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Greenhouse resume tips. File types, size limits and Quick Apply.

Greenhouse accepts resumes as .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf or .txt files, and its MyGreenhouse profile can autofill applications where the employer has turned it on. Here's what that means for the file you upload.

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LaunchCV isn't affiliated with Greenhouse. Behavior varies with each employer's settings. Updated · Sources

Illustration: details from a sample resume (James Carter, Senior Software Engineer at Cascade Cloud) copied into application form fields.

/ What we checked

What the Greenhouse docs say. Each point links to its source.

  • Accepted file types

    Candidates can upload resumes, cover letters and other documents as .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf or .txt files, up to 100 MB.1

  • Parsing has a much smaller limit

    Greenhouse's resume parser can't handle files larger than 2.5 MB, which usually happens when a resume includes many high-quality images.2

  • What else breaks parsing

    Greenhouse lists graphics, photos or word art, resumes uploaded as an image rather than a document, and complex layouts with tables, headers and footers among the causes of an unsuccessful parse. When parsing fails, the details are entered by hand.2

  • MyGreenhouse Quick Apply

    When an employer has it turned on, an Autofill with Greenhouse button appears on its job posts. It fills the application from your MyGreenhouse profile, which can hold contact details, education, employment history and online profiles. The account is password-free.3

  • One resume per profile

    MyGreenhouse recommends uploading a PDF for best results and says parsing can make mistakes, so review your details before saving. It keeps one resume, the one you uploaded most recently, and you can replace it at any time.4

  • Edit before you submit

    You can change your profile or edit autofilled answers before submitting. MyGreenhouse can't change an application you've already sent; for corrections, contact the employer.4

/ What trips it up

Four things to fix before you upload.

General guidance for resume parsers in most applicant tracking systems, not specific to one vendor.

  1. Tables and text boxes

    Many parsers skip or merge text inside them, so job details can end up in the wrong field or go missing.

  2. Headers and footers

    Contact details placed there may not reach the application form. Put them in the body, under your name.

  3. Creative section names

    “My Journey” instead of “Experience” makes job history harder to split into entries.

  4. Mixed date formats

    Start and end dates can land in the wrong fields. Pick one format, month and year, and use it everywhere.

/ Applying through Greenhouse

Tips for Greenhouse applications.

  1. Keep the file small

    A text-based resume exported from your editor is usually far below 2.5 MB. If yours is bigger, it probably has images in it, and those don't help parsing anyway.

  2. Tailor the file, not just the profile

    Your MyGreenhouse profile holds one resume. When you tailor a resume for a job, upload that version, then check the profile still says what you want.

  3. Answer custom questions in full

    Most applicant tracking systems let employers add their own questions to the form. Treat them like part of the resume: specific, honest and in the job post's words.

  4. Put links in plain text

    Write out your portfolio or GitHub URL. Links hidden behind icons or images may not survive parsing.

/ Checklist

Before you hit Upload.

Not sure your file passes? Run the free ATS check or look up keywords for your job.

  • Saved as .pdf, .docx, .doc, .rtf or .txt
  • File under 2.5 MB, with no embedded images
  • No tables, headers, footers or word art
  • Portfolio or work samples linked in plain text
  • MyGreenhouse profile details reviewed
  • Autofilled answers checked before submitting

Other systems

All ATS guides

/ Questions

Greenhouse, answered.

Something else? support@launch-cv.com

What file type should I use for Greenhouse?

Greenhouse accepts .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf and .txt, and MyGreenhouse recommends a PDF for best results. Make sure the PDF is text you can highlight, not a scan.

Why did my resume upload but the form stay empty?

Greenhouse's parser can't handle files over 2.5 MB, and graphics, photos, tables, headers and footers can also make a parse fail. A smaller, plain one-column file usually fixes it. You can still type the fields in by hand.

Why don't I see Quick Apply on a Greenhouse job?

The Autofill with Greenhouse button appears only where the employer has turned it on. Without it, you apply with the regular form.

Can I fix an application after I send it?

Not through MyGreenhouse. Greenhouse says it can't change a submitted application, so contact the company you applied to.

/ Sources (checked Nov 2026)

Where this comes from.

Only Greenhouse's own public help pages, documentation and announcements. Each employer configures its own system, so what you see may differ.

  1. 1.Supported formats for resumes, cover letters and other candidate uploadsGreenhouse Support · Checked
  2. 2.Unsuccessful resume parseGreenhouse Support · Checked
  3. 3.MyGreenhouse Quick ApplyGreenhouse Support · Checked
  4. 4.MyGreenhouse FAQ for CandidatesGreenhouse Support · Checked

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