Printing & Sending

In years gone by printing your CV was a very important aspect of the job application process, and the advice then still holds true today – black font on good quality white or cream paper. Yes, you could use brightly coloured paper, as some jobseekers do, but just be aware that it may come across as unprofessional.

These days, many people just e-mail their CV, and printing is becoming more and more redundant. At the same time, even if you are e-mailing your CV to employers you should think about them and their requirements before sending off your document willy-nilly. For example, if you are a Mac user you should not just assume that the employer will be able to open your Pages document, because this isn’t necessarily the case. Moreover, even if they have the capability to open non-standard files this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will have the time or inclination to do it. Frequently it is best to play safe and send your CV out in MS Word or PDF format. It is what most employers prefer, and you should be aiming to please them rather than hope they’ll conform to your format.

Spacing & Legibility beyond first impressions