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
Save and send your CV as a PDF. It locks your layout so fonts, spacing, and alignment look identical on every device and operating system. A Word file can reflow or break depending on the reader's software, ruining the formatting you worked on.
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.