When Firefish blocks a CV upload, the cause is usually the file or a duplicate flag rather than parsing. This guide helps you diagnose and clear Firefish upload errors quickly so your batches keep moving.
TL;DR: Firefish upload failures come from files over ~5MB, unsupported formats, special characters or very long filenames, duplicate detection blocking legitimate new versions, and bulk-upload timeouts. Compress files, use clean filenames, check duplicates, and split large batches. Distill automates the file prep.
Quick diagnosis: what’s blocking the upload?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Quick check |
|---|---|---|
| “File too large” or stalls | File over ~5MB | Check file size; look for images |
| Rejected outright | Unsupported format | Is it DOC, DOCX, RTF, or PDF? |
| Upload errors on a valid CV | Special chars / long filename | Any symbols or a very long filename? |
| “Duplicate” blocks a new version | Duplicate detection | Same name + contact as an existing record? |
| Batch fails partway | Bulk upload timeout | Are you uploading a large batch at once? |
Root causes ranked by frequency
File size over the limit Firefish caps uploads at roughly 5MB. CVs with images and graphics blow past it. Removing images usually fixes it.
Unsupported format Firefish accepts DOC, DOCX, RTF, and PDF. Anything else (e.g. .pages, image files) is rejected.
Filename problems Special characters or very long filenames can fail. Use short, alphanumeric names.
Duplicate detection Firefish flags duplicates on name and contact details. A legitimate updated CV can get blocked as a duplicate.
Bulk-upload timeouts Large batches can time out or trigger server errors. Smaller batches are more reliable.
Step-by-step fix
- Compress and strip images. Remove photos and logos; keep files comfortably under 5MB.
- Save in a supported format. DOCX is best; DOC, RTF, and PDF also work.
- Rename cleanly. Short, alphanumeric filename like "Firstname Lastname - Job Title.docx".
- Resolve duplicates. If a new version is blocked, update the existing record or confirm the duplicate flag before re-uploading.
- Split large batches into smaller groups to avoid timeouts.
How to prevent Firefish upload issues on future submittals
- Standardise a lightweight, image-free CV template.
- Use a short, clean filename convention.
- Let Distill strip images and standardise formats before upload.
- Check for existing records before bulk uploads to avoid duplicate flags.
When to escalate to Distill
Use Distill if uploads regularly fail:
- You submit 20+ CVs weekly and keep hitting size or format errors.
- CVs arrive with images that must be removed each time.
- Bulk batches repeatedly time out.
Distill removes images, compresses files, standardises to clean DOCX, and produces upload-ready CVs so Firefish accepts them first time.
FAQ
Q: What's the Firefish file size limit? A: Around 5MB per CV. Removing images is the fastest way under it.
Q: Which formats does Firefish accept? A: DOC, DOCX, RTF, and PDF. DOCX parses most reliably.
Q: Why is Firefish blocking my updated CV as a duplicate? A: It matches on name and contact details. Update the existing record, or confirm the flag before re-uploading.
Q: Why does my bulk upload time out? A: The batch is too large. Split it into smaller groups.
Q: Does Distill upload to Firefish for me? A: No. It prepares upload-ready files; you upload them to Firefish as usual.
If Firefish upload errors keep slowing you down, Distill prepares every CV to spec automatically. Try Distill free and keep your batches moving.