them. Modern ATS parsers generally read these without trouble.
An image-based PDF is effectively a picture of a page: a scan, a photo, or a file where the text was flattened into an image or converted to shapes by a design tool. There is no text for the parser to read, so the ATS sees an empty or nearly empty resume.
How to test your PDF in 30 seconds
- Open the PDF and try to highlight a sentence with your cursor.
- Press Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on a Mac) and search for your last name.
- Select all the text, copy it and paste it into a plain text editor.
If you cannot select the text, the search finds nothing or the pasted text is jumbled, fix the file before you apply.
PDF or Word: which should you send?
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| The posting names a format | Use that format, always |
| Online application portal, no format stated | .docx is the most universally safe; a clean text-based PDF is usually fine too |
| Emailing a recruiter or hiring manager | PDF, so your layout looks the same on every device |
| Your resume relies on special fonts or design | Simplify it first; a design-heavy PDF is the riskiest option |
How to export a clean PDF
- In Microsoft Word: File, Save As, PDF (or File, Export, Create PDF).
- In Google Docs: File, Download, PDF document.
- Avoid printing to an image, scanning a printed copy or using design tools that convert text into shapes.
- Use standard fonts so characters are encoded normally.
- Don't add a password or editing restrictions.
- Name the file clearly: Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf.
Other file formats
- .doc (older Word format): usually accepted, but .docx is the modern standard.
- Apple Pages files and document links: export to .docx or PDF before you upload.
- Images such as .jpg or .png: never use them for a resume upload.
Checking your resume with Go Resume Go
Copy the text from your file and paste it into the scanner. If the pasted text comes out in the wrong order, treat that as a warning sign in itself; tables and columns are the usual cause, and contact details can vanish from headers and footers. For the other formatting checks, see the full ATS-friendly resume checklist.