I'm applying to jobs in several countries. Do I need different file formats for each?

The format rarely changes by country; the employer's instructions matter more. A text-based PDF is widely accepted internationally, and Word is common wherever recruitment agencies are involved. What often does change between countries is page size and content.

Adjust these for each market:

• Page size: US Letter for the USA and Canada, A4 for most other countries.
• Personal details: for example, many UK, US and Canadian employers do not expect a date of birth or photo, while some Gulf employers ask for nationality or visa status.
• Spelling and terms: "CV" or "resume", British or American spelling.

Keep a master version and save a separate copy for each market, with the country in your own folder name so you do not mix them up. ResumeBuilder.ae lets you choose A4 or US Letter for each PDF, and you can save up to 10 resumes for different versions. Whatever the country, open the final file and check the page size and that everything fits before you send it.