What it does
Shrink a resume or document packet to under 2 MB for a job board or ATS upload.
Many job boards and applicant tracking systems limit uploads to a few megabytes, and 2 MB is a limit you will often see. A resume made in Word is usually far smaller, but a scanned resume, a portfolio or a packet of certificates can go over it. Drop the file in below and the limit is already set to 2 MB.
Compress a PDF to under 2 MB
Shrink a resume, scan or document packet to under 2 MB for a job board, ATS or application form. The text is kept if the file fits; if not, you get the sharpest version under the limit.
Opening the PDF…
Common limits: Under 2 MB · Under 1 MB · Under 500 KB · Under 200 KB
More free PDF tools: Candidate submittal pack · Merge PDFs · Remove pages · Resume redactor
Runs in your browser. Your PDF is not uploaded, stored or sent anywhere.
How does it get under 2 MB?
First it tidies the file without touching the text. If that is enough, your resume stays fully readable by an ATS. If not, it rebuilds the pages as images and picks the sharpest quality that still lands under 2 MB, rather than crushing everything to the lowest setting.
Why is my PDF over 2 MB?
Large PDFs are almost always images: scanned pages, phone photos, or a resume with a large headshot or graphics. Text adds very little. If your file is a scan, the tool rebuilds it as smaller images. If it is a resume from Word or Google Docs, export it again with Save as PDF and it will usually be well under 2 MB with the text intact.
Frequently asked questions
Will an ATS still read my resume after compressing?
Yes, if the result says text is still selectable. If the pages had to become images, export a fresh PDF from your document instead; that is almost always under 2 MB.
My file is still over 2 MB. What now?
Remove pages you do not need, such as a long portfolio, then try again.
Need a different size? Compress a PDF to 1 MB, 500 KB or 200 KB, or use the main compress a PDF tool.
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