A lot of hiring happens on WhatsApp now. A recruiter messages you, or a friend passes your number on, and the next message is “Please send your CV.” You can send the file itself or send a link to it. Both work. Here's how to do each one properly.
Sending your CV as a file
- Save it as a PDF, not a Word document. A Word file can look different on someone else's phone, with fonts swapped and pages broken in odd places. A PDF looks the same everywhere. In Word, use File, Save As, and choose PDF. In Google Docs, use File, Download, PDF document.
- Give the file a proper name. “Thabo-Nkosi-CV.pdf”, not “CV final final (2).pdf”. The file name is the first thing the other person sees in the chat, and it's what they'll search for later.
- Attach it as a document. Open the chat, tap the paperclip (Android) or the + (iPhone), choose Document, and pick your PDF. Don't send a screenshot or photo of your CV: it's hard to read and can't be printed or forwarded properly.
- Send a message with it. A file on its own, with no words, is easy to forget about. There are examples further down.
Sending a link instead
If your CV is online, paste the link into the chat. WhatsApp turns most links into a preview with a picture and a title. For a folia page, the preview shows your photo, your name and your role, so the other person knows who you are before they tap anything. When they do tap, it opens as a normal web page. There's nothing to download and no zooming in on a tiny PDF.
A link also stays up to date. If you change jobs or finish a course next month, the link you sent today shows the new version. A PDF stays exactly as it was the day you sent it.
Some employers still want a file for their records. That's fine: send the link in the chat, and keep a PDF ready for when they ask.
What to write with it
Keep it short. Say what it's for, give the CV, and say one useful thing about when you're available.
Hi Lindiwe, thank you for thinking of me for the admin assistant post. Here's my CV: folia.work/thabonkosi. I can start from the 1st and I'm free for an interview any day this week.
Good morning. I saw the junior bookkeeper post on LinkedIn and I'd like to apply. My CV is attached. I finished my BCom last year and have been doing bookkeeping part-time since. Please let me know if you need anything else.
If you don't know the person, use their name if you have it and don't send voice notes. Write it as you would an email, just shorter.
Before you press send
- Open it on your own phone first. Send it to yourself (WhatsApp has a “Message yourself” chat) and check the file opens or the link works.
- Check the number on your CV. It should be the number you use for WhatsApp, written with the area code.
- Look at your own WhatsApp profile. The recruiter sees your profile photo and name. A clear photo of your face and your real name help.
- Use an email address you'd be happy to say out loud, ideally some version of your own name.
Should my CV link go in my WhatsApp profile?
If you're looking for work, it's worth it. Put the link in your About line. Anyone who saves your number can find your CV without asking for it.