If application instructions are ambiguous between PDF and DOCX formats, which file type often offers the highest chance of error-free text parsing for basic ATS platforms?
Answer
DOCX
While PDF is often considered the gold standard today because it generally preserves formatting across operating systems, older or more basic Applicant Tracking Systems are inherently structured around text extraction from simpler document formats. DOCX files are natively easier for these systems to ingest without encountering rendering issues that sometimes plague complex PDF structures. If a candidate is unsure or the instructions are vague, defaulting to a DOCX format increases the probability that the system can execute a clean, error-free text parse. The critical factor remains that the submitted file, regardless of format, must contain pure, selectable text rather than being a scanned image of the document.
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