CV format: PDF vs Word doc?
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I assume your CV has personal contact info on it, such as mobile numbers, email address and the such. Agencies like to remove this information so that the only way you can be contacted is through them. In some cases, they will also reformat onto inhouse stationery to present all the CVs in a consistent manner.
I'm not a stalker, I just know things. Oh by the way, you're out of milk.
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
I don't have a problem removing contact details. It was the potential for them to reformat or remove bits that I was uneasy about. The amount of people here who have just told me to shut up and live with it have made me see sense I think. I call it the CP sanity check.
Simon
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I recently sent my CV to a recruiter in PDF format. He replied back saying that unfortunately they were unable to attach PDFs to their system, could I please send him the CV as a word doc. My instinct tells me this is slightly untrue and his real motive is that he wants to strip out my name and contact details and reformat it in their uniform style. I don't really want anyone mucking around with my CV, I want to be represented in the way I have written and laid out my CV. Part of me wants to call him on it and refuse to send the doc file. I'm worth a fee to him so he should work my way. I understand he wants to reduce his risk of them hiring me directly, but I'm happy to remove the contact details myself, I just don't like the idea of him changing things without me knowing about it. On the other hand, should I even care? He's (hopefully) going to find me work, why should I care what he does to my CV if it gets me work. Am I likely to find that all recruiters are the same anyway. And even if I stick to the PDF he is probably just going to re-type it anyway. I'm not really looking for advice on what I should do just some alternate perspectives or things to include in my considerations. Typing things out helps me weigh the situation. I'm leaning towards refusing his request, but I think I currently may be being naively blinded by my general dislike for other recruiters’ slightly immoral tactics I have experienced in the past. [Some background: I'm considering going into contracting. I've never done this before. Does that make a difference to the available job market and the type of companies I'll be dealing with? Perhaps many won't accept PDFs anyway? While I've had quite a few friends offer to get me interviews for permanent positions, I don't really have any contacts who will help me get contract work at the moment, so it seems that at least for the first few contracts I'm going to be relying on recruiters. So far this is the only recruiter I have spoken to and he seems nice enough.]
Simon
modified on Thursday, March 3, 2011 5:36 AM
I once knew a recruiter and she told me that the name and contact details are taken out so that the potential employer can't get in touch with you directly and forgo the payment of the recruitment company
As barmey as a sack of badgers Dude, if I knew what I was doing in life, I'd be rich, retired, dating a supermodel and laughing at the rest of you from the sidelines.
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I don't have a problem removing contact details. It was the potential for them to reformat or remove bits that I was uneasy about. The amount of people here who have just told me to shut up and live with it have made me see sense I think. I call it the CP sanity check.
Simon
As an employer, it would be very tempting for me to get in touch directly if the agency left your details in. Saying that, I have known agencies who do that - the more professional ones tend to leave your CV pretty much untouched; it's in their interest not to remove something that could be vital to your success in getting the job.
I'm not a stalker, I just know things. Oh by the way, you're out of milk.
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
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I recently sent my CV to a recruiter in PDF format. He replied back saying that unfortunately they were unable to attach PDFs to their system, could I please send him the CV as a word doc. My instinct tells me this is slightly untrue and his real motive is that he wants to strip out my name and contact details and reformat it in their uniform style. I don't really want anyone mucking around with my CV, I want to be represented in the way I have written and laid out my CV. Part of me wants to call him on it and refuse to send the doc file. I'm worth a fee to him so he should work my way. I understand he wants to reduce his risk of them hiring me directly, but I'm happy to remove the contact details myself, I just don't like the idea of him changing things without me knowing about it. On the other hand, should I even care? He's (hopefully) going to find me work, why should I care what he does to my CV if it gets me work. Am I likely to find that all recruiters are the same anyway. And even if I stick to the PDF he is probably just going to re-type it anyway. I'm not really looking for advice on what I should do just some alternate perspectives or things to include in my considerations. Typing things out helps me weigh the situation. I'm leaning towards refusing his request, but I think I currently may be being naively blinded by my general dislike for other recruiters’ slightly immoral tactics I have experienced in the past. [Some background: I'm considering going into contracting. I've never done this before. Does that make a difference to the available job market and the type of companies I'll be dealing with? Perhaps many won't accept PDFs anyway? While I've had quite a few friends offer to get me interviews for permanent positions, I don't really have any contacts who will help me get contract work at the moment, so it seems that at least for the first few contracts I'm going to be relying on recruiters. So far this is the only recruiter I have spoken to and he seems nice enough.]
Simon
modified on Thursday, March 3, 2011 5:36 AM
If that's what want, that's what they want. If you don't like it, don't work with them.
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I recently sent my CV to a recruiter in PDF format. He replied back saying that unfortunately they were unable to attach PDFs to their system, could I please send him the CV as a word doc. My instinct tells me this is slightly untrue and his real motive is that he wants to strip out my name and contact details and reformat it in their uniform style. I don't really want anyone mucking around with my CV, I want to be represented in the way I have written and laid out my CV. Part of me wants to call him on it and refuse to send the doc file. I'm worth a fee to him so he should work my way. I understand he wants to reduce his risk of them hiring me directly, but I'm happy to remove the contact details myself, I just don't like the idea of him changing things without me knowing about it. On the other hand, should I even care? He's (hopefully) going to find me work, why should I care what he does to my CV if it gets me work. Am I likely to find that all recruiters are the same anyway. And even if I stick to the PDF he is probably just going to re-type it anyway. I'm not really looking for advice on what I should do just some alternate perspectives or things to include in my considerations. Typing things out helps me weigh the situation. I'm leaning towards refusing his request, but I think I currently may be being naively blinded by my general dislike for other recruiters’ slightly immoral tactics I have experienced in the past. [Some background: I'm considering going into contracting. I've never done this before. Does that make a difference to the available job market and the type of companies I'll be dealing with? Perhaps many won't accept PDFs anyway? While I've had quite a few friends offer to get me interviews for permanent positions, I don't really have any contacts who will help me get contract work at the moment, so it seems that at least for the first few contracts I'm going to be relying on recruiters. So far this is the only recruiter I have spoken to and he seems nice enough.]
Simon
modified on Thursday, March 3, 2011 5:36 AM
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I recently sent my CV to a recruiter in PDF format. He replied back saying that unfortunately they were unable to attach PDFs to their system, could I please send him the CV as a word doc. My instinct tells me this is slightly untrue and his real motive is that he wants to strip out my name and contact details and reformat it in their uniform style. I don't really want anyone mucking around with my CV, I want to be represented in the way I have written and laid out my CV. Part of me wants to call him on it and refuse to send the doc file. I'm worth a fee to him so he should work my way. I understand he wants to reduce his risk of them hiring me directly, but I'm happy to remove the contact details myself, I just don't like the idea of him changing things without me knowing about it. On the other hand, should I even care? He's (hopefully) going to find me work, why should I care what he does to my CV if it gets me work. Am I likely to find that all recruiters are the same anyway. And even if I stick to the PDF he is probably just going to re-type it anyway. I'm not really looking for advice on what I should do just some alternate perspectives or things to include in my considerations. Typing things out helps me weigh the situation. I'm leaning towards refusing his request, but I think I currently may be being naively blinded by my general dislike for other recruiters’ slightly immoral tactics I have experienced in the past. [Some background: I'm considering going into contracting. I've never done this before. Does that make a difference to the available job market and the type of companies I'll be dealing with? Perhaps many won't accept PDFs anyway? While I've had quite a few friends offer to get me interviews for permanent positions, I don't really have any contacts who will help me get contract work at the moment, so it seems that at least for the first few contracts I'm going to be relying on recruiters. So far this is the only recruiter I have spoken to and he seems nice enough.]
Simon
modified on Thursday, March 3, 2011 5:36 AM
I continually tell recruiters that I do not want to be in their system, I just want access to the particular posting. I have considered scanning my résumé in pdf for passing about. To be honest, I can live with them taking out my contact details but what I cannot stand is, "Oh, well, we just reformatted your résumé to a format our clients are used to" p*es me off.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
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I continually tell recruiters that I do not want to be in their system, I just want access to the particular posting. I have considered scanning my résumé in pdf for passing about. To be honest, I can live with them taking out my contact details but what I cannot stand is, "Oh, well, we just reformatted your résumé to a format our clients are used to" p*es me off.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
I knew you'd agree with me. :laugh: I think though you are far more experienced in the contracting world than I am and have a solid client base to fall back on. I've got nothing, so I'm going to have to play the recruiters game to begin with even if I don't really like it. Like others have said, what have I got to lose.
Simon
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I recently sent my CV to a recruiter in PDF format. He replied back saying that unfortunately they were unable to attach PDFs to their system, could I please send him the CV as a word doc. My instinct tells me this is slightly untrue and his real motive is that he wants to strip out my name and contact details and reformat it in their uniform style. I don't really want anyone mucking around with my CV, I want to be represented in the way I have written and laid out my CV. Part of me wants to call him on it and refuse to send the doc file. I'm worth a fee to him so he should work my way. I understand he wants to reduce his risk of them hiring me directly, but I'm happy to remove the contact details myself, I just don't like the idea of him changing things without me knowing about it. On the other hand, should I even care? He's (hopefully) going to find me work, why should I care what he does to my CV if it gets me work. Am I likely to find that all recruiters are the same anyway. And even if I stick to the PDF he is probably just going to re-type it anyway. I'm not really looking for advice on what I should do just some alternate perspectives or things to include in my considerations. Typing things out helps me weigh the situation. I'm leaning towards refusing his request, but I think I currently may be being naively blinded by my general dislike for other recruiters’ slightly immoral tactics I have experienced in the past. [Some background: I'm considering going into contracting. I've never done this before. Does that make a difference to the available job market and the type of companies I'll be dealing with? Perhaps many won't accept PDFs anyway? While I've had quite a few friends offer to get me interviews for permanent positions, I don't really have any contacts who will help me get contract work at the moment, so it seems that at least for the first few contracts I'm going to be relying on recruiters. So far this is the only recruiter I have spoken to and he seems nice enough.]
Simon
modified on Thursday, March 3, 2011 5:36 AM
If he's actively looking for work for you, and you are not, then who cares. However if you apply on your own to a place he sent your resume (in a different format, with different content), it may hurt your chances.
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" — Hunter S. Thompson
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How would you feel if asked for hand written Latin by someone who you knew only knew Latin superficially and was going to edit it by cutting up your work with a pair of scissors and stitching it back together? You’re the biggest pedantic here, are you telling me your happy to let someone else edit a document that represents you when you know they are not an expert in the subject matter. ;)
Simon
Simon P Stevens wrote:
You’re the biggest pedantic here
That should be "You're the biggest pedant here". ;) Andy B
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I recently sent my CV to a recruiter in PDF format. He replied back saying that unfortunately they were unable to attach PDFs to their system, could I please send him the CV as a word doc. My instinct tells me this is slightly untrue and his real motive is that he wants to strip out my name and contact details and reformat it in their uniform style. I don't really want anyone mucking around with my CV, I want to be represented in the way I have written and laid out my CV. Part of me wants to call him on it and refuse to send the doc file. I'm worth a fee to him so he should work my way. I understand he wants to reduce his risk of them hiring me directly, but I'm happy to remove the contact details myself, I just don't like the idea of him changing things without me knowing about it. On the other hand, should I even care? He's (hopefully) going to find me work, why should I care what he does to my CV if it gets me work. Am I likely to find that all recruiters are the same anyway. And even if I stick to the PDF he is probably just going to re-type it anyway. I'm not really looking for advice on what I should do just some alternate perspectives or things to include in my considerations. Typing things out helps me weigh the situation. I'm leaning towards refusing his request, but I think I currently may be being naively blinded by my general dislike for other recruiters’ slightly immoral tactics I have experienced in the past. [Some background: I'm considering going into contracting. I've never done this before. Does that make a difference to the available job market and the type of companies I'll be dealing with? Perhaps many won't accept PDFs anyway? While I've had quite a few friends offer to get me interviews for permanent positions, I don't really have any contacts who will help me get contract work at the moment, so it seems that at least for the first few contracts I'm going to be relying on recruiters. So far this is the only recruiter I have spoken to and he seems nice enough.]
Simon
modified on Thursday, March 3, 2011 5:36 AM
It's just a file format. I wouldn't argue with somebody over that. FYI: I think I was only able to upload DOC files to Monster.com (I think it converts it to HTML so it can be displayed in a browser, and they were not able to read PDF's at the time).