Who can do this: Everyone who uploads resumes. Only Owners and Admins can change the skills settings. · Product: Resume Builder · Where: Settings → General settings → Candidate profiles for the skills settings
When you upload a resume, Candidately reads it and fills in the candidate's profile. You check the result and fix anything that's off. Parsing doesn't use credits. Credits are only used when you export or share a profile.
What gets filled in?
Name, job title, email, phone and LinkedIn
Professional summary
Skills, with years of experience where the resume shows them
Total years of experience and location
Employment history, education, licenses and certificates, languages and other details
Your own custom fields, if our team has set them up to be read from resumes. Ask us in the chat.
A field stays empty when the resume doesn't contain the information.
Permitted file extensions
For resumes (new candidates and new profiles):
File type | Works |
Yes, best results with text-based PDFs | |
Word (.doc, .docx, .docm, .dot, .dotx, .dotm) | Yes, best results |
RTF, ODT, TXT, MD | Yes |
Images (PNG, JPG, JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF) | Yes, read with text recognition |
Scanned PDF | Yes, read with text recognition |
Other upload fields accept different files:
Replace candidate’s CV/Resume: the dialog says PDF and DOC files, up to 25 MB.
Add candidate avatar (candidate photo): PNG, JPG/JPEG, BMP, GIF and TIFF.
If you select a file a field doesn't accept, you see a message like "Uploading PDF files is not allowed. Please check our Help Center for "Permitted file extensions"." Select a file type from these lists.
Are there size or number limits?
Up to 25 MB per file.
Up to 50 files at once.
A file needs some readable text. A file with almost no text can't be parsed.
The upload menu says "PDF or DOC". The other resume types in the table work there too.
How long does parsing take?
Up to a minute per resume.
The Parsing resumes panel
The panel at the bottom right shows progress while you wait, then a check mark and the candidate's name when it's done.
Choose how skills are added
An Owner or Admin decides how skills are added, for the whole company. Open the user menu (your name, bottom left), then go to Settings → General settings → Candidate profiles:
Candidate skills behavior: Add main skills automatically (the default), Only suggest skills to be added or Do not add or suggest any skills.
Skill experience information: Include years of experience where available (the default) or Do not pre-fill years of experience.
When you change an option, a bar appears with Save changes and Cancel. Click Save changes.
The skills settings
Both settings are in General settings under Candidate profiles.
Suggested skills show in the editor under "Suggested skills (found on CV/resume)". See Choose which skills are added from a resume.
Is there a parsing limit?
Yes. Your company can parse a set number of resumes in any 30 days. The number grows with the users on your account. Uploads and imports from Bullhorn count. While you're at the limit, you also can't replace a resume or duplicate a profile.
When you reach it, you see "You've reached your CV parsing limit. You cannot add new CVs at this time". Need more? Ask us in the chat and we'll look at your account.
How do I read a resume again?
There's no separate "parse again" button. To read a resume again, replace it: More → Replace candidate’s CV/Resume. See Edit a profile or replace its resume.
Good to know
Read the profile once before you send it. Dates, job titles and total years of experience are worth a check.
If you use Bullhorn, imported candidates also get details from the Bullhorn record. See Import a candidate from Bullhorn.
Common questions
Which file types can I upload?
For resumes: PDF, Word, RTF, ODT, TXT, MD and images. The full list is in the Permitted file extensions table in this article.
Should I convert PDFs to Word before uploading?
No, you don't need to convert them. Text-based PDF and Word files both give the best results.
Can I upload a scanned resume or a photo?
Yes, you can upload a scanned resume or a photo. Candidately reads it with text recognition.
Does parsing use credits?
No, parsing doesn't use credits. Only exporting or sharing a profile uses credits.
Pro tip: If a scanned resume or photo comes out with gaps, ask the candidate for a Word file or a text-based PDF. Those give the best results.
We are always here for you if you need us.
Our whole team is around almost 24/7 to support you. Click the chat icon at the bottom right to start chatting with us. Our team is happy to help.