If Bond Adapt rejects your CV before it even parses, the cause is usually the file itself — too big, wrong format, or a filename it can't handle. This guide helps you diagnose and clear upload errors fast.
TL;DR: Bond Adapt upload failures come down to a handful of issues: file size over ~2MB, unsupported formats, special characters in filenames, embedded images, and network timeouts on bulk uploads. Shrink the file, use .doc/.docx, rename cleanly, and batch in smaller groups. Distill automates this prep if you upload at volume.
Quick diagnosis: what’s blocking the upload?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Quick check |
|---|---|---|
| “File too large” or silent failure | File over ~2MB | Check file size; look for embedded images |
| Upload rejected immediately | Unsupported file type | Is it .doc, .docx, or text-based PDF? |
| Upload starts then errors out | Special characters in filename | Does the name contain #, %, &, or symbols? |
| Bulk upload fails partway | One bad CV in the batch | Did one file break formatting rules? |
| Upload stalls or times out | Slow connection + large files | Are you uploading many large files at once? |
Root causes ranked by frequency
File size over the limit Bond Adapt caps uploads at roughly 2MB. CVs with photos, logos, or high-res graphics blow past this. Removing images usually fixes it instantly.
Unsupported file format Only .doc, .docx, and text-based PDF are reliable. .rtf, .pages, and image formats are rejected or fail silently.
Special characters in the filename Symbols like #, %, &, /, or accented characters in filenames cause uploads to fail. Use simple alphanumeric names.
Embedded images and objects Even when under the size cap, embedded objects can trigger upload errors and inflate the file.
Bulk upload failures In batch uploads, a single non-conforming CV can fail the whole job. Pre-check every file before bulk submission.
Network timeouts Large files on a slow connection time out mid-upload. Compress files and split batches.
Step-by-step fix
- Remove images and compress. Strip photos and logos; aim for well under 2MB.
- Save in a supported format. Use .docx, or a text-based PDF if the client requires it.
- Rename the file cleanly. Use "Firstname Lastname - Job Title.docx" with no symbols.
- Pre-check batch files. Confirm each CV meets format and size rules before bulk upload.
- Split large batches. Upload in smaller groups to avoid timeouts.
- Retry a single failed file on its own to isolate whether it's the file or the batch.
How to prevent Bond Adapt upload issues on future submittals
- Standardise a lightweight CV template with no embedded images.
- Adopt a clean filename convention across the team.
- Use Distill to strip images and compress files automatically before upload.
- Keep batches small and run them off a stable connection.
When to escalate to Distill
Use Distill if upload failures are a recurring time sink:
- You submit 20+ CVs weekly and regularly hit size or format errors.
- Your CVs arrive with photos and logos that must be stripped each time.
- You bulk-upload and one bad file keeps failing the batch.
Distill removes images, compresses the file, standardises the format to clean .docx, and outputs upload-ready CVs — so Bond Adapt accepts them first time.
FAQ
Q: What's the Bond Adapt file size limit? A: Around 2MB per file. Removing photos and logos is the fastest way under it.
Q: Which file types does Bond Adapt accept? A: .doc, .docx, and text-based PDF. Avoid .rtf, .pages, and image files.
Q: Why does my upload fail with a valid CV? A: Check the filename for special characters and the file for embedded images — both commonly block uploads.
Q: My bulk upload keeps failing. What now? A: One CV in the batch likely breaks the rules. Upload files individually to find it, or pre-check each one.
Q: Does Distill upload directly to Bond Adapt? A: No. It prepares upload-ready files; you upload them to Bond Adapt as normal.
If Bond Adapt upload errors keep slowing you down, Distill prepares every CV to spec automatically. Try Distill free and upload clean files first time.