Saving Your CV: The Right File Format and File Name
You've spent hours on the content — don't let a careless save undo it. The file format you choose affects whether your layout survives, and the file name is the first thing a recruiter sees in their inbox. Both are quick to get right.
Default to PDF
After all the effort you put into the content, the safest way to save and send your CV is as a PDF — make it your default. A PDF locks your layout in place, so the fonts, spacing, alignment, and page breaks look identical on every device and operating system, whether the recruiter opens it on a phone, a Mac, or an old office PC. A Word file, by contrast, reflows depending on the reader's software and installed fonts: the clean layout you spent an hour on can shift, break, or substitute fonts on their machine, and you'll never see what they saw. A PDF also reads as more finished and professional. The one exception is when an employer specifically requests an editable .docx — covered next — but for the vast majority of applications, exporting a text-based PDF protects both your formatting and your first impression.
When to send Word instead
Send a .docx only when the employer or recruiter specifically asks for it — some agencies and older ATS prefer to edit or parse Word files. If you do, double-check the formatting holds up, since it can shift on their machine.
Name the file professionally
Use a clear, professional file name: "Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf" or "Firstname-Lastname-JobTitle.pdf." Avoid "cv.pdf," "final-v3-REAL.pdf," or random characters. The name should make it easy for a recruiter to find and identify your CV among dozens.
Check it before you send
Open the exported file before attaching it. Confirm the layout is intact, links work, there are no blank trailing pages, and the text is selectable (not a flat image) so an ATS can read it. A 30-second check prevents an embarrassing send.
Export clean PDFs from write.cv
write.cv exports a polished, ATS-readable PDF with selectable text and proper page breaks, and names it after you automatically — in Arabic and English. Build your CV and download a file that's ready to send.