There are several reasons that PDFs are most appropriate for resumes, CVs, cover letters, and letters of recommendation:
- They can be viewed on almost any device, using built-in apps or the free Adobe Reader.
- PDFs are not easy to change like Word documents, so reference letters are more credible.
- The appearance is the same across users and devices.
Using a PDF in these situations comes across as more professional than a Word document.
On a Mac, you can always use File–>Print/PDF to save to a PDF. On Windows 10 you can print to PDFs by choosing the “Microsoft Print to PDF” printer. Many programs also have the ability to “Save as” or “Export to” a PDF.