Should I send my cover letter as a PDF or a Word file?

Send a PDF unless the employer asks for Word. A PDF keeps your layout, fonts and spacing the same on any device, while a Word file can shift when opened on a different computer or program.

When to use each:

• PDF: the default for most email applications and upload fields that accept it.
• Word (.docx): only if the advert, form or recruiter specifically asks for it, for example because they edit CVs before sending them to clients.

Whatever the format, make sure the PDF is text-based: the text should be selectable and copyable, not a scanned image. Scanned letters cannot be read by software and may be hard to search.

ResumeBuilder.ae exports text-based PDFs only; there is no Word export. If an employer insists on Word, you can copy the text from the builder into a word processor and save it there. A cover letter written in the builder's cover letter tab can be downloaded as a PDF at no extra cost with a paid PDF export of its resume, within the same 7 days and 10 download attempts.

Also follow any size limit on the upload field, and check the file opens correctly before you send it.