Hey guys. I’m a graphic designer and marketer with 25 years of experience. Submitting my resume and portfolio have been an issue sending them in pdf format. Any suggestions in how to send it so recruiters will pick me first?
Mac or Windows can open PDF files. All of our proposals, qualification packets and collateral go out as PDFs.
I’d rather suspect it isn’t the format of your resume and portfolio. Getting picked first depends more on content.
What kind of PDF issues have you identified?
If you are submitting resumes in response to ads, what format do they request?
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It’s been a while, but I seem to recall hearing that MS Word is the preferred resume format due to HR automation systems being able to pull information out of a Word file (or something like that). Why they can’t (or don’t have as easy of a time) pulling information from a PDF, I don’t know. Like I said, it’s been a while, and I didn’t totally pay attention or retain all of the information since it isn’t applicable to me; but you might do a little research on that front. If you are applying to smaller design boutiques, they might not have an automated HR system per se.
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I agree with Steve_O…
You can’t go wrong using a Word document as your resume.
Also, how are you creating and saving your pdf file?
As already mentioned, most HR departments at mid-sized and larger companies use specialized software to parse and rate the applicant based on whatever criteria they feel is important. This software expects basic word/text files using generic fonts and layouts.
I’ve seen some designers send both a PDF and a Word file – one for tne art director and one for HR,
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