PDF vs Word Resume for ATS: Which Format Should You Use?

Choose a file the employer accepts

The employer’s file type and size requirements come first. A format change alone does not guarantee that a screening system can read your CV correctly.

Check the file you will send

Open the downloaded file, even if the editor preview looks right.

1. Check your name, email, phone number and dates. Look at the start and end of every page for missing or cut-off text.
2. Select the text, copy it and paste it into a blank text document or a notes app. Check that the words are readable and each job title stays with its employer and dates. Pay attention to Arabic text and lines that mix Arabic with English or numbers.
3. If the application form fills in details from your file, review those fields before you submit. A copy-and-paste check cannot tell you how every hiring system will read the file.

If something is wrong

Correct missing details in your resume, download it again and repeat the check. If the text still copies incorrectly, try another file type the employer accepts. If the form allows manual entry, correct its fields. Otherwise, use the help option on the application page.

Try the checks on a sample CV

These files contain the same fictional Arabic CV, with two volunteer roles. They were made with Bespree’s Clean Professional template. The name, organizations and experience are examples, and the email address does not work.

Checked on September 13, 2026. Each file is one page in the viewers used for this check.

Both files looked right on the page. In the PDF text checks, names and roles were readable, and each date stayed with its role. A few words were still split by an extra space. The Word text check preserved the sample’s Arabic sentences.

We have not tested these files in an employer’s ATS. Do not submit the sample as your own CV.

What is an ATS and why does it matter?

• Single-column layout
• Standard headings like Work Experience, Education, Skills
• No complex tables, text boxes, or graphics for important information

Bespree's single-column templates already use a linear Word structure. Sidebar designs also offer a separate “ATS-friendly Word” option.

What does the “Word - ATS-friendly” option do?

• One column: sections follow each other down the page.
• Clear section headings: use labels such as Work Experience, Education and Skills.
• Contact details in the document body: your name and contact details stay in the main text, outside Word headers and footers.
• Fonts and bullets: check that letters, symbols and line breaks display correctly in your word processor.

The Word file may look simpler than the preview. Open it and check that each job title, employer and date still belongs together.

When should I use a PDF resume?

• Check the spacing and page breaks in the actual download.
• Open it on the device you will use to send it.
• Use it for printing or sharing when the recipient accepts PDF.

A file can look right while its text copies in the wrong order. The file check on this page helps you spot the difference.

How Bespree creates these files

Bespree’s PDF and Word downloads can look different. Here is what to expect:

• Word layout: single-column templates produce a linear document. Sidebar designs also offer Word - ATS-friendly as a separate download option.
• Contact details: the Word export keeps your name and contact details in the main document text.
• Fonts: the Word file may use different fonts from the PDF. Check it in the app you use to open it.
• PDF text: the file contains text, rather than only a picture of the page. Some readers copy Arabic text differently.

The templates provide the structure. Check the file you plan to send.

Keep the content easy to follow

1. Use the job’s terms when they fit. Include skills and experience you actually have. Do not add a qualification just because it appears in the posting.
2. Name each section clearly. Headings such as Work Experience, Education and Skills tell the reader what comes next.
3. Word exports can include photos. Hide your photo before downloading if you want a simpler file.
4. Review filled-in fields. If an application form copies details from your file, correct any mistakes before submitting.

Frequently Asked Questions