Almost every job posting asks for the resume as a PDF, and with good reason: it is the only format that looks the same on every screen and that every applicant tracking system reads without trouble. The practical question is how to get to that PDF, especially when the only computer available is a phone.
This guide compares the possible formats, shows the three ways to generate the file (including the full step-by-step from a phone) and reviews the export mistakes that ruin a well-written resume.
In this guide
Why PDF and not Word or an image
The choice of format looks like a minor detail and it is not. The same resume can arrive perfect or broken depending on how it is saved:
| Format | How it reaches the recruiter | ATS reading | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identical to how it was designed, on any device | No problems if the text is real | The standard | |
| Word (.docx) | Can shift depending on the version and installed fonts | Good | Only if the posting asks for it |
| Photo or scan (JPG, PNG, scanned PDF) | Visible, but the text cannot be selected | None: the system finds no text | Never |
| Canva or another link to view online | Depends on the connection and the link staying active | The ATS does not open links | Never as the only submission |
Word deserves a nuance: some processes explicitly ask for it because the company edits or anonymizes resumes. There, send Word. In every other case, PDF.
A PDF guarantees nothing on its own: if it was generated by scanning a sheet of paper or exporting an image, the text does not exist for the system that processes it. The quick test: if the text in the PDF cannot be selected with the cursor, to an ATS that resume is blank.
Option 1: with an online tool
The most direct option, and the only one that also helps with the content. A builder like chooseme runs in the browser (computer or phone, nothing to install), guides section by section and exports a one-column PDF on Letter size, with real text, built to pass automated filters.
The advantage is not only the final file. Writing a good resume is harder than exporting it, and a dedicated tool suggests what to put in each section, something no text editor does. For the content itself, the complete guide to writing a resume covers each section with examples.
Option 2: with a text editor and export
The classic route: write the resume in Word, Google Docs or LibreOffice and export it.
- In Word: File → Save As → choose "PDF" as the file type (or File → Export → Create PDF/XPS). Prefer this over third-party "print to PDF" drivers, some of which flatten the page into an image.
- In Google Docs: File → Download → PDF Document (.pdf).
- In LibreOffice: File → Export as PDF, with the default options.
Before exporting, one final pass: page size set to Letter (8.5 x 11 in), even margins, a single typeface, no floating text boxes (ATS software reads them badly or not at all). After exporting, open the PDF and verify two things: that nothing has shifted and that the text can be selected.
Option 3: from a phone, step by step
Making a resume PDF from a phone is entirely feasible, and for many people it is the only option. Two paths:
With an online tool (recommended):
- Open the phone's browser and go to the tool (no app needed).
- Fill in the guided sections; autosave prevents losing progress if the session drops.
- Tap download or export: the PDF lands in the downloads folder, ready to attach from email or a job board app.
With Google Docs on the phone:
- Install the Google Docs app (free, and preinstalled on many Android phones).
- Create a new document and write the resume in a single column with clear headings. Editing formatting on a phone is awkward: the simpler the layout, the better the result.
- Tap the three-dot menu → Share & export → Save as → PDF.
- Open the generated PDF and review it in full before sending: page breaks behave differently than on screen.
What never to do from a phone: write the resume on paper and send a photo of it, or run it through a "photo to PDF" app. The result is an image, unreadable for any automated filter and hard to read for a human.
Export mistakes that ruin a resume
The most frequent ones, all avoidable:
- Resume as a photo or scan. The most serious mistake. The document looks like a normal PDF but contains no text: the screening system processes it as empty and rejects it. How those filters work and how to get past them is explained in the guide to ATS-friendly resumes.
- Fonts that break. Unusual typefaces that are not embedded get replaced by others and shift everything. With standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Georgia) the problem disappears.
- Wrong page size. A resume set up in A4 opens on a US recruiter's screen with odd margins and prints clipped on Letter paper. Check the page setup before exporting.
- Exporting only part of it. In documents longer than one page, some apps export only the visible page. Check that the PDF has every page.
- A file that is too heavy. A text resume weighs under 1 MB. If it weighs 8 MB, something is excess (a high-resolution image, for instance) and some application forms reject it.
- The wrong version. Saving ten versions with similar names ends in sending the wrong one. This and other avoidable slips are in the list of mistakes that get a resume rejected.
The file name counts too
It is the first thing the recruiter sees in their inbox, before opening anything. The convention that works: `First-Last-Resume.pdf`, or `First-Last-Resume-Position.pdf` when managing versions by posting.
What to avoid: generic names (`Resume.pdf`, `cv.pdf`) that get lost among hundreds of identical files, version markers (`resume_final_v3(2).pdf`) that signal disorder, and someone else's name, which happens when the resume was built on top of a friend's file.
Frequently asked questions
Why send a resume as a PDF and not as a Word file?
Because a PDF looks identical on any device and software version, while a Word file can shift depending on the fonts installed on the machine that opens it. The exception: if the posting explicitly asks for Word, send Word.
Can I make a resume PDF from my phone?
Yes, two ways: an online tool in the browser (which also guides the content and exports straight to PDF) or the Google Docs app, writing the resume and using Share & export → Save as → PDF. The only thing to avoid is sending a photo of the resume.
Is a photo or scan of a resume saved as a PDF acceptable?
No. Even if the file ends in .pdf, its content is an image: applicant tracking systems find no text and reject it. The test is simple: if the text in the PDF cannot be selected with the cursor, it is an image.
How do I convert a Google Docs resume to PDF?
From a computer: File → Download → PDF Document. From the phone app: three-dot menu → Share & export → Save as → PDF. In both cases, open the resulting PDF and check the page breaks before sending it.
What should the resume file be named?
`First-Last-Resume.pdf` is the safe convention, with the position added when managing versions by posting. Generic names like `Resume.pdf` get lost in the recruiter's inbox, and `final_v3(2)` signals disorder.
How large should a resume PDF be?
Under 1 MB in almost every case. A larger file usually indicates a high-resolution image or an unnecessary graphic background, and some application forms reject large files.