PageUp ATS is common across UK and ANZ agencies but handles CVs in ways that often cause parsing mistakes and upload headaches. If you don't format CVs to PageUp's quirks, you'll waste time fixing errors or lose candidate data.
TL;DR: PageUp struggles with tables, unusual fonts, and embedded images in CVs. Keep formatting simple, avoid complex layouts, and check for hidden characters. Parsing errors usually stem from these issues. If you send high volumes, automated formatting with Distill saves hours by cleaning CVs to PageUp's spec before upload.
What you need to know about CVs in PageUp
PageUp's parsing engine extracts candidate data for screening workflows but has strict formatting preferences. It expects clean, text-based CVs without complex structures. Tables, text boxes, and images often confuse its parser.
PageUp is widely used in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK by enterprise clients and universities. So agencies handling those markets must prepare CVs accordingly. PageUp also supports multiple CV upload formats (Word, PDF, RTF), but Word docs are most reliable.
Common user pain points:
- Data fields missing or scrambled after upload
- Candidate details split across multiple fields incorrectly
- Parsing errors causing manual re-entry or candidate rejection
- Uploads failing silently or with generic errors
Understanding these issues helps you format CVs that get through first time, reducing manual fixes.
Formatting guide
PageUp wants CVs that resemble plain text documents with clear section headings and no fancy layout tricks.
What to avoid
- Tables: PageUp breaks tables by reading cells out of order or not at all. Remove tables before upload.
- Text boxes and frames: These are often ignored or cause text to jumble.
- Multiple columns: Two-column CVs confuse the parser's reading order.
- Headers and footers: Candidate info in headers or footers is often lost.
- Unusual fonts or colours: Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in black.
- Embedded images: Logos, photos, or icons cause parsing failure or slow uploads.
- Bullets and symbols: Use simple bullet points (• or –). Avoid emojis or special symbols.
What to do
- Use clear headings like "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills" on their own lines.
- Separate each job or education entry with a blank line.
- Use standard date formats: "Jan 2020 – Dec 2022" or "01/2020 to 12/2022".
- Keep contact details at the top, fully spelled out (no icons).
- Save the CV as a Word doc (.doc or .docx) rather than PDF, unless PDF is explicitly requested.
- Check for hidden formatting using Word's "Show/Hide ¶" feature.
- Avoid excessive line spacing or page breaks.
Following this keeps the CV structure straightforward for PageUp to parse cleanly.
Parsing errors
PageUp parsing errors usually happen because the CV's structure doesn't match what the parser expects.
Common parsing errors and causes
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Missing contact details | Info in header/footer or embedded images | Move info to main body, remove images |
| Scrambled job titles | Tables or columns | Remove tables, use single-column format |
| Dates not recognised | Unusual date formats | Use “MMM YYYY – MMM YYYY” or numbers only |
| Skills lumped together | Bullets or symbols unrecognised | Use simple bullets, separate skills clearly |
| Upload rejected | Hidden metadata or password protection | Remove metadata, save as clean Word doc |
If you see repeated errors with one client, check their PageUp version and parsing notes. Some clients customise their PageUp to accept PDFs better or allow certain layouts, but that's rare.
Upload issues
Uploading CVs to PageUp can cause problems beyond parsing.
What causes upload failures?
- File size too large (PageUp limits vary, typically 5MB max).
- Unsupported file format (Word preferred; some clients accept PDFs).
- Corrupted file or hidden metadata causing rejection.
- Connection timeouts on slow networks.
- Duplicate CV detection blocking upload.
How to prevent upload issues
- Compress images or remove them to reduce file size.
- Always save as clean Word documents without tracked changes.
- Remove metadata via Word's document inspector.
- Rename files using candidate name and job reference, avoiding special characters.
- Upload during low-traffic times if the client portal is slow.
If you frequently upload dozens of CVs, manual formatting plus upload is slow and error-prone. Tools that automate formatting and cleaning before upload reduce these issues.
Distill + PageUp
Distill helps agencies solve PageUp CV issues by automatically reformatting CVs to the platform's requirements. It removes tables, images, headers, and footers, standardises dates and contact details, and strips metadata. This reduces parsing errors and upload failures.
Distill integrates by processing your CVs before you send them to PageUp clients. You upload or forward CVs to Distill, and it returns a clean Word doc ready for upload. This saves recruiters hours of manual fixes each week and ensures more candidates get through first time. Distill doesn't integrate directly with PageUp but fits neatly into your existing workflow.
For agencies submitting 20+ CVs per week to PageUp clients, Distill cuts down errors and speeds up submission.
Try Distill with your ATS export and see how much time you save fixing PageUp CVs.