Should I Submit My CV In Word Or PDF?

“I have been actively applying for jobs throughout this year with a CV in word format. I would like to get successful and different results in the New Year. Could I be making a mistake I have no idea about? Is there an established standard format for sending out a CV to a Kenyan employer?”
Your resume is your sales pitch. You wouldn’t want a sales pitch that sells you short or communicates the wrong message. You’ve thoroughly gone through the CV, highlighted your transferable skills, and triple-checked for any grammatical errors that could deny you the interview. Now the only question is how do you submit it? Should it be a PDF or Word document?
Our CV writing department goes through piles of documents to ensure that a candidate’s CV is well tailored for a job specification. They will deliver your CV in any format you want it. They recommend the points below that you should consider when unsure of which format to use in an application,
1. Applying to Recruiters or Large Companies? Use Word Format
Some big companies in Kenya like Cytonn Investments are now using electronic methods to screen job applications. A word document is the best fit for such companies with tracking systems. It’s also common practice for recruiters to remove applicant’s contact information from a CV before forwarding it to specific companies. So if you are submitting your resume to a recruiter, it will be thoughtful to use the (.doc or .docx) Word format
READ ALSO >>> Why Kenyan Employers Want Your CV In Word Format
2. If Applying to a Job Posted Online, Use the Format Specified
With the digital novelty, companies almost every company has turned to online methods to advertise for their vacant slots like LinkedIn, online websites and recruitment sites. In such cases, they will give clear instructions on the subject line, length of CV they require and the format that you should use to send your CV. Follow the format specified to ensure that you are not locked out.
3. What if there is no format specified in the job application?
In such cases, you should check employer’s previous job postings for any specification. Another great move will be to inquire which format is specified through emailing or calling and if this is not possible, then you can attach a word format and inform the employer that a PDF document is as well available in case they will need it in that format.
SEE ALSO >>> Best Tips On Kenyan CV Format
With this in mind, you shall be on top of the your job seeking game even as we wrap up 2017 and ensure that you get that interview call early next year. If you would like your CV tailor-made to what the employer is looking for, we shall offer you this service to ensure that you get different results in 2018.
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