On sourcing: the file-format and resume-parsing rules below come from SmartRecruiters' own developer documentation (linked inline). The step-by-step candidate flow is commonly reported by a public applicant guide, not documented by SmartRecruiters (its own help centre isn't publicly reachable) — attributed inline so you can tell which is which.
What the SmartRecruiters application looks like
When you press Apply Now on a SmartRecruiters-hosted posting, you reach a screen that offers three ways to auto-complete the application — apply with a saved SmartRecruiters candidate profile ("SmartrProfile"), drop in your resume, or apply with an Indeed account — and you can also fill everything in manually on the same page (City & County of San Francisco applicant guide).
The only fields SmartRecruiters strictly requires are your first name, last name, email, and answers to any required screening questions (SmartRecruiters application documentation). Creating a candidate profile is optional, but a saved profile pre-fills future applications and lets you track them — and if you apply with a profile, you can even edit your application after submitting it (SF applicant guide).
Which resume file format SmartRecruiters accepts
SmartRecruiters' own application documentation lists the accepted files as PDF, DOC(X), RTF, JPG, and PNG, with a 2 MB limit per file (SmartRecruiters application documentation).
Two of those formats are a trap, though: JPG and PNG are images, and an image cannot be parsed. SmartRecruiters' resume-parsing documentation returns an explicit UNPARSABLE_RESUME error "when provided resume cannot be parsed, e.g. an image" (SmartRecruiters resume-parse reference). Upload a text-based PDF or a .docx — not a scan, screenshot, or "printed-to-PDF" image — and keep it under 2 MB. (The five-second check: open your PDF and try to select a sentence with your cursor. If the text highlights, the parser can read it.)
How resume autofill works — and why you must review it
When you drop your resume onto the profile page, SmartRecruiters automatically imports your information into the application. Its documentation is explicit that you should then review the imported entries: "review the entries in case any information is misplaced. You can also manually add your information" (SF applicant guide). A candidate profile can hold structured fields for your contact details, links, work experience (title, company, dates, description) and education (SmartRecruiters application documentation) — so if a two-column layout scrambled your job titles or dates, this is where you catch and fix it before a recruiter ever sees it.
The habit that matters: parse, then proofread. Autofill saves typing; it does not guarantee accuracy. Read every pre-filled field, fix anything the parser misplaced, and only then move on.
The extra questions — and which ones are required
Employers can attach screening questions to a SmartRecruiters posting. They come in several types (free text, single- and multi-select, radio, checkbox), any of which the employer can mark required, and some are conditional — a follow-up question only appears when you answer a prior one a certain way (SmartRecruiters screening-questions documentation). Some roles also add a preliminary minimum-qualifications questionnaire you have to complete to submit (SF applicant guide). Answer these carefully and truthfully — they are part of the application, not an afterthought.
See what your resume is missing — before you apply.
CVder reads the job posting and your resume side by side, then shows the exact terms to add and the formatting a parser would trip on.
After you apply
If you applied with a saved profile, you can track your applications from your candidate account (the "My Jobs" view) (SF applicant guide).
- Press Apply Now, then drop in your resume, use a saved profile, or fill it in manually.
- Upload a text-based PDF or
.docxunder 2 MB. Never upload an image (JPG/PNG or a scanned PDF) — it can't be parsed. - Review every autofilled field and fix anything the parser misplaced before you submit.
- Answer required and conditional screening questions truthfully.
- The rest of the ATS basics — layout, headings, keywords — are in our guide on how to pass an ATS.