You can add your resume to LinkedIn in two separate places: in your Job Application Settings (or during an Easy Apply application), where LinkedIn keeps it for future applications, or on your profile, where anyone viewing it can download it. The two don't mix, so a resume on your profile can't be used to apply for jobs.
Most people searching for this want one thing: to stop retyping their CV every time they apply. LinkedIn does let you store it, but there are two routes that do completely different jobs, and picking the wrong one is why so many people upload a resume and then can't find it when they hit Apply.
I'll show you both routes, the file rules, who gets to see the document, and the one setting worth checking before you upload anything.
The two places a resume can live on LinkedIn
| Where you upload it | What it's for | Who can see it |
|---|---|---|
| Job Application Settings, or Jobs then Preferences then Resumes and application data | Reusing it for future Easy Apply applications | The hirers you apply to through LinkedIn |
| During an Easy Apply application | That application, and it's saved for next time | That hirer |
| Your profile, as a media upload | Showing your CV to your network | Anyone viewing your profile, and it may be visible off LinkedIn |
LinkedIn says it stores your four most recently uploaded resumes so you can reuse them. It also says plainly that a resume uploaded to your profile can't be used for job applications. If you want both, upload it twice: once in settings, once on your profile.
How to upload your resume for job applications
This is the route most people want. From your Job Application Settings page, click Upload under the Resume section. You can also get there from the Jobs tab: click Preferences, then Resumes and application data.
To add a resume while you're applying for a specific role:
- Search for a job and open the job title to see the details.
- Click or tap Easy Apply.
- Complete the required fields.
- Under Resume (optional), select Upload resume.
- Click or tap Submit application.
LinkedIn recommends a file under 2MB, and the format must be Microsoft Word or PDF. If the upload keeps failing, LinkedIn's own advice is to try a different browser.
The catch most people miss: Apply versus Easy Apply
Your saved resumes only work with Easy Apply. LinkedIn's help pages say that if you see an Apply button instead of Easy Apply, you'll be sent to the company's own website or job board, and you won't be able to use a resume you uploaded to LinkedIn. You'll upload it again on their site.
There's a second trap. If you submit an application without a resume attached, LinkedIn says you can't reopen it to attach one, and you can't reapply for the same job post. If that happens, LinkedIn suggests contacting the job poster directly with an InMail message, if they've added contact details to the post. So check the attachment before you press Submit, not after.
How to add your resume to your LinkedIn profile
If you'd like people to download your CV straight from your profile, you can upload it as a document on your profile, and LinkedIn says viewers will be able to download it from your profile page. The Featured section is the most visible place for it, and I've walked through how to add a Featured section on LinkedIn step by step.
Think about this one before you do it. LinkedIn's privacy page says a resume posted as a media attachment to your profile, or in a post, will be visible to anyone viewing that profile or post and may be visible off LinkedIn. Strip out your home address and personal phone number first.
What LinkedIn does with a resume you upload
This is the part almost nobody reads. LinkedIn's help page on resume visibility says it saves a copy and uses your saved resumes to personalise things like job recommendations, course suggestions, profile update prompts and feed posts. It may infer your skills, interests and experience from them, and it may use resume data in its AI features, for example to show how well you match a role.
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Two settings matter here:
- Resume settings: you can manage which resumes are saved, and opt out of saving them at all.
- Share resume data with hirers: if you leave this on, LinkedIn uses your resume data in features that show hirers how you match their job. You can turn it off.
LinkedIn also says your saved resume data may contribute to improving its AI models, subject to your generative AI settings, where you can opt out.
How to delete or replace a resume
To remove one, go to the Job Application Settings page or the Resumes and application data page, click the three dots to the right of the resume and select Delete. LinkedIn notes that applications you've already sent aren't affected.
Because LinkedIn only keeps the four most recent uploads, it's worth deleting old versions so the right one is at the top when you apply. If you'd rather start from your profile than from a file, you can also download your LinkedIn profile as a resume and edit that.
My advice
Upload your current CV in Job Application Settings first, because that's the one that saves you time on every Easy Apply. Only put a copy on your profile if you're openly job hunting and happy for anyone to download it. And while you're in settings, decide on the hirer-sharing switch on purpose rather than by default. If you're job hunting, pair this with the Open to Work setting so recruiters can find you as well as receive your CV.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the resume on my LinkedIn profile to apply for jobs?
No. LinkedIn says a resume uploaded to your profile can't be used for job applications. Upload it in Job Application Settings or during Easy Apply instead.
How many resumes can I save on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn stores your four most recently uploaded resumes so you can reuse them for future Easy Apply applications.
What file types does LinkedIn accept for a resume?
The file must be Microsoft Word or PDF, and LinkedIn recommends keeping it under 2MB.
Why can't I use my saved resume on some job posts?
Saved resumes only work with Easy Apply. If the post shows an Apply button, you'll be sent to the company's own site and need to upload it there.
Can I add a resume after I've submitted an application?
No. LinkedIn says you can't reopen an application to attach a resume or reapply to the same post, though you can contact the job poster if they've shared contact details.
