Pages 2-column layout opens as single-column (Right-then-Left) when exported as .docx

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Level 1

8 points

Pages 2-column layout opens as single-column (Right-then-Left) when exported as .docx

I used a Pages prebuilt template to create a Resume with two columns. When I export as .docx and open the exported document in Pages on a Mac, it looks fine, but when I open it in Google Docs, it is a single column document (and the preview of the document in my Finder is also single-column). Not only that, but the second column shows up first, so my NAME is not even at the top of my own resume ⚠ I don't have a PC, nor access to MS Word. How do I know that when hiring managers see my document that it is formatted correctly? They often request strictly "Word Documents".

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2016), macOS High Sierra (10.13.1)

Posted on Dec 18, 2017 5:56 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 19, 2017 4:04 AM in response to ohpda

You will have unexpected and unanticipated problems if you convert between formats.

Pages is not Word, nor is it a clone.

LibreOffice [free] is a clone and lets you work in doc/x format, if you do not want to pay for Microsoft Office.

Peter

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,248 points

Dec 19, 2017 7:36 AM in response to richard grant

The Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) referred to above is not a human, and it is programmed to read Word documents generated by MS Word, and specifically Word on Windows. On the 4% chance that there is a match, and if the ATS software has not internally converted the Word document to PDF (to avoid viruses/malware), then the human eyes in an HR department or recruiting agency will be using Windows Office to view the document.

Because Pages uses an entirely different document layout engine that does any version of MS Word, a document that eventually finds its way to a human, had better look perfect to that reviewer, or it will get tossed in a few seconds.

MS Word, and LibreOffice Writer stamp their names/and or version into the Word .docx document. Pages (any version) leaves the authoring application name blank when exporting to Word.

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Answer 3

Dec 18, 2017 7:15 PM in response to ohpda

Export to pdf.

Peter

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Answer 4

ohpda Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 18, 2017 7:40 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

I'm specifically asking about exporting to .doc or .docx.

Recruiters and job boards almost always request Word Docs because their ATS systems can more predictably scan the files. I sent a PDF through an ATS and got very unexpected results, especially with multiple columns in the document. Besides, a PDF wouldn't help if I wanted to send a document to someone to edit. I've sent a PDF along with the doc in the past, but I shouldn't have to. It reflects poorly on me if my document is formatted poorly.

Update:

I did notice that the column shifting happens when viewing with Google Docs on mobile (Android), but not on Google Docs when viewed from a desktop, so the original gripe may be a problem only with the Google Docs mobile app.

However, other formatting issues come up in the Desktop version (heading appearing halfway down the first page). Attached is a screenshot of the correctly formatted pdf export, then a screenshot of the .docx export when viewed in Google Docs. Much of the left column is clipped, and doesn't flow to the next page. Should I expect this to be formatted poorly when viewed with MS Word as well?

PDF: DOCX:

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Answer 5

Dec 19, 2017 4:04 AM in response to ohpda

The problem here is, there's absolutely no way to predict what sort of hardware or software the person on the receiving end will be using to open your resume. There's an irreducible element of uncertainty whenever you're passing a document created with one system to someone using a different system, and it becomes greater when finely detailed formatting is involved. Hence, Peter's suggestion to export to PDF.

If that option won't work, and this resume is critical for your career, then I don't see any option other than using Word to create it.

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