Resume redactor: remove contact details from a CV before you send it

Why it matters: when an agency sends a resume to a client, the candidate’s email, phone and LinkedIn are the only thing standing between your fee and a client who calls the candidate directly. Most recruiters blank those out by hand in Word, or draw a black box in a PDF editor that anyone can lift off. This redactor finds the contact details for you and rebuilds the file so the hidden text is truly gone.

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How it works

• Drop in the candidate’s PDF resume. Word files need saving as PDF first.
• Email addresses, phone numbers, LinkedIn and web links, and street addresses are found and boxed automatically. Tick Candidate’s name for a blind CV, and add any other words to hide, such as a current employer.
• Scroll every page. Drag over anything that was missed, like a photo, a signature or a home town. Click a box to remove it.
• Download. Add an optional footer such as your agency name and phone, so the client calls you.

Why a black box in a PDF editor is not enough

Drawing a shape over text in most PDF editors only covers it. The words are still in the file, so anyone can select them, copy and paste, or search for them. This tool turns each page into a picture, paints the boxes onto that picture, and builds a brand new PDF. The original text, the file’s author name and its other hidden details are not carried over.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to put a candidate’s resume in here?

Yes. The redactor runs in your browser, so the resume never leaves your computer. There is no upload, no account and no copy kept anywhere. That matters for candidate privacy and for GDPR and state privacy laws.

Can the client still copy text out of the redacted resume?

No, and that is on purpose. Each page is saved as an image, so nothing can be copied back, including what sat under the boxes. If a client needs to search the text, send the redacted file and a separate summary.

Will it catch everything?

It catches the usual contact details, but resumes come in every layout, and scanned resumes have no text to search at all. Always scroll through each page before you download and drag a box over anything left. Photos, signatures and QR codes always need a box by hand.

What is a blind CV?

A blind CV hides details that could lead to bias, such as the candidate’s name, and sometimes schools or graduation years. Tick Candidate’s name and add any other words to hide. Many teams use blind CVs for the first review only.

Need to send the resume with references in one file? Use merge and split PDFs. Want this done inside your workflow? See recruiting CRM and ATS tools, several of which format and brand resumes for submittals.