.doc or .pdf for job applications?

[9M_JON]

What would be the prefered format for sending out cover letter, CV & applications?I personally prefer .pdf. You can't see those green or red errors associated with MS word.It's harder to edit & print the way it looks.Do all empoyers have acrobat reader or they wouldn't even bother if it is not .doc?:confused:

[timmcat]

Agreed, I think CV's should be sent in pdf... however, when I started to e-mail documents out in pdf instead of 'Word', I got tired of the 'that file you sent me won't open' calls, so went back to Word.

Despite what I thought not everyone has Acrobat Reader.

[Bre901]

If you are using Word, you should be aware that the files contain much more information than is actually visible (deleted words, edits, etc.)

The safest would be to use the RTF format (File/save as...). Another benefit is that RTF does NOT support macros, hence no virus piggybacking.

RTF files can be read with Word, Wordpad, and a lot of readers ( the search for RTF reader in Google yields more than 200 000 answers !)

[SeldomFixit]

On a related issue - having scanned an application form and saved it as " editable text" format into MS Word, I can't add anything at all. How do I scan a doc, save as Word.doc and then be able to edit it in Word ?

[under_exposed]

Stick to Word, that's what most HR departments will convert them to.
Brought a book on better CV writing recently, did not realise how old fashioned mine was.