PDF Guides
Resume PDF Preparation for Canadian Job Applications
Most Canadian employers and job boards — from a company's own applicant tracking system to boards like Indeed or Job Bank — ask for a resume as a PDF. It keeps your formatting intact regardless of the device or software the reader opens it with, which a Word document doesn't always guarantee.
Why PDF is the safer format to submit
A Word document can shift its layout depending on the fonts installed on the reader's computer, or the version of Word (or alternative software) they're using. A PDF looks the same everywhere — the spacing, fonts, and page breaks you see are exactly what the hiring manager sees.
How to prepare your resume as a PDF
The cleanest result comes from exporting directly from the document you wrote it in.
- Export directly to PDF from Word or Google Docs rather than printing to PDF or scanning a printout
- Check that the file opens correctly and the formatting looks right before submitting
- Compress it if it's unexpectedly large — a design-heavy template can bloat the file size well beyond what a resume needs
- Name the file clearly, like FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf, rather than a generic "Document1"
If a portal specifically asks for a Word document
Some applicant tracking systems parse Word documents more reliably than PDFs into their own database fields, and occasionally list .docx as the required format. Follow whatever the specific application asks for — when there's a choice, PDF is the safer default.
Frequently asked questions
Should I submit my resume as a Word doc or PDF?
PDF, unless the application specifically asks for a Word document. PDF preserves your formatting consistently across every device and viewer.
Will an applicant tracking system still be able to read my PDF?
Yes, as long as your resume is a real text-based document (exported from Word, Google Docs, etc.) and not a scanned image, which most ATS software can't parse.
Is my resume uploaded to a server when I convert or compress it here?
No. Both tools run entirely in your browser, so your resume never leaves your device before you submit it yourself.