1. Remove unnecessary weight first
Delete blank pages, duplicate certificates, decorative backgrounds, and photographs that the application does not request. If you created the document yourself, export it again using an option intended for online viewing. This usually produces a cleaner result than repeatedly compressing an existing PDF.
Scanned pages are often the largest part of a file. Crop empty borders and use grayscale when color is not needed. Never lower the resolution so far that small text or official stamps become difficult to inspect.
2. Combine documents in the requested order
Follow the order stated by the employer or portal. When no order is given, a sensible sequence is cover letter, CV, qualifications, then supporting certificates. Use descriptive bookmarks only if the final reader is likely to benefit from them.
PDF24 provides separate tools for merging and compressing. Work from copies, keep the originals, and avoid uploading documents containing unusually sensitive information to any online tool unless you understand its privacy terms.
Tools mentioned
PDF24 Tools
A collection of browser-based tools for merging, splitting, compressing, and converting PDFs.
3. Check the result like the recipient will
Open the final PDF at 100 percent zoom on both a laptop and a phone. Confirm that every page is upright, no page is cut off, text remains selectable where expected, and links still work. Compare the final file size with the portal limit before beginning the upload.
- Keep the original files
- Check every page after compression
- Use a clear filename
- Do not include documents that were not requested