The short version: a text-based PDF or a Word .docx are both safe with modern Applicant Tracking Systems. The format that gets you rejected is an image of your resume — and people submit those more often than they realize.
PDF vs. Word: which to pick
Follow the instructions first
If the application specifies a format, use it. When it doesn't, either works — choose based on the situation below.
When PDF is the better choice
PDF preserves your layout exactly across every device, so what the recruiter sees is what you designed. As long as it's a text PDF (you can highlight and copy the text), modern systems parse it fine. PDF is the safe default for most direct applications.
When Word (.docx) is the better choice
Some older or stricter ATS — and many recruiting agencies who edit your resume before submitting — prefer .docx. If a posting or recruiter asks for Word, send Word.
The mistake that makes your resume unreadable
If your “PDF” is actually a scanned page or an export from a design tool that flattened the text into a picture, the ATS reads nothing. Test it: open the file and try to select and copy a sentence. If you can't, it's an image — re-export it as real text.
Other format tips
- Don't submit
.pages,.txtwith lost formatting, or Google Docs share links unless asked — export to PDF or Word. - Name the file professionally:
First-Last-Resume.pdf. - Keep it text-based and ATS-friendly in structure, whichever format you pick.
Export a parser-safe file automatically
When you finish a resume in NEXENTRIX, you can export a clean, text-based PDF or Word file that's built to parse correctly — so you never have to worry about whether the format is costing you the interview.