How to Upload Your CV for AI Processing

Uploading your CV is the first step in preparAItor. The AI analyzes it once, turns it into a structured CV you can edit, and reuses it for every application you generate afterwards. This guide walks you through the real screens, step by step.

Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

• Your CV as a PDF document (max 5 MB and 5 pages) or a plain-text file (.txt) (max 5 MB, between 100 and 25,000 characters). Word files (.doc/.docx) are not accepted — export them to PDF first.
• At least 15 credits in your credit pool — each CV upload costs 15 credits for the AI analysis (shown as "✦ 15 per upload" next to the upload area). Editing an already-analyzed CV is always free.
• A free slot in your CV storage: every plan stores up to 50 CVs. Don't worry if you're full — the app offers to replace an existing CV (see below).

Step 1: Open Apply AI

1. Log in and click Apply AI in the main navigation.
2. The wizard opens on Step 1: Upload & Select CV. Your current credit balance is shown in the top-right corner of the step.
3. The first time you visit, a short How to Upload Your CV help window opens automatically — close it with Got it, or tick Don't show this again to skip it in the future.

Step 2: Add Your File

If you have no CVs yet, you'll see a large drop area labeled Drop your CV here or click to browse, listing the accepted formats and limits underneath. If you already have CVs, a smaller drop zone labeled Drop CV here or click to upload sits above your CV list.

You can either:

• Drag and drop: drag the file from your computer onto the drop area (it highlights with Drop your file here), or
• Click to browse: click the drop area, pick your CV in the file dialog, and confirm.

Prefer to skip uploading entirely? Click Create CV from scratch and choose whether to start empty or from an example CV — no upload, no credits — then fill in your own details in the CV editor.

If your file is rejected immediately

The drop zone checks the file before anything is uploaded and shows the reason underneath:

• "File is too large (max 5MB)" — compress or shorten the file.
• "Invalid file type. Supported: PDF documents, Plain-text documents (.txt)" — convert Word or other formats to PDF.
• Text files that are too short (under 100 characters) or too long (over 25,000 characters) are also rejected with a clear message.

Nothing is charged for a rejected file.

Step 3: Wait for the AI Analysis

After the file is accepted, a new card appears in your CV list with a Processing... status. Analysis typically takes 45–60 seconds — larger CVs take longer. It runs in the background, so you can keep the tab open and even move on; the wizard picks the CV up automatically the moment it's ready.

The AI extracts your personal information and summary, work experience, education, skills, languages, and projects into structured fields.

If the analysis fails, the card shows Upload failed with the message "The CV could not be parsed. Try uploading again." and two buttons: Upload again (pick a new file and retry) and Dismiss. The 15 reserved credits are released back to your balance — a failed analysis costs you nothing.

Step 4: Review and Edit

Once processing finishes, the new CV is selected automatically and shows as the Selected CV. Before generating documents, give the extracted data a quick check:

1. Click Edit on the CV card to open the CV editor.
2. Go through each section and fix anything the AI misread — dates, job titles, special formatting. Editing is free and doesn't cost credits.
3. Click Save to keep working, or Save & Close to return to the wizard.
4. Back in the wizard, click Next to continue to the job details step.

Troubleshooting

"Insufficient credits for CV analysis"

You have fewer than 15 credits. Wait for your monthly reset, upgrade your plan, or buy a one-time credit package. See how the credit system works.

"CV Storage Full" dialog appears

You've reached your tier's CV limit. The dialog lists your existing CVs (sorted oldest first) and asks you to select one to delete — confirm with Delete & Continue, and the upload proceeds. To keep all your CVs instead, upgrade to a tier with more slots.

Information extracted incorrectly

• Every field can be corrected manually in the CV editor — that's the expected workflow for the last few details.
• CVs with clear headings and standard formatting parse best; heavy multi-column layouts and text embedded in graphics can confuse the extraction.
• If a lot is missing, delete the CV and re-upload a cleaner PDF export.

Privacy and Security

Your CV data is:

• Encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest
• Never sold to third parties, and only shared with the processors required to run the service
• Deletable at any time from your account
• Handled in line with Swiss data protection law

Next Steps

With your CV uploaded and reviewed, you're ready to:

• Manage multiple CVs and versions
• Polish your CV with the CV Maker
• Add a job and generate application documents

Tips for Best Results

1. Upload a text-based PDF: exports from Word or Google Docs work best; scanned images parse poorly.
2. Keep it current: the AI generates documents from what's in your CV — outdated info produces outdated applications.
3. Use clear section headings: "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills" and similar headings help the extraction.
4. Complete all sections in the editor afterwards: the more complete your structured CV, the better every generated document.

Need help? Email admin@preparaitor.ch or send feedback from within the app, or check our FAQ section for answers to common questions.