Resume File Naming Convention: Best Practices for Job Applications
Your resume file name is the first thing a recruiter sees in the ATS dashboard and in their downloads folder. A professional, clear file name creates a positive impression and ensures your resume is easily identifiable. Conversely, a generic or messy file name ('resume_final_v3_FINAL.docx') signals carelessness.
Recommended Naming Formats
The best resume file name includes your full name and the word 'Resume': 'John_Smith_Resume.docx'. This format is professional, clear, and immediately identifies both the person and the document type.
For additional specificity, include the target role or company: 'John_Smith_Software_Engineer_Resume.docx' or 'John_Smith_Google_Resume.docx'. This helps when applying to multiple positions.
Use underscores (_) or hyphens (-) between words. Avoid spaces in file names as they can cause issues with some systems and display as '%20' in URLs.
| Format | Example | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Name + Resume | John_Smith_Resume.docx | General applications |
| Name + Role + Resume | John_Smith_Software_Engineer_Resume.docx | Role-specific applications |
| Name + Company + Resume | John_Smith_Google_Resume.docx | Company-specific versions |
| LastName_FirstName_Resume | Smith_John_Resume.docx | When alphabetical sorting matters |
File Names to Avoid
Generic names like 'resume.docx', 'my_resume.docx', or 'document.pdf' are unprofessional and impossible to identify in a recruiter's downloads folder. Versioning like 'resume_v4_final_FINAL.docx' looks unpolished.
Avoid special characters (!@#$%^&*), non-English characters, or very long file names. Some systems truncate long names or fail to process special characters.
Don't include dates in the file name ('John_Smith_Resume_2024.docx') unless specifically requested. Dates can make your resume look outdated if reviewed months later.
File Name Impact on ATS and Recruiters
ATS platforms store your file name in the candidate record and display it to recruiters. A clear, professional name makes you easy to find and creates a positive first impression.
Some recruiters download multiple resumes at once for review. If your file is named 'resume.docx', it may be overwritten by the next candidate's identically named file. A unique, name-based file name prevents this.
File names don't affect ATS parsing or scoring—the parser reads the document content, not the file name. However, professionalism details like file naming contribute to the overall impression during human review.
Pro Tips
Name your file: FirstName_LastName_Resume.docx for a professional, identifiable format
Use underscores or hyphens between words—avoid spaces in file names
Include the target role for role-specific resume versions
Keep file names under 50 characters to avoid truncation
Never use generic names like 'resume.docx' or 'document.pdf'
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using 'resume.docx' which is indistinguishable from every other candidate's file
Including version numbers or draft labels in the file name
Using spaces, special characters, or non-English characters in the name
Making the file name so long it gets truncated by the system