Usually, you can't. A resume you attach to an email or upload to a company's application system does not report back when someone opens it. If you want to know, send a link instead of only a file. A tracked link can show when it was first and last opened, repeat visits, video plays and downloads.
Why a PDF can't tell you
A PDF is a file. Once it leaves your inbox, it has no way to report back. Some job boards show a basic "viewed" status for applications submitted through them, but a file you email or upload to a company's own system usually tells you nothing. Email read receipts exist, but the recipient can decline them.
What a tracked link can show you
A link is a web page, so it can record visits. With PitchPage, you create a separate tracked link for each recipient. For each one you can see:
- Views and repeat visits
- Whether the intro video was played
- Downloads
- When it was first and last opened
PitchPage does this without cookies.
What it can't tell you
A view tells you your page was opened. It does not tell you what the reader thought, who else on the team saw it, or whether you will hear back. Use it to time your follow-up, not to guess the outcome.
When you still need the PDF
Many application systems require a PDF or Word upload. Upload it. Then put your PitchPage link in the resume header, in your cover email and in your follow-up message, so the person who reads it has one place to see the rest.
Not sure which to send where? See PDF resume vs. a pitch page link.
FAQ
- Can I tell if a recruiter opened my resume?
- Not from a PDF you emailed or uploaded. You can from a tracked link, which shows views, repeat visits and first and last opened.
- Does PitchPage use cookies to track views?
- No. PitchPage tracks views without cookies.
- Can I see which recruiter opened it?
- Yes, if you give each person their own link: PitchPage gives you a separate tracked link per recipient. Views on that link came through it, though you can't tell if it was forwarded.
- How much does PitchPage cost?
- It is free to build. Publishing one page is $9 for Basic or $19 for Pro, one time, with no subscription. Five pages are $39 (Basic) or $59 (Pro). Unused pages are refundable within 14 days.
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