Edit a CV that you only have as a PDF
Many people only have their CV as a PDF, because the original Word file was lost or a template site exported it. Updating it means retyping everything, unless you convert it back to Word.
PDF to Word reads the text and writes it into an editable .docx file as ordinary paragraphs, one page per PDF page. Columns, tables and images are not rebuilt, so you will restyle the layout in Word. It runs on Convertora's server; your file and the result are deleted automatically within the hour.
After converting, it is a good moment to check the CV against current expectations: up-to-date contact details, the most recent roles first, and clear section headings that applicant tracking systems can recognise. Simple single-column layouts with standard headings such as Experience, Education and Skills tend to be read most reliably by those systems, as well as by recruiters skimming on a phone.
Step by step
- Sign in, open PDF to Word and add your CV.
- Convert and download the Word file.
- Open it in Word, Google Docs or another editor and restore headings, bullet points and spacing.
- Update your details, then save a fresh PDF with Word to PDF.
Tips
- Designer CVs with columns, icons and text boxes come across as plain text, so expect to rebuild that layout.
- If your CV is a scan or photo, there is no text to convert; run PDF OCR first.
- Keep fonts simple when you rebuild the CV; it converts and prints more reliably.
Questions
- Will my CV layout be kept?
- No. The text is kept in reading order, but columns, tables and images are not rebuilt, so the design needs redoing.
- Is my CV stored?
- Files are processed for your conversion only and deleted automatically within the hour.
- What is the size limit?
- Up to 25 MB per file, far more than a typical CV.
Related tools
Full guide: How to convert a PDF to Word