Guides

Resume PDF vs portfolio links: What Indian tech recruiters prefer

Quick answer

Always attach a clean PDF resume (under 200 KB) and include 1 or 2 live clickable project links with credentials in the body of your email. Never send raw Google Drive links with restricted permissions.

Steps

  1. Standardize resume file naming. Format as: [FirstName]_[LastName]_Resume.pdf (e.g., Rahul_Sharma_Resume.pdf).
  2. Compress PDF size. Keep PDF file sizes strictly under 300 KB for instant preview on mobile email apps.
  3. Provide demo access. If your project requires login, include prefilled test credentials right in the email body.

The 3 Elements Every Recruiter Looks For

Recruiters scan technical portfolios for these 3 signals within 15 seconds:

  • Live working link (zero 404s or slow loading spinners)
  • Clean, modern UI and mobile responsiveness
  • Accessible GitHub repository with a clear README

Use a system that keeps you organized

TezApply helps you draft outreach emails, send from your own inbox, and track every application.

People also ask

Should I use Word DOCX or PDF for my resume?+

Always use PDF. Word documents often render with broken fonts and layout distortions across different recruiter devices.

Where should I host my portfolio projects?+

Deploy on fast, reliable platforms like Vercel, Netlify, or GitHub Pages with clean custom domains or subdomains.