Export Formats: PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and More

Krokanti CV Builder supports five export formats to cover every scenario you will encounter during a job search. Each format has its own strengths — choosing the right one for the right situation can make a difference.

PDF (Free)

PDF is the default and most universally accepted format for resumes. It is the format you should use in almost all situations unless the employer explicitly requests something else.

Why PDF:

• Your formatting, fonts, and layout are preserved perfectly across all devices and operating systems
• Hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) can both read it
• It looks professional and is the industry standard

How to export: Click Export in the editor toolbar, select PDF, and click Download. The PDF is generated server-side using a headless renderer, so it matches the preview exactly — no browser print dialog quirks.

Best for: Email attachments, LinkedIn "Easy Apply", company career portals, direct recruiter submissions.

DOCX (Pro)

Microsoft Word format (.docx) is required by some employers and recruiters who need to edit your resume before submitting it to their clients (this is common with staffing agencies).

Why DOCX:

• Recruiters and agencies may reformat resumes to match their house style
• Some older ATS systems parse DOCX more reliably than PDF
• Allows the employer to extract and store your information in their HR system

Important note: DOCX export produces a clean, functional Word document, but it will not be a pixel-perfect match to your visual editor layout. Complex two-column templates simplify to a single column in DOCX. This is expected behavior.

Best for: Staffing agencies, recruiters, employers who explicitly request Word format.

Plain Text (Pro)

Plain text (.txt) exports your resume as unformatted ASCII text with no styling, no columns, and no special characters.

Why Plain Text:

• Copy-pasting into online application forms that strip formatting
• Email bodies when attaching a file is not possible
• ATS systems that have trouble parsing PDFs

Best for: Pasting into text boxes on job application websites, online forms.

Markdown (Pro)

Markdown export produces a clean .md file with standard Markdown formatting — headers for sections, bold for job titles, bullet points for achievements.

Why Markdown:

• Developers and technical professionals often share resumes on GitHub
• Easy to version-control with Git
• Can be converted to any other format using tools like Pandoc

Best for: GitHub profile README, technical portfolios, personal websites built with static site generators.

JSON (Pro)

JSON export produces a structured machine-readable representation of your resume following the JSON Resume open standard.

Why JSON:

• Feed your resume data into custom portfolio websites
• Use with JSON Resume compatible renderers and themes
• Back up your resume data in a portable, interoperable format

Best for: Developers who want to integrate their resume data with personal websites or other applications.

Format Comparison

Upgrading to Pro

To unlock DOCX, Plain Text, Markdown, and JSON exports, upgrade to a Pro subscription from your account settings. Pro unlocks all export formats, premium templates, and ATS optimization tools.