US Resume Upload Guide: PDF Size, ATS, and Format (LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor)

If you’re applying for jobs in the United States, a resume PDF that’s too large—or formatted poorly for ATS—can be silently rejected by portals like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. This guide explains exactly how to keep your resume under 2MB, pass ATS, and upload successfully every time—without losing your fonts or layout.

Quick Checklist (2 Minutes)

1. Export your resume as PDF. If you only have a DOCX, Convert Word to PDF.
2. Shrink the file under 2MB with Compress PDF (select Balanced).
3. Need to attach certificates? Merge PDFs into one upload.
4. Remove any extra pages with Remove Pages.

US Portal Realities (Know Before You Upload)

• LinkedIn: typically allows up to 5MB, but smaller is safer. See LinkedIn Help.
• Indeed: many users report a 2MB practical limit for resume PDFs. Their file tips are covered in Indeed Support.
• Glassdoor: resumes larger than 2MB may fail silently. See Glassdoor Help.

Make It ATS-Friendly (Formatting That Works)

• Use simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) and a one-column layout.
• Avoid images/icons for key info; ATS reads text best.
• Export as PDF with tagged PDF if your editor supports it.
• Keep a DOCX master for editing, but submit PDF. If formatting breaks, re-export and convert again.

Free Tools (Private & Instant)

• Compress PDF — reduce size under 2MB without losing readability.
• Convert Word to PDF — preserve fonts, margins, and layout.
• Merge PDFs — combine resume + certificates + transcripts.
• Remove Pages — delete sensitive or extra pages before sharing.
• AI Resume Builder — generate ATS-friendly structure with unlimited preview.

FAQ