VSThiran

PDF tools for resumes and job applications

Quick answer

Combine your resume and cover letter into one PDF with Merge PDF, edit the wording with PDF to Word if you only have a PDF version, and check the file size with the inspector before uploading to an application portal.

Combine resume and cover letterAll PDF tools

Free, no sign-up, and your file is read on your own device rather than uploaded.

Job applications tend to need the same few things: a resume and cover letter combined into one upload rather than two separate files, wording edited when only a PDF version exists, and a file small enough that an application portal accepts it without complaint.

None of this needs design software - these jobs are all handled by the same general-purpose PDF tools used for any document.

Step by step

  1. Combine your resume and cover letter

    Many portals want a single file - merge the two into one PDF in the right order.

    Merge PDF

  2. Edit the wording of an old resume

    When you only have a PDF version and need to update the actual text, convert it to Word first.

    PDF to Word

  3. Check the file will upload cleanly

    See the page count and file size before submitting, especially for portals with strict limits.

    PDF Inspector

  4. Shrink the file if it is too large

    A resume with a headshot or graphics can occasionally run larger than expected - compress it if a portal rejects the upload.

    Compress PDF

Tips

  • Combine your resume and cover letter into one file before applying anywhere that only accepts a single upload - check the portal's requirements first, since some specifically want them separate.
  • If you only have an old resume as a PDF and no longer have the original Word file, convert it to Word to make it editable again rather than retyping everything from scratch.
  • A resume is almost always small already since it is mostly text - if a portal rejects it as too large, it likely contains an oversized image or headshot worth checking.

Common problems

You only have your resume as a PDF and need to update it.

Convert it to Word first - this recovers the text as something you can actually edit, rather than starting the whole resume over from scratch.

An application portal wants one file but you have two.

Merge your resume and cover letter into a single PDF, in the order the application should be read.

Frequently asked questions

Should I combine my resume and cover letter into one PDF?
It depends on the application - many portals prefer one upload, so combining them with Merge PDF is the safer default when instructions don't specify. Check the listing first, since some explicitly want them separate.
How do I edit an old resume that only exists as a PDF?
Convert it to Word - this recovers the text into an editable document, which you can then update and re-export as a PDF.
Why is my resume PDF larger than expected?
Most likely an embedded photo or graphic at a higher resolution than needed. Compress the file to shrink it without affecting the text.
Are my documents uploaded anywhere?
No. Every tool works entirely on your own device - nothing is uploaded to a server.

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Ready to do it?

Free, no sign-up, and nothing is uploaded to a server.

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