DOCX vs PDF for US Job Applications — Which Should You Use?

If you’re applying for jobs in the United States, one of the most common questions is: should you submit your resume as a DOCX (Word) file or a PDF? Recruiters, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and job portals like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor all have different preferences. Let’s break it down.

Pros & Cons of DOCX

• ✅ Editable: Recruiters can tweak formatting if needed.
• ✅ Accepted by ATS: Most ATS can read DOCX easily.
• ❌ Risk of broken layout: Fonts, spacing, or margins may shift between devices.
• ❌ Unprofessional appearance: Hiring managers prefer fixed, print-ready files.

Pros & Cons of PDF

• ✅ Preserves formatting: Fonts, spacing, and design stay intact everywhere.
• ✅ Professional look: Recruiters often expect resumes as polished PDFs.
• ✅ Safer for portals: LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor allow PDFs under 2MB.
• ❌ Some old ATS: Legacy systems may parse DOCX better (less common now).

What Recruiters in the USA Prefer

Surveys show most US recruiters prefer PDF because it preserves formatting and looks professional. However, if a job portal explicitly requests DOCX, always follow instructions. Otherwise, a PDF under 2MB is the safest choice.

Best Practices

1. Always keep a DOCX master file (editable).
2. Export a PDF version for actual applications.
3. Ensure file size is under 2MB by using our Compress PDF tool.
4. Use our Convert Word to PDF tool to generate a perfect resume file.

FAQ