Mixing
Latex vs Word - Resume [duplicate]
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What digital format to send resume/cover letter in?
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When I read this:
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11955/what-are-the-benefits-of-writing-resumes-in-tex-latex
I thought of no reason for using MS Word for Resume building.
But later I realized that this is "Tex" forum, so they would be "selling Tex".
Question: Do we have reasons for not using Tex and stick with Word when writing resume?
interviewing resume
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34
Community♦
1
asked Jul 18 '13 at 18:19
Sandeep Jindal
11214
marked as duplicate by Jim G., jcmeloni, Michael Grubey, CincinnatiProgrammer, user8365 Jul 19 '13 at 13:49
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
migrated from programmers.stackexchange.com Jul 18 '13 at 18:23
This question came from our site for professionals, academics, and students working within the systems development life cycle.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
This question already has an answer here:
What digital format to send resume/cover letter in?
3 answers
When I read this:
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11955/what-are-the-benefits-of-writing-resumes-in-tex-latex
I thought of no reason for using MS Word for Resume building.
But later I realized that this is "Tex" forum, so they would be "selling Tex".
Question: Do we have reasons for not using Tex and stick with Word when writing resume?
interviewing resume
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34
Community♦
1
asked Jul 18 '13 at 18:19
Sandeep Jindal
11214
marked as duplicate by Jim G., jcmeloni, Michael Grubey, CincinnatiProgrammer, user8365 Jul 19 '13 at 13:49
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
migrated from programmers.stackexchange.com Jul 18 '13 at 18:23
This question came from our site for professionals, academics, and students working within the systems development life cycle.
They are not "selling it" - in the TeX group they have been sold already. The question is what the benefits might be for choosing LaTeX for this particular task (and as the primary strength of TeX is in mathematical formulas which typically are not in resumes it may not be as clear a decision as you might think)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 8:04
@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen TeX is useful in a lot of contexts other than only mathematical formulas. When I remake my resume, I will be using TeX because it allows a lot easier formatting changes without some of the games MS Word or other WYSIWYG text editors cause.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
@enderland For that benefit you could use any batch-oriented typesetting system for your resume (like troff). I was pointing out the primary feature of TeX (which is also why it has caught on so well in academia)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 11:04
1
This is not a duplicate. The linked question asks what format is most preferred, but then this question asks about what kind of benefits you can see from using Tex, and whether Tex is a good idea for resumes.
– acolyte
Jul 19 '13 at 14:02
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
This question already has an answer here:
What digital format to send resume/cover letter in?
3 answers
When I read this:
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11955/what-are-the-benefits-of-writing-resumes-in-tex-latex
I thought of no reason for using MS Word for Resume building.
But later I realized that this is "Tex" forum, so they would be "selling Tex".
Question: Do we have reasons for not using Tex and stick with Word when writing resume?
interviewing resume
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34
Community♦
1
asked Jul 18 '13 at 18:19
Sandeep Jindal
11214
This question already has an answer here:
What digital format to send resume/cover letter in?
3 answers
When I read this:
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11955/what-are-the-benefits-of-writing-resumes-in-tex-latex
I thought of no reason for using MS Word for Resume building.
But later I realized that this is "Tex" forum, so they would be "selling Tex".
Question: Do we have reasons for not using Tex and stick with Word when writing resume?
This question already has an answer here:
What digital format to send resume/cover letter in?
3 answers
interviewing resume
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34
Community♦
1
asked Jul 18 '13 at 18:19
Sandeep Jindal
11214
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34
Community♦
1
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34
Community♦
1
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34
Community♦
1
1
asked Jul 18 '13 at 18:19
Sandeep Jindal
11214
asked Jul 18 '13 at 18:19
Sandeep Jindal
11214
asked Jul 18 '13 at 18:19
Sandeep Jindal
11214
11214
marked as duplicate by Jim G., jcmeloni, Michael Grubey, CincinnatiProgrammer, user8365 Jul 19 '13 at 13:49
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
migrated from programmers.stackexchange.com Jul 18 '13 at 18:23
This question came from our site for professionals, academics, and students working within the systems development life cycle.
marked as duplicate by Jim G., jcmeloni, Michael Grubey, CincinnatiProgrammer, user8365 Jul 19 '13 at 13:49
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
migrated from programmers.stackexchange.com Jul 18 '13 at 18:23
This question came from our site for professionals, academics, and students working within the systems development life cycle.
They are not "selling it" - in the TeX group they have been sold already. The question is what the benefits might be for choosing LaTeX for this particular task (and as the primary strength of TeX is in mathematical formulas which typically are not in resumes it may not be as clear a decision as you might think)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 8:04
@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen TeX is useful in a lot of contexts other than only mathematical formulas. When I remake my resume, I will be using TeX because it allows a lot easier formatting changes without some of the games MS Word or other WYSIWYG text editors cause.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
@enderland For that benefit you could use any batch-oriented typesetting system for your resume (like troff). I was pointing out the primary feature of TeX (which is also why it has caught on so well in academia)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 11:04
1
This is not a duplicate. The linked question asks what format is most preferred, but then this question asks about what kind of benefits you can see from using Tex, and whether Tex is a good idea for resumes.
– acolyte
Jul 19 '13 at 14:02
add a comment |Â
They are not "selling it" - in the TeX group they have been sold already. The question is what the benefits might be for choosing LaTeX for this particular task (and as the primary strength of TeX is in mathematical formulas which typically are not in resumes it may not be as clear a decision as you might think)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 8:04
@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen TeX is useful in a lot of contexts other than only mathematical formulas. When I remake my resume, I will be using TeX because it allows a lot easier formatting changes without some of the games MS Word or other WYSIWYG text editors cause.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
@enderland For that benefit you could use any batch-oriented typesetting system for your resume (like troff). I was pointing out the primary feature of TeX (which is also why it has caught on so well in academia)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 11:04
1
This is not a duplicate. The linked question asks what format is most preferred, but then this question asks about what kind of benefits you can see from using Tex, and whether Tex is a good idea for resumes.
– acolyte
Jul 19 '13 at 14:02
They are not "selling it" - in the TeX group they have been sold already. The question is what the benefits might be for choosing LaTeX for this particular task (and as the primary strength of TeX is in mathematical formulas which typically are not in resumes it may not be as clear a decision as you might think)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 8:04
They are not "selling it" - in the TeX group they have been sold already. The question is what the benefits might be for choosing LaTeX for this particular task (and as the primary strength of TeX is in mathematical formulas which typically are not in resumes it may not be as clear a decision as you might think)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 8:04
@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen TeX is useful in a lot of contexts other than only mathematical formulas. When I remake my resume, I will be using TeX because it allows a lot easier formatting changes without some of the games MS Word or other WYSIWYG text editors cause.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen TeX is useful in a lot of contexts other than only mathematical formulas. When I remake my resume, I will be using TeX because it allows a lot easier formatting changes without some of the games MS Word or other WYSIWYG text editors cause.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
@enderland For that benefit you could use any batch-oriented typesetting system for your resume (like troff). I was pointing out the primary feature of TeX (which is also why it has caught on so well in academia)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 11:04
@enderland For that benefit you could use any batch-oriented typesetting system for your resume (like troff). I was pointing out the primary feature of TeX (which is also why it has caught on so well in academia)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 11:04
1
1
This is not a duplicate. The linked question asks what format is most preferred, but then this question asks about what kind of benefits you can see from using Tex, and whether Tex is a good idea for resumes.
– acolyte
Jul 19 '13 at 14:02
This is not a duplicate. The linked question asks what format is most preferred, but then this question asks about what kind of benefits you can see from using Tex, and whether Tex is a good idea for resumes.
– acolyte
Jul 19 '13 at 14:02
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
Tex / Latex is used primarily in academia - most people outside of academia have never heard of Tex.
With them, you need to export to a different format - most usually a PDF document.
Most recruiters will accept a PDF document, but many will ask for a word document - this allows them to alter the CV to fit their format (header, footer, cover page etc...). Whether you are amenable to that kind of alteration is a different question (do note that there are some less than savory recruiters that will make more... sweeping... changes, but that too is a different question).
For the great majority of hiring managers, however, the actual medium used to create the CV is less important than their ability to read it. In that respect, there is little difference between a word document and a PDF written in Tex.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:29
Oded
21.1k57597
2
Of course, if the job is for Tex type setting, showing off your mad Tex skillz in the CV is probably a good thing ;)
– Oded
Jul 18 '13 at 18:38
2
@Downvoter - care to comment?
– Oded
Jul 19 '13 at 6:58
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
For most HR systems only 3 general types of documents are useable.
- Text
- Word processing
It doesn't matter if the document is being kept by your companies system to be used for internal advertisement of jobs, or for proposal writing; or if it is used to store applicants resumes. Text and word processing types allow the user of the system to massage it. Every contract proposal I have been involved in has required different resume formatting: specifically font size, and margins; plus maximum length requirements.
Many times the system asks the applicant to cut a paste parts of the resume into a text box. Some want the entire resume as a text file. Many experts advise applicants to make sure the resume still looks good as a text file.
The word processing option does allow some variations as long as the user can ingest it into their word processing program. It doesn't have to be the latest version of the file format, just as long as it can be ingested and manipulated.
It doesn't make a difference how the person maintains the master file, just as long as they are able to produce one in the file type that satisfies the requirements of the HR system. I use word as my master file, and then produce a text or PDF version when it is needed.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
mhoran_psprep
40.3k463144
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The question is could you take a resume in Tex and convert it to Word or PDF easily? If so, then it may be worth sticking to Tex if you prefer it for editing text. A lot of recruiters and HR people would prefer Word or PDF when it comes to resumes. After all, who is going to read your resume, assuming a human does read it after all?
Some places may use "Applicant Tracking Systems" that may do some analysis when the file is loaded and thus it isn't read at all if you are missing some qualification. The other point is that if the file isn't in Word or PDF, there may be a challenge for the recruiter or manager to open the file with a format that they don't know. Some people would just move on to the next candidate in this case.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:28
JB King
15.1k22957
1
Tex can easily be converted to Pdf. I think it is obvious that resume should be Human Readable.
– Sandeep Jindal
Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
6
@sandeep, considering some of the resumes that have landed on my desk through the years, I would not take that as a given.
– HLGEM
Jul 18 '13 at 19:07
2
@HLGEM: That's just more proof that anyone can make a mess using any tool set. :-)
– Blrfl
Jul 18 '13 at 19:30
1
@SandeepJindal: How easy is it to convert TeX to Word? There are some places will only accept Word.
– FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
Jul 18 '13 at 21:39
@FrustratedWithFormsDesigner not very easy to get perfect.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Many companies use a software based applicant tracking system. These systems typically accept word documents (.doc and .docx), .rtf, htm, html, txt, and pdf files. If your resume is in another file type,then it will not be easily uploaded into their system. Do you really expect a HR person to find a way to convert your resume into an acceptable file type? It's much more likely that they will ask you to convert it into something they can use. Why not save them the bother and use a more acceptable (for their uses) file type in the first place.
As for pdf files, some candidates like to use them because they think the file can't be edited. But if the parsing software is going to have a problem with one of the accepted file types, it will probably be with the pdf. MS Word is the standard.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 21:13
John Oglesby
898817
1
I don't get the point of your first paragraph since you list both pdf and doc as acceptable. So it doesn't distinguish between latex and word.
– CodesInChaos
Jul 21 '13 at 13:37
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
Tex / Latex is used primarily in academia - most people outside of academia have never heard of Tex.
With them, you need to export to a different format - most usually a PDF document.
Most recruiters will accept a PDF document, but many will ask for a word document - this allows them to alter the CV to fit their format (header, footer, cover page etc...). Whether you are amenable to that kind of alteration is a different question (do note that there are some less than savory recruiters that will make more... sweeping... changes, but that too is a different question).
For the great majority of hiring managers, however, the actual medium used to create the CV is less important than their ability to read it. In that respect, there is little difference between a word document and a PDF written in Tex.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:29
Oded
21.1k57597
2
Of course, if the job is for Tex type setting, showing off your mad Tex skillz in the CV is probably a good thing ;)
– Oded
Jul 18 '13 at 18:38
2
@Downvoter - care to comment?
– Oded
Jul 19 '13 at 6:58
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
Tex / Latex is used primarily in academia - most people outside of academia have never heard of Tex.
With them, you need to export to a different format - most usually a PDF document.
Most recruiters will accept a PDF document, but many will ask for a word document - this allows them to alter the CV to fit their format (header, footer, cover page etc...). Whether you are amenable to that kind of alteration is a different question (do note that there are some less than savory recruiters that will make more... sweeping... changes, but that too is a different question).
For the great majority of hiring managers, however, the actual medium used to create the CV is less important than their ability to read it. In that respect, there is little difference between a word document and a PDF written in Tex.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:29
Oded
21.1k57597
2
Of course, if the job is for Tex type setting, showing off your mad Tex skillz in the CV is probably a good thing ;)
– Oded
Jul 18 '13 at 18:38
2
@Downvoter - care to comment?
– Oded
Jul 19 '13 at 6:58
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
up vote
7
down vote
Tex / Latex is used primarily in academia - most people outside of academia have never heard of Tex.
With them, you need to export to a different format - most usually a PDF document.
Most recruiters will accept a PDF document, but many will ask for a word document - this allows them to alter the CV to fit their format (header, footer, cover page etc...). Whether you are amenable to that kind of alteration is a different question (do note that there are some less than savory recruiters that will make more... sweeping... changes, but that too is a different question).
For the great majority of hiring managers, however, the actual medium used to create the CV is less important than their ability to read it. In that respect, there is little difference between a word document and a PDF written in Tex.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:29
Oded
21.1k57597
Tex / Latex is used primarily in academia - most people outside of academia have never heard of Tex.
With them, you need to export to a different format - most usually a PDF document.
Most recruiters will accept a PDF document, but many will ask for a word document - this allows them to alter the CV to fit their format (header, footer, cover page etc...). Whether you are amenable to that kind of alteration is a different question (do note that there are some less than savory recruiters that will make more... sweeping... changes, but that too is a different question).
For the great majority of hiring managers, however, the actual medium used to create the CV is less important than their ability to read it. In that respect, there is little difference between a word document and a PDF written in Tex.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:29
Oded
21.1k57597
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:29
Oded
21.1k57597
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:29
Oded
21.1k57597
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:29
Oded
21.1k57597
21.1k57597
2
Of course, if the job is for Tex type setting, showing off your mad Tex skillz in the CV is probably a good thing ;)
– Oded
Jul 18 '13 at 18:38
2
@Downvoter - care to comment?
– Oded
Jul 19 '13 at 6:58
add a comment |Â
2
Of course, if the job is for Tex type setting, showing off your mad Tex skillz in the CV is probably a good thing ;)
– Oded
Jul 18 '13 at 18:38
2
@Downvoter - care to comment?
– Oded
Jul 19 '13 at 6:58
2
2
Of course, if the job is for Tex type setting, showing off your mad Tex skillz in the CV is probably a good thing ;)
– Oded
Jul 18 '13 at 18:38
Of course, if the job is for Tex type setting, showing off your mad Tex skillz in the CV is probably a good thing ;)
– Oded
Jul 18 '13 at 18:38
2
2
@Downvoter - care to comment?
– Oded
Jul 19 '13 at 6:58
@Downvoter - care to comment?
– Oded
Jul 19 '13 at 6:58
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
For most HR systems only 3 general types of documents are useable.
- Text
- Word processing
It doesn't matter if the document is being kept by your companies system to be used for internal advertisement of jobs, or for proposal writing; or if it is used to store applicants resumes. Text and word processing types allow the user of the system to massage it. Every contract proposal I have been involved in has required different resume formatting: specifically font size, and margins; plus maximum length requirements.
Many times the system asks the applicant to cut a paste parts of the resume into a text box. Some want the entire resume as a text file. Many experts advise applicants to make sure the resume still looks good as a text file.
The word processing option does allow some variations as long as the user can ingest it into their word processing program. It doesn't have to be the latest version of the file format, just as long as it can be ingested and manipulated.
It doesn't make a difference how the person maintains the master file, just as long as they are able to produce one in the file type that satisfies the requirements of the HR system. I use word as my master file, and then produce a text or PDF version when it is needed.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
mhoran_psprep
40.3k463144
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
For most HR systems only 3 general types of documents are useable.
- Text
- Word processing
It doesn't matter if the document is being kept by your companies system to be used for internal advertisement of jobs, or for proposal writing; or if it is used to store applicants resumes. Text and word processing types allow the user of the system to massage it. Every contract proposal I have been involved in has required different resume formatting: specifically font size, and margins; plus maximum length requirements.
Many times the system asks the applicant to cut a paste parts of the resume into a text box. Some want the entire resume as a text file. Many experts advise applicants to make sure the resume still looks good as a text file.
The word processing option does allow some variations as long as the user can ingest it into their word processing program. It doesn't have to be the latest version of the file format, just as long as it can be ingested and manipulated.
It doesn't make a difference how the person maintains the master file, just as long as they are able to produce one in the file type that satisfies the requirements of the HR system. I use word as my master file, and then produce a text or PDF version when it is needed.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
mhoran_psprep
40.3k463144
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
For most HR systems only 3 general types of documents are useable.
- Text
- Word processing
It doesn't matter if the document is being kept by your companies system to be used for internal advertisement of jobs, or for proposal writing; or if it is used to store applicants resumes. Text and word processing types allow the user of the system to massage it. Every contract proposal I have been involved in has required different resume formatting: specifically font size, and margins; plus maximum length requirements.
Many times the system asks the applicant to cut a paste parts of the resume into a text box. Some want the entire resume as a text file. Many experts advise applicants to make sure the resume still looks good as a text file.
The word processing option does allow some variations as long as the user can ingest it into their word processing program. It doesn't have to be the latest version of the file format, just as long as it can be ingested and manipulated.
It doesn't make a difference how the person maintains the master file, just as long as they are able to produce one in the file type that satisfies the requirements of the HR system. I use word as my master file, and then produce a text or PDF version when it is needed.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
mhoran_psprep
40.3k463144
For most HR systems only 3 general types of documents are useable.
- Text
- Word processing
It doesn't matter if the document is being kept by your companies system to be used for internal advertisement of jobs, or for proposal writing; or if it is used to store applicants resumes. Text and word processing types allow the user of the system to massage it. Every contract proposal I have been involved in has required different resume formatting: specifically font size, and margins; plus maximum length requirements.
Many times the system asks the applicant to cut a paste parts of the resume into a text box. Some want the entire resume as a text file. Many experts advise applicants to make sure the resume still looks good as a text file.
The word processing option does allow some variations as long as the user can ingest it into their word processing program. It doesn't have to be the latest version of the file format, just as long as it can be ingested and manipulated.
It doesn't make a difference how the person maintains the master file, just as long as they are able to produce one in the file type that satisfies the requirements of the HR system. I use word as my master file, and then produce a text or PDF version when it is needed.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
mhoran_psprep
40.3k463144
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
mhoran_psprep
40.3k463144
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
mhoran_psprep
40.3k463144
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
mhoran_psprep
40.3k463144
40.3k463144
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The question is could you take a resume in Tex and convert it to Word or PDF easily? If so, then it may be worth sticking to Tex if you prefer it for editing text. A lot of recruiters and HR people would prefer Word or PDF when it comes to resumes. After all, who is going to read your resume, assuming a human does read it after all?
Some places may use "Applicant Tracking Systems" that may do some analysis when the file is loaded and thus it isn't read at all if you are missing some qualification. The other point is that if the file isn't in Word or PDF, there may be a challenge for the recruiter or manager to open the file with a format that they don't know. Some people would just move on to the next candidate in this case.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:28
JB King
15.1k22957
1
Tex can easily be converted to Pdf. I think it is obvious that resume should be Human Readable.
– Sandeep Jindal
Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
6
@sandeep, considering some of the resumes that have landed on my desk through the years, I would not take that as a given.
– HLGEM
Jul 18 '13 at 19:07
2
@HLGEM: That's just more proof that anyone can make a mess using any tool set. :-)
– Blrfl
Jul 18 '13 at 19:30
1
@SandeepJindal: How easy is it to convert TeX to Word? There are some places will only accept Word.
– FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
Jul 18 '13 at 21:39
@FrustratedWithFormsDesigner not very easy to get perfect.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The question is could you take a resume in Tex and convert it to Word or PDF easily? If so, then it may be worth sticking to Tex if you prefer it for editing text. A lot of recruiters and HR people would prefer Word or PDF when it comes to resumes. After all, who is going to read your resume, assuming a human does read it after all?
Some places may use "Applicant Tracking Systems" that may do some analysis when the file is loaded and thus it isn't read at all if you are missing some qualification. The other point is that if the file isn't in Word or PDF, there may be a challenge for the recruiter or manager to open the file with a format that they don't know. Some people would just move on to the next candidate in this case.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:28
JB King
15.1k22957
1
Tex can easily be converted to Pdf. I think it is obvious that resume should be Human Readable.
– Sandeep Jindal
Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
6
@sandeep, considering some of the resumes that have landed on my desk through the years, I would not take that as a given.
– HLGEM
Jul 18 '13 at 19:07
2
@HLGEM: That's just more proof that anyone can make a mess using any tool set. :-)
– Blrfl
Jul 18 '13 at 19:30
1
@SandeepJindal: How easy is it to convert TeX to Word? There are some places will only accept Word.
– FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
Jul 18 '13 at 21:39
@FrustratedWithFormsDesigner not very easy to get perfect.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
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The question is could you take a resume in Tex and convert it to Word or PDF easily? If so, then it may be worth sticking to Tex if you prefer it for editing text. A lot of recruiters and HR people would prefer Word or PDF when it comes to resumes. After all, who is going to read your resume, assuming a human does read it after all?
Some places may use "Applicant Tracking Systems" that may do some analysis when the file is loaded and thus it isn't read at all if you are missing some qualification. The other point is that if the file isn't in Word or PDF, there may be a challenge for the recruiter or manager to open the file with a format that they don't know. Some people would just move on to the next candidate in this case.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:28
JB King
15.1k22957
The question is could you take a resume in Tex and convert it to Word or PDF easily? If so, then it may be worth sticking to Tex if you prefer it for editing text. A lot of recruiters and HR people would prefer Word or PDF when it comes to resumes. After all, who is going to read your resume, assuming a human does read it after all?
Some places may use "Applicant Tracking Systems" that may do some analysis when the file is loaded and thus it isn't read at all if you are missing some qualification. The other point is that if the file isn't in Word or PDF, there may be a challenge for the recruiter or manager to open the file with a format that they don't know. Some people would just move on to the next candidate in this case.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:28
JB King
15.1k22957
edited Jul 18 '13 at 18:46
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:28
JB King
15.1k22957
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:28
JB King
15.1k22957
answered Jul 18 '13 at 18:28
JB King
15.1k22957
15.1k22957
1
Tex can easily be converted to Pdf. I think it is obvious that resume should be Human Readable.
– Sandeep Jindal
Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
6
@sandeep, considering some of the resumes that have landed on my desk through the years, I would not take that as a given.
– HLGEM
Jul 18 '13 at 19:07
2
@HLGEM: That's just more proof that anyone can make a mess using any tool set. :-)
– Blrfl
Jul 18 '13 at 19:30
1
@SandeepJindal: How easy is it to convert TeX to Word? There are some places will only accept Word.
– FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
Jul 18 '13 at 21:39
@FrustratedWithFormsDesigner not very easy to get perfect.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
add a comment |Â
1
Tex can easily be converted to Pdf. I think it is obvious that resume should be Human Readable.
– Sandeep Jindal
Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
6
@sandeep, considering some of the resumes that have landed on my desk through the years, I would not take that as a given.
– HLGEM
Jul 18 '13 at 19:07
2
@HLGEM: That's just more proof that anyone can make a mess using any tool set. :-)
– Blrfl
Jul 18 '13 at 19:30
1
@SandeepJindal: How easy is it to convert TeX to Word? There are some places will only accept Word.
– FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
Jul 18 '13 at 21:39
@FrustratedWithFormsDesigner not very easy to get perfect.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
1
1
Tex can easily be converted to Pdf. I think it is obvious that resume should be Human Readable.
– Sandeep Jindal
Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
Tex can easily be converted to Pdf. I think it is obvious that resume should be Human Readable.
– Sandeep Jindal
Jul 18 '13 at 18:42
6
6
@sandeep, considering some of the resumes that have landed on my desk through the years, I would not take that as a given.
– HLGEM
Jul 18 '13 at 19:07
@sandeep, considering some of the resumes that have landed on my desk through the years, I would not take that as a given.
– HLGEM
Jul 18 '13 at 19:07
2
2
@HLGEM: That's just more proof that anyone can make a mess using any tool set. :-)
– Blrfl
Jul 18 '13 at 19:30
@HLGEM: That's just more proof that anyone can make a mess using any tool set. :-)
– Blrfl
Jul 18 '13 at 19:30
1
1
@SandeepJindal: How easy is it to convert TeX to Word? There are some places will only accept Word.
– FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
Jul 18 '13 at 21:39
@SandeepJindal: How easy is it to convert TeX to Word? There are some places will only accept Word.
– FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
Jul 18 '13 at 21:39
@FrustratedWithFormsDesigner not very easy to get perfect.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
@FrustratedWithFormsDesigner not very easy to get perfect.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
add a comment |Â
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0
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Many companies use a software based applicant tracking system. These systems typically accept word documents (.doc and .docx), .rtf, htm, html, txt, and pdf files. If your resume is in another file type,then it will not be easily uploaded into their system. Do you really expect a HR person to find a way to convert your resume into an acceptable file type? It's much more likely that they will ask you to convert it into something they can use. Why not save them the bother and use a more acceptable (for their uses) file type in the first place.
As for pdf files, some candidates like to use them because they think the file can't be edited. But if the parsing software is going to have a problem with one of the accepted file types, it will probably be with the pdf. MS Word is the standard.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 21:13
John Oglesby
898817
1
I don't get the point of your first paragraph since you list both pdf and doc as acceptable. So it doesn't distinguish between latex and word.
– CodesInChaos
Jul 21 '13 at 13:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Many companies use a software based applicant tracking system. These systems typically accept word documents (.doc and .docx), .rtf, htm, html, txt, and pdf files. If your resume is in another file type,then it will not be easily uploaded into their system. Do you really expect a HR person to find a way to convert your resume into an acceptable file type? It's much more likely that they will ask you to convert it into something they can use. Why not save them the bother and use a more acceptable (for their uses) file type in the first place.
As for pdf files, some candidates like to use them because they think the file can't be edited. But if the parsing software is going to have a problem with one of the accepted file types, it will probably be with the pdf. MS Word is the standard.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 21:13
John Oglesby
898817
1
I don't get the point of your first paragraph since you list both pdf and doc as acceptable. So it doesn't distinguish between latex and word.
– CodesInChaos
Jul 21 '13 at 13:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Many companies use a software based applicant tracking system. These systems typically accept word documents (.doc and .docx), .rtf, htm, html, txt, and pdf files. If your resume is in another file type,then it will not be easily uploaded into their system. Do you really expect a HR person to find a way to convert your resume into an acceptable file type? It's much more likely that they will ask you to convert it into something they can use. Why not save them the bother and use a more acceptable (for their uses) file type in the first place.
As for pdf files, some candidates like to use them because they think the file can't be edited. But if the parsing software is going to have a problem with one of the accepted file types, it will probably be with the pdf. MS Word is the standard.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 21:13
John Oglesby
898817
Many companies use a software based applicant tracking system. These systems typically accept word documents (.doc and .docx), .rtf, htm, html, txt, and pdf files. If your resume is in another file type,then it will not be easily uploaded into their system. Do you really expect a HR person to find a way to convert your resume into an acceptable file type? It's much more likely that they will ask you to convert it into something they can use. Why not save them the bother and use a more acceptable (for their uses) file type in the first place.
As for pdf files, some candidates like to use them because they think the file can't be edited. But if the parsing software is going to have a problem with one of the accepted file types, it will probably be with the pdf. MS Word is the standard.
answered Jul 18 '13 at 21:13
John Oglesby
898817
answered Jul 18 '13 at 21:13
John Oglesby
898817
answered Jul 18 '13 at 21:13
John Oglesby
898817
answered Jul 18 '13 at 21:13
John Oglesby
898817
898817
1
I don't get the point of your first paragraph since you list both pdf and doc as acceptable. So it doesn't distinguish between latex and word.
– CodesInChaos
Jul 21 '13 at 13:37
add a comment |Â
1
I don't get the point of your first paragraph since you list both pdf and doc as acceptable. So it doesn't distinguish between latex and word.
– CodesInChaos
Jul 21 '13 at 13:37
1
1
I don't get the point of your first paragraph since you list both pdf and doc as acceptable. So it doesn't distinguish between latex and word.
– CodesInChaos
Jul 21 '13 at 13:37
I don't get the point of your first paragraph since you list both pdf and doc as acceptable. So it doesn't distinguish between latex and word.
– CodesInChaos
Jul 21 '13 at 13:37
add a comment |Â
They are not "selling it" - in the TeX group they have been sold already. The question is what the benefits might be for choosing LaTeX for this particular task (and as the primary strength of TeX is in mathematical formulas which typically are not in resumes it may not be as clear a decision as you might think)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 8:04
@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen TeX is useful in a lot of contexts other than only mathematical formulas. When I remake my resume, I will be using TeX because it allows a lot easier formatting changes without some of the games MS Word or other WYSIWYG text editors cause.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jul 19 '13 at 10:10
@enderland For that benefit you could use any batch-oriented typesetting system for your resume (like troff). I was pointing out the primary feature of TeX (which is also why it has caught on so well in academia)
– Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen
Jul 19 '13 at 11:04
1
This is not a duplicate. The linked question asks what format is most preferred, but then this question asks about what kind of benefits you can see from using Tex, and whether Tex is a good idea for resumes.
– acolyte
Jul 19 '13 at 14:02