Job portals and applicant tracking systems often cap uploads at 2–5 MB, and some reject an oversized file silently — so you never learn your certificate didn't go through. Compress your CV, certificates, and references before uploading, and do it privately, since these documents carry your personal details.
Why job portals are so strict
Many applicant tracking systems cap each upload at 2–5 MB, and some quietly discard a too-large file rather than warning you. Scanned degree certificates, reference letters, and signed forms are usually the culprits, because they're images of paper rather than digital text.
Compress to "readable on a screen"
A recruiter views your document on a monitor, not at print resolution — so compress to the smallest size that's still comfortably readable. Compress PDF does this in your browser, and a scanned certificate often drops from several megabytes to under one.
Read it before you submit
Open the compressed file and check that a stamp, signature, or small-print clause is still legible. This is your application — thirty seconds of checking is the cheapest insurance there is.
One file, if the portal wants one
If the form asks for a single file (CV + cover letter + references), Merge PDF them first, then compress the result. Starting from a Word CV? Word to PDF gives you a clean, watermark-free PDF to submit.
Why privacy matters here specifically
Your CV has your address, phone number, and full history; certificates may carry ID numbers. Because these tools run on your own device, none of it is uploaded to a conversion server — which is exactly what you want for documents this personal. If it's still over the limit after compressing, extract only the required pages with Split PDF.