How do I type a CV so that someone can read it in Word when I don't have Word?

littlewren

My daughter is looking to change her job and wants to send her CV to employment agencies as well as elsewhere.

She sent it to one agency a few weeks ago and they e-mailed back, saying they couldn't open it as they didn't have Adobe. They asked if she could send it in Word, but she doesn't have Word on her PC.

I'd like to help by typing it out again for her so that they can read it but I don't have Word either. I do have Microsoft Works so how do I type it in that so that they can open it in Word their end - if this is possible?

Many thanks in advance.

agrinnall

I wouldn't bother to send anything more to an agency that is so stupid that it doesn't already have Adobe (presumably Acrobat, and the file was somehow in PDF format) and doesn't realise that Acrobat, and many other PDF readers, are available free.

The answer to your question though is to download a free word processor that allows you to save files as .doc or .docx, such as LibreOffice.

https://www.libreoffice.org/

Le_Kirk

Whatever programme you use to produce the CV, save it as .doc or .docx and they should be able to open it. How was your daughter able to produce a .pdf file

esuhl

If you're going to use something other than Word to create the CV, it would probably be worth checking what it actually looks like in Word before you send it.

You can do that with the official MS Word Viewer. You can't edit documents, but you can view and print them.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=4

abibee

Easiest way is if she has a hotmail or Outlook.com e-mail address, is to use office online, it has versions of all office programmes including word, for free. If she doesn't have an account, it only takes a few minutes to create one, and Outlook is a very good e-mail provider too as it happens.

https://www.office.com/

Scroll down a little for the online versions. Once the document is created you can save it to your computer.

buglawton

Agencies like Word docs so they can copy, paste and edit, don't have to retype it themselves.

But for OPs daughter, using a proper desktop word processor to format her own CV is a good life skill to practice. If you've got a PC, install LibreOffice (it's free) on it, use Write and save as docx format to be Word compatible.

tonyh66

buglawton wrote: »

Agencies like Word docs so they can copy, paste and edit, don't have to retype it themselves.

But for OPs daughter, using a proper desktop word processor to format her own CV is a good life skill to practice. If you've got a PC, install LibreOffice (it's free) on it, use Write and save as docx format to be Word compatible.

But why would an agency want to edit someones CV? I wouldn't want them adding or removing anything from mine, especially without permission, which is why it is best to send PDFs.

PasturesNew

tonyh66 wrote: »

But why would an agency want to edit someones CV? I wouldn't want them adding or removing anything from mine, especially without permission, which is why it is best to send PDFs.

They will typically remove a name, address, telephone number, email and possibly date of birth - so they can send it out to potential recruiters and not run the risk that the recruiters will simply contact the candidate directly and cut them out of their hefty fee.

Quite often, say, they'll see somebody's looking for staff - and speculatively send them three candidates that they think match their criteria, with a covering letter "We see you're looking to hire an XYZ, please find enclosed 3 CVs that we think are a perfect fit"

jaybeetoo

tonyh66 wrote: »

But why would an agency want to edit someones CV? I wouldn't want them adding or removing anything from mine, especially without permission, which is why it is best to send PDFs.

Sending a PDF gives you little or no protection. You can open a PDF in the latest version of Word, edit it and save it as a Word document.

SpekySquarehead

Another option is Open Office which I've used now for years. Completely free.

buglawton

jaybeetoo wrote: »

Sending a PDF gives you little or no protection. You can open a PDF in the latest version of Word, edit it and save it as a Word document.

Pity the agency didn't think of that themselves!
and if you don't have latest Word, Libreoffice Draw can do the same.