700 Resumes Later: Why Your File Name Matters
Here’s a little behind-the-scenes insight: as a recruiter, I look at hundreds of resumes every week. Fun fact—I once reviewed over 700 resumes in just one week for only three jobs. And here’s the thing: if I want to keep or reference your resume, I have to download it to my system. That means your file name really matters.
When you send me a resume called “New Resume.pdf” or “Resume_8.29.25.docx” or worse, “fskjfbjkwb89.pdf”, it’s almost impossible for me to quickly find your file later. Multiply that by hundreds of candidates, and you can see the problem.
Recruiters and hiring managers don’t have the time (or the will) to rename every resume. That’s your job if you want to stand out and be remembered.
The simple fix:
There are two safe, professional ways to name your resume file:
Just your name:
✅ JaneDoe.docx
✅ JohnSmith.pdf
Your name + target role (optional):
✅ JaneDoe_ProjectManager.pdf
✅ JohnSmith_Marketing.pdf
But here’s the warning: Only include a role in the file name if it actually matches the job you’re applying for. For example, submitting “JohnSmith_Marketing.pdf” when applying to an HR or Sales position is a recruiter red flag. It makes me wonder if you’re recycling the same resume for every job without tailoring it.
Bottom line: keep it simple, professional, and easy to reference. A clean file name can make a surprisingly big difference in how quickly, and positively, you’re remembered.
