How to Share Your Resume with Employers: Best Methods in 2024

7 min read

Learn the best ways to share your resume with employers. Create shareable resume links, track views, and make a professional impression.

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Resume Link

Sending your resume the right way can make or break your job application. Email attachments get lost, Google Drive links look unprofessional, and recruiters are overwhelmed with files. Here's how to share your resume like a pro.

The Problem with Traditional Resume Sharing

Email Attachments

Most job seekers attach their resume directly to emails. Problems:

  • Gets buried - Recruiters receive hundreds of attachments daily
  • File size issues - Corporate email systems reject large files
  • No tracking - You never know if they opened it
  • Formatting breaks - Different PDF viewers render differently

Google Drive Links

Better than attachments, but still problematic:

  • Requires Google account to view sometimes
  • Long ugly URLs - docs.google.com/document/d/1aBcD3fG...
  • Permission issues - "Request access" errors frustrate recruiters
  • Unprofessional appearance - Shows you're using free personal tools

Dropbox/OneDrive Links

Similar issues to Google Drive, plus:

  • Cluttered interface - Your resume sits among other files
  • Download prompts - Forces recipients to download instead of view
  • Corporate firewalls - Some companies block cloud storage sites

The Best Way: Shareable Resume Links

A dedicated resume link solves all these problems:

Example: your-name-resume.linkyhost.com

Why This Works Better

  1. Professional appearance - Clean, branded URL
  2. Instant viewing - Opens directly in browser, no download needed
  3. Track views - Know exactly when someone opens your resume
  4. Always accessible - No permission issues or access requests
  5. Easy to update - Change the file, keep the same link
  6. Works everywhere - Email, LinkedIn, job boards, QR codes

How to Create a Resume Link

Method 1: Using LinkyHost (Recommended)

The fastest way to create a professional resume link:

  1. Go to LinkyHost Resume Link Generator
  2. Upload your resume PDF
  3. Get your custom link (e.g., john-smith-resume.linkyhost.com)
  4. Share anywhere

Time required: 30 seconds

What you get:

  • Custom subdomain with your name
  • View tracking and analytics
  • Mobile-friendly viewing
  • No signup required for basic use

Method 2: Personal Website

If you have a personal website:

  1. Upload resume PDF to your hosting
  2. Create a clean URL like yoursite.com/resume
  3. Link to it from your homepage

Pros: Full control, professional branding Cons: Requires web hosting knowledge, no tracking

Method 3: LinkedIn PDF

LinkedIn lets you add media to your profile:

  1. Go to your LinkedIn profile
  2. Click "Add profile section" > "Featured"
  3. Upload your resume PDF

Pros: Visible to recruiters browsing LinkedIn Cons: Only works on LinkedIn, no direct link

Where to Use Your Resume Link

In Email Applications

Subject: Application for [Position] - [Your Name]

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am excited to apply for the [Position] role at [Company].

Please find my resume here: [Your Resume Link]

[Rest of your cover letter]

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Why this works: Cleaner than attachments, shows technical competence, easy for recruiters to click.

On LinkedIn

Add your resume link to:

  • Contact Info section - Under "Websites"
  • Featured section - As an external link
  • About section - Mention "Resume: [link]"
  • Messages - When reaching out to recruiters

In Job Applications

Many job application forms ask for a "portfolio link" or "website." Your resume link works perfectly here:

  • ATS systems can process the link
  • Recruiters can view immediately
  • No file upload size limits

On Business Cards

Include your resume link on your business card:

John Smith
Software Engineer
john-smith.linkyhost.com/resume

Or generate a QR code using File to QR Code that links directly to your resume.

At Career Fairs

Instead of handing out paper resumes:

  1. Create a QR code for your resume link
  2. Display on your phone or print on a card
  3. Recruiters scan and save instantly

This makes you memorable and eco-friendly.

Tracking Resume Views

One major advantage of resume links: you know when someone views it.

What You Can Track

With LinkyHost analytics, you see:

  • View count - Total times your resume was opened
  • Timestamps - Exactly when each view happened
  • Referrers - Where traffic came from (email, LinkedIn, etc.)
  • Location - General geographic area of viewers

How to Use This Information

Scenario: You applied to 10 companies last week.

Your analytics show:

  • 6 views on Monday (applications sent Monday)
  • 2 views on Wednesday
  • 0 views from 2 companies

What this tells you:

  • 8 companies at least looked at your resume
  • 2 companies may have missed your application - follow up
  • Wednesday viewers might be second-round reviewers

Action: Follow up with the 2 companies that didn't view, and prepare for potential interviews from the Wednesday viewers.

Resume Link Best Practices

1. Use Your Name in the URL

Good: john-smith-resume.linkyhost.com Bad: quiet-sunset-472.linkyhost.com

If possible, customize your link to include your name. It's more professional and memorable.

2. Keep Your Resume Updated

Unlike email attachments that are sent once, your link is live. If you update your resume PDF:

  • Old link still works
  • Everyone sees the latest version
  • No need to resend to anyone

3. Use PDF Format

Always share your resume as PDF, not Word:

  • Formatting preserved - Looks the same on any device
  • Professional standard - Expected by recruiters
  • Read-only - Can't be accidentally edited
  • Smaller file size - Loads faster

Need to convert? Use Word to PDF.

4. Optimize File Size

Large PDFs load slowly. Before uploading:

  • Keep file under 2MB if possible
  • Use PDF Compressor if too large
  • Avoid excessive images or graphics

5. Test Your Link

Before sending to employers:

  1. Open in incognito/private browsing
  2. Test on mobile phone
  3. Check it loads quickly
  4. Verify formatting looks correct

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Password-Protected PDFs

Don't add a password to your resume PDF. Recruiters won't bother entering passwords - they'll just skip to the next candidate.

Mistake 2: Using File Names as Links

Don't share links like: drive.google.com/John_Smith_Resume_Final_v3_UPDATED.pdf

The URL reveals your revision history and looks unprofessional.

Mistake 3: Broken or Expired Links

Test your link regularly. If you used a service that expires links, your applications become useless after expiration.

LinkyHost links don't expire - your resume stays accessible.

Mistake 4: Different Resumes, Same Link

If you're tailoring resumes for different roles, use different links:

  • john-smith-dev.linkyhost.com - Software roles
  • john-smith-pm.linkyhost.com - Product roles

This way, tracking shows which version performs best.

Resume Link vs. Email Attachment: Comparison

FactorEmail AttachmentResume Link
File size limitsYes (10-25MB)No
View trackingNoYes
Professional lookStandardModern
Update after sendingNoYes
Mobile friendlyVariesYes
ATS compatibleYesYes
Load speedDependsFast
Access issuesSometimesRare

For Recruiters: Why Candidates Use Resume Links

If you're a recruiter reading this, here's why you're seeing more resume links:

  1. Candidates can track engagement - They know if you viewed
  2. Easier to update - No "v2" or "final_final" versions
  3. Works across platforms - LinkedIn, email, ATS
  4. More professional - Shows technical competence

Resume links are the new standard. Expect to see more of them.

Related Tools

Related Guides

Summary

Stop attaching resumes to emails. Create a professional resume link:

  1. Upload your resume to LinkyHost
  2. Get a clean, professional URL
  3. Share in emails, LinkedIn, job applications
  4. Track who views your resume and when
  5. Update anytime without resending

Your resume deserves better than an email attachment. Make it accessible, trackable, and professional with a dedicated link.