So you’ve finally decided to re-write your CV, polish it up and submit it to some potential employers, job sites and recruitment agencies. But what format should you save your CV in? There are a few different common file formats that are used in business and you may be wondering what is the best file format for a CV?
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What File Format is Best for Your CV?
We recommend Microsoft Word (.docx) as the most suitable file format for your CV. The Microsoft Word format is universally known and can be both imported and exported by all the major word processing software packages.
At the time this article was written, over 73% of all computers globally are running the Windows operating system.
Using Microsoft Word (.docx) as your file format allows for recruitment agents and hiring managers to edit your document to make appropriate changes and make accompanying notes ahead of a job interview.
Recruitment agents will find the Word format useful so that they are able to remove any personal details ahead of forwarding them on to hiring businesses.
As a well-recognised file format, any job boards or recruitment agents utilising software allowing them to scan CV documents for keywords will be able to access your CV.
Should you always use Microsoft Word (.docx) for your CV?
For the vast majority of people, the Word format will be enough. The formatting power within Microsoft Word and other leading software packages will allow you to create documents that display all the relevant information in an attractive manner.
However, for people looking to go a step beyond and create something more visual and eye-grabbing they may find the PDF file format is the most appropriate.
In a competitive jobs market, it is often the case where you need to stand out in order to secure a job interview and this can definitely be said of the creative industries. When applying directly to companies for job roles where creativity is a must, creating something more visual can be a great way to grab their attention.
Software for creating a CV
Here are some great software options to get you started on creating your CV.
- Microsoft Word
- Google Documents (Free)
- Open Office (Free)
- Pages (Mac)
- LibreOffice (Free)
Templates for creating your CV
Most of the above software options will have templates built-in that you can begin editing straight away. However, if they are not to your taste and you want something different, have a look at the resources below for high-quality CV templates that you can import into any of the above software packages and begin to tweak right away with your details to make a CV that really looks impressive.
