Jobs can be exciting. They give you the opportunity to discuss your resume, achievements, and skills in great detail.
However, tech is transforming much of how businesses operate today. The hiring process isn’t left out either, with artificial intelligence now being used to select the most optimum candidates for each job opening. These companies have immense resources at their disposal.
But how are things looking on your side of things? As a candidate, can you use any tech to give you an edge during the hiring process? The answer is yes, and PDF compression tools are just one of the innovations that can help you improve your applications.
So, let’s discuss the potential of the tech in more detail. Here are some ways using PDF compressor tools can help you get a job.
Ways Using PDF Compressor Tools
Meeting ATS Standards
Depending on the position you’re applying for, you may be required to upload a stream of documents to the business you’re hoping to work for. There may be a few things to account for here.
More firms are using applicant tracking systems (ATS) when managing their online job applications. It’s not uncommon for these systems to have restrictions around document file sizes, typically listed between a few megabytes (MBs) and several dozens of them. A bigger PDF file is likely to surpass these limits, which can have two potential outcomes:
- The application isn’t finished (and there’s not always a pop-up telling you that’s the case, depending on the ATS being used).
- The business rejects your application for failing to comply with its rules (sometimes the screening process is automated, so recruiters may not even see your overstuff application before it’s rejected).
So, you have to meet the file sizes of the ATS to even get noticed. If you compress PDF files using a reputable PDF compressor service, you can reduce the file sizes to meet ATS standards without losing any quality of the original file. Smallpdf is the best service to use for this. The software is free to use, GDPR compliant (which could help if you’re applying for jobs in Europe), and has secure TLS encryption for secure document processing. PDF compress services have your back during job interviews and beyond.
Speeding up Document Sharing
Sometimes, employers may request that you email your documents to them. They might do this in the interest of saving time.
It’s still worth compressing PDF files in these situations. Like the ATS, emails can still have a limit on file sizes, too; if exceeded, the correspondence won’t be sent. So, reducing the PDF file size is essential and will allow for direct, hassle-free document sharing during the application process.
Download speeds are also greatly enhanced when you compress PDF files ahead of time. You could even compress PDF files to improve upon any standard PDF files they sent you, such as if they sent you extensive questionnaires and forms to fill out. Send it back with a compressed version, and they should notice how much faster the documents are to download.
Having a direct line with the employer is an advantage during the hiring process. Instead of working through third-party systems and services (such as with recruitment agencies), you have a chance to show your competency first-hand. Compressed PDF files are quicker to open up and annotate, potentially facilitating collaboration during the hiring process too. Sending and returning documents over email might seem like a small thing, but it’s all part of landing a solid first impression.
Opening up More Opportunities
It’s not just emails and ATS systems you need to think about. Compatibility is a big concern in other areas too.
Individual company websites may also have specific file size limitations, so if you need to apply for jobs on those domains, that’s worth considering. The same is true for certain online job portals as well. If hiring managers view applications on their mobile devices and tablets, compressed PDFs may also be more easily viewed there, too, much to their convenience.
If you compress PDF files, you can also mitigate things like bandwidth usage. That will save you data on your devices, but it can also mean that you speed up the document transfer process.
Therefore, if you compress PDF files for all the documents you send, you could send more job applications to more employers. Your side of the application process becomes more exciting and bountiful. Perhaps the dream job you secure is one you may not have had time to get around to had you not compressed your PDF files beforehand?
Creating a Great Portfolio
Creative jobs often need candidates to submit their respective portfolios. You likely know where we’re going with this point already.
It’s worth noting that PDF files are generally considered to be the safe choice when sending portfolio work out to employers. However, the extra step of compressing these files is often overlooked.
Whether you’re a creative writer, photographer, video editor, animator, or graphic designer – being able to display your body of work hassle-free is essential. By using a PDF compressor, the quality of your artistry will remain intact (which is of particular importance in the arts) while you can fully share larger volumes of your work quickly and easily.
Remember, some potential employers may be somewhat lacking in the software, digital storage, internet connection speeds, or even attention span departments. Artistry has to greatly impact an employer, not least because the sector is so highly competitive. Even small delays or quality imperfections can chip away at your chances of success. So, by having a way to more concisely, cleanly, and conveniently present your online portfolio, you’re far more likely to make a splash with your job applications.
Archiving Applications
Some people apply for roles and forget all about them, especially if they don’t receive a response from employers. Others like to archive their application history, whether to avoid making repeat applications to the same employer or in the hope of learning from their past applications later.
These application documents can be converted to PDF files and compressed for better storage on your machine or cloud server. After that, you’ll have a more organized and comprehensive collection of your job application data to browse another time.
