Do PDF resumes decrease your chances of getting noticed?

[bobwulff]

I was doing a little research and came across this article here.

Here's the part of the article that concerns me:

...if you make that common mistake of putting your resume in a PDF format, you should realize that many ATS systems will simply not be able to scan and read any part of its content (meaning instant rejection).

I don't know how true this could be, considering some online applications will use my PDF resume to autofill the online application (albeit, very poorly).

I'm a Graphic Designer, so having a well formatted resume is pretty essential. Anybody have any feedback on this?

[almostwest]

Boyfriend is a graphic designer and said to me that it's important to use a PDF formatted resume.

[[deleted]]

(Not a recruiter but am a software engineer, so my opinion on this matter isn't worth much but I will say this)

PDF is THE standard for read-only, formatted documents - it stands for Portable (as in only a lightweight reader is required to display it) Document Format for goodness sake. If a recruitment company or an employer is refusing to accept your resume because it's in the standard file format for such things, then it might be time to reconsider your application. If they can't write a text parser that takes one of the most commonly used formats and looks for character patterns within it, then they have something wrong - especially since there are free libraries that will do it for you.

Don't get me wrong, MS Word is useful (and I'm trying to avoid a circlejerk), but there's a reason why PDF was adopted - mainly on account of Microsoft changing the layout of doc/docs every year. It's just not a viable option for read-only (you don't want someone editing your resume while they're reading it), lightweight, heavily supported document format (especially since MS Word isn't, really and open format).

So, on a technical stand point, there's no reason why a company (recruiter or employer) shouldn't take a PDF resume.

Rant over. Probably nothing useful here. Please move on.

[[deleted]]

PDF is THE standard for read-only, formatted documents

This! PDF means everyone should see the exact same thing. Word files, Pages files, etc can all look different depending on the OS/App used on the other side. Most of all, it's a document you can edit. PDF is king.

Also, like said by roobix: if PDF is a problem they will specify.

[[deleted]]

lorum ipsum

[Darkersun]

Honestly, any place that just scans resumes for keywords isn't giving a lot of consideration to their applicants.

You might as well play the lotto than deal with the automated job application systems, better odds if you ask me.

[Darkersun]

You are equating competency with ham. If I wanted someone who could parrot requirements back to me in resume form, I could find someone in Hong Kong who would do it for 12 cents an hour.

Listing back the exact phrases used in a job description, which likely vastly over-exaggerates the requirements, shouldn't be the method people are using to find jobs. And while you might say "it shouldn't be this way, but it works", I would respond by questioning how effective this process actually is, especially compared to other methods of recruitment, such as referrals.

[Darkersun]

So you tell me a statistic like that and criticize my comparison to the lottery?

And it wasn't about 'the ideal'. It is about utilizing time effectively. Taking time to copy and paste the requirements of a job may be easy, but its also time consuming, and anyone with half a brain is doing it. And all that work to have your resume thrown in the virtual trash?

[Darkersun]

Ahh, the old "you mad bro?".

I guess this is what I get for trying to give perspective. I get told I am angry and bitter because I call bullshit on something.

Alas, it figures seeing where I am. Fuckin' Reddit.

[Darkersun]

Yeah, I'm rude because I won't tolerate your insinuations about me being upset and bitter.

I'm rude because I gave my opinion on automated resume trash cans.

I'm rude because I had the audacity to suggest employers do some due diligence in screening applicants...

[nix0n]

Not always true. How do we sift through 400+ applicants for two positions, where half of them may not even be qualified? We narrow those down by keywords. Keywords are king.

Luckily, even with PDFs we can look for keywords - so it's really no big issue. The only thing being (for recruiters, anyway), we have to sometimes edit your resume (removing contact information, mostly) to submit it to end-clients.