If your CVs aren't parsing correctly in Recruitee, you need a quick way to identify the problem and fix it before it slows down your workflow. This guide helps you troubleshoot Recruitee CV formatting issues with a simple decision tree, explains the most common causes, and offers clear steps to resolve and prevent errors.
Quick diagnosis: What’s breaking your Recruitee CV format?
Use this decision tree to pinpoint your issue in 60 seconds:
| Problem symptom | Likely cause | Check this first |
|---|---|---|
| CV text appears jumbled or missing | Complex tables or columns | Remove tables/columns or flatten layout |
| Contact details not imported correctly | Header or footer content | Move contact info to main body, no header/footer |
| Formatting lost after upload | Unsupported fonts or file type | Use standard fonts; save as DOCX, not PDF |
| Bullet points or lists merged | Custom bullets or special chars | Replace bullets with simple symbols (-, *) |
| Sections merged or out of order | Multiple columns or text boxes | Convert to single-column plain text layout |
If none of these match, check the file type and size limits, or if the CV has password protection.
Root causes ranked by frequency
Tables and multi-column layouts Recruitee's parser can't read complex tables or columns reliably. These often scramble candidate details or merge separate sections into one block.
Headers and footers with contact info Many candidates put their phone number or email in headers or footers. Recruitee ignores this content, so key info disappears.
Unsupported file formats or fonts Recruitee prefers DOCX files with standard fonts like Arial or Calibri. PDFs and unusual fonts often fail or lose formatting.
Custom bullet points and special characters Fancy bullets (like arrows or icons) may convert to gibberish or merge with text, breaking readability.
Multiple text boxes or embedded objects CVs built in design software or saved from PDFs sometimes have text split into boxes, which Recruitee reads out of order.
Step-by-step fix for Recruitee CV format issues
Follow these steps to get your CV parsing clean:
Remove tables and columns Open the CV in Word. Select any tables or columns, then use the "Convert to Text" or "Remove Table" function. Replace columns with simple headings and line breaks.
Move contact info to the main body Cut phone, email, and address out of headers or footers. Paste them clearly at the top of the first page.
Save as DOCX with standard fonts Avoid PDFs unless necessary. Use Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Save the file as DOCX, not DOC or PDF.
Replace custom bullets Find any fancy bullet points and replace them with simple hyphens (-) or asterisks (*).
Flatten text boxes If the CV uses text boxes, copy all text into a blank Word document without boxes. Use normal paragraph formatting.
Run a final check Open your cleaned CV in plain text mode (Word > View > Draft). Confirm layout is logical and no content is missing.
How to prevent Recruitee CV formatting problems on future submittals
Ask candidates to submit DOCX files with simple layouts. Avoid columns, tables, and headers/footers for contact info.
Use a standard CV template that avoids design elements breaking parsers. You can share a Recruitee CV template with candidates.
Train your team to spot and fix common formatting issues before upload.
If you receive PDFs, convert them carefully to DOCX using a reliable tool, then clean formatting.
Set up a pre-submission checklist for your recruiters to follow.
When to escalate to Distill
Manual fixes take time. If you send 20+ CVs weekly to Recruitee clients, Distill can automate formatting to their spec. Distill strips out headers, footers, tables, columns, and replaces unsupported fonts and bullets in 30 seconds.
Use Distill to ensure every CV you submit to Recruitee parses correctly without manual intervention.
FAQ
Can Recruitee parse PDFs reliably?
No. Recruitee's parser struggles with PDFs, especially scanned or image-based files. If you must submit PDFs, convert them to DOCX and clean formatting first.
What file format does Recruitee prefer?
DOCX with standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid DOC, PDF, or any design-heavy formats.
Why do contact details disappear after upload?
Because Recruitee ignores headers and footers. Always place contact info in the main body of the CV.
How do I fix merged sections or jumbled text?
Look for tables, columns, or text boxes in the CV. Remove or flatten these elements before upload.
Is there a free tool to check CV formatting before upload?
Distill offers a free trial that automates cleaning CVs to Recruitee's spec. It's faster than manual fixes.
If you're sending 20+ CVs a week to Recruitee clients, Distill formats them to the spec above automatically. Try Distill free to fix Recruitee CV formatting in 30 seconds.