people can't open my email attachments!

andyrules

Hi

I'm sending my CV around various agencies and i've had messages back asking me to re-send it in Word format. I don't understand why or how it wasn't in Word as I created it on Word.

Can anyone help please?

superscaper

Is it in .doc format? Which version of Word are you using? If it's 2007 then the default .docx would cause problems for people without 2007.

andyrules

Hi superscaper

It says it's a word document and I'm on XP.

fabbers

But are you using Word/Office 2007? IF so use save as and save it as a .doc instead of .docx as superscaper suggests.

superscaper

andyrules wrote: »

Hi superscaper

It says it's a word document and I'm on XP.

Do you mean your Operating System is Windows XP, or that you made the document in Office XP?

MercilessKiller

2 things I'd say.

If you're using Office 2007, then it saves it in an incompatible format as its too new for older versions to read. When you save your document you need to save as an older version of word....

The other thing is sometimes when you press save as, the default is it saves as an Office Template.. which may also be causing problems

andyrules

MercilessKiller wrote: »

2 things I'd say.



The other thing is sometimes when you press save as, the default is it saves as an Office Template.. which may also be causing problems

That would make sense as most attachments are fine, just some that can't be opened.

I checked in save as on the doc and it it doesn't specify how it's saved.

Where would I find what version of Word I'm on?

MercilessKiller

Actually in microsoft word, click on help > about

Or something similar. Will tell you what version your using.

To be honest, Office 2007 is really new so if you don't know what version you're using, its prob not that.

Are you definitely using Microsoft Word, and not Wordpad which is installed on windows by defualt ?

andyrules

Right, yes it's deff Word not Wordpad and just looked - it's 2002. Also, XP is 2002 (from My Computer properties, is that Operating System?)

Thanks

johnmc

If you are sending your CV out then always "Save As" Rich Text format.

That can be opened in almost any office software. Also do a straight text version, using Wordpad or similar, with no formatting.

Agencies in particular don't like frames as they copy/paste yoyr stuff into their standard CV. Usually they hack out the bits that aren't deemed by them to be relevant. These are often the very bits that the potential employer wants to see.

If you get to the interview stage then email a decent copy of your CV to the employer.

My current employer was totally unaware of my skillset and much of my previous work history prior to receiving my own version. It's that which got me the job.

Little_John

Rather than sending as a Word doc why not use PrimoPDF and convert it to a PDF file whihc most people can read with the free adobe reader.