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Troubleshooting Resume Preview Rendering Issues in PyjamaHR: Broken Links, Unselectable Text, and Error Messages

Updated this week

Executive Summary

Resume preview rendering issues in PyjamaHR can disrupt your hiring workflow, from broken or unclickable links to unselectable text and outright preview errors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, diagnosing, and resolving the most common resume preview problems, ensuring you can review candidate resumes efficiently and without frustration.

Detailed Overview

PyjamaHR’s resume preview feature allows recruiters and hiring managers to view candidate resumes directly within the platform, streamlining the evaluation process. However, some users have reported issues such as:

  • Links in resumes not working or appearing broken

  • Inability to select or copy text from the preview

  • Error messages when attempting to load certain resumes

These issues can impact your ability to verify candidate information, follow up on portfolio links, or share resume content internally. Understanding the root causes and available workarounds will help you maintain a smooth hiring process.

Integration with Other Features:
Resume preview is tightly integrated with candidate profiles, job applications, and the document management system within PyjamaHR. Any issues here can affect your end-to-end recruitment workflow.

Business Impact:
Quick access to fully functional resumes is critical for candidate evaluation, collaboration, and decision-making. Addressing preview issues ensures you don’t miss out on top talent due to technical frustrations.


Step-by-Step Guide: Viewing and Troubleshooting Resume Previews

1. Accessing Resume Preview

  1. Navigate to the Candidate Profile:
    - Go to the relevant job opening.
    - Click on the candidate’s name to open their profile.

  2. Open the Resume Preview:
    - Locate the “Resume” section or tab.
    - Click on the “Preview” or “View Resume” button.

(Screenshot suggestion: Highlight the “Preview” button on the candidate profile page.)

  • Scenario: Hyperlinks in the resume preview are not clickable.

  • Why This Happens:
    PyjamaHR’s PDF viewer only makes links clickable if they are explicitly stored as hyperlinks in the PDF. Many resumes contain URLs that look like links but are not actually hyperlinked; some PDF viewers (like Chrome or Adobe Acrobat) will auto-link these, but PyjamaHR’s viewer does not currently do this.

  • Workaround:

  • Download the Resume: Click the “Download” button and open the PDF in your preferred viewer (e.g., Chrome, Adobe Acrobat). Most external viewers will auto-link URLs, making them clickable.

  • Copy-Paste: If the text is selectable (see next section), copy the URL and paste it into your browser.

(Screenshot suggestion: Show the “Download” button and highlight the difference in link behavior between PyjamaHR and external viewers.)

3. What to Do If Text in the Resume Is Unselectable

  • Scenario: You cannot select or copy any text from the resume preview.

  • Why This Happens:
    Some resumes are uploaded as scanned images or flattened PDFs, which do not contain selectable text. Additionally, PyjamaHR’s PDF viewer may not support text selection for certain file types or rendering modes.

  • Workaround:

  • Download the Resume: Open it in an external PDF viewer that may offer better text selection capabilities.

  • Request a Text-Based Resume: If possible, ask the candidate to submit a resume in a text-based format (Word, text-based PDF).

4. What to Do If You See an Error Message on Resume Preview

  • Scenario: The resume preview fails to load and displays an error.

  • Immediate Steps:
    1. Check the Candidate’s Email: Support may request the candidate’s email to investigate the issue.
    2. Try Downloading the Resume: If preview fails, use the “Download” button to access the file directly.
    3. Contact Support: Provide the candidate’s email and a description of the error for faster resolution.

(Screenshot suggestion: Example of a resume preview error message and where to find the candidate’s email.)


Advanced Usage & Best Practices

  • Always Download for Critical Review: If you need to interact with links or copy text, download the resume for full functionality.

  • Encourage Candidates to Submit Text-Based PDFs: This ensures maximum compatibility with PyjamaHR’s viewer and allows for text selection and clickable links.

  • Batch Review: If you encounter multiple resumes with the same issue, report all affected candidate emails to support for bulk investigation.

  • Communicate with Candidates: If you consistently receive non-interactive resumes, consider updating your job posting instructions to specify preferred resume formats.

Do’s:
- Do use the “Download” option as a fallback.
- Do provide candidate email IDs when reporting issues.
- Do check resumes in external viewers if PyjamaHR’s preview is limited.

Don’ts:
- Don’t assume all resumes will have clickable links in the preview.
- Don’t reject candidates solely due to technical preview issues—download and review externally first.


Troubleshooting & Common Issues

  • Root Cause: Not stored as hyperlinks in the PDF.

  • Solution: Download and open in Chrome or Adobe Acrobat.

2. Text in Resume Not Selectable

  • Root Cause: Resume is an image or non-text PDF.

  • Solution: Download and try in another viewer; request a text-based resume if needed.

3. Resume Preview Shows Error

  • Root Cause: File corruption, unsupported format, or system error.

  • Solution:

  • Download the resume directly.

  • Provide candidate email to support for investigation.

4. Support Requests Candidate Email

  • Why: To identify and debug the specific file causing issues.

  • Best Practice: Always include the candidate’s email when reporting preview errors.

  • Clarification: PyjamaHR does not break links; it simply does not auto-link plain text URLs in the preview.


Comprehensive FAQ

Q1: Why are links in some resumes not clickable in the PyjamaHR preview?
A: Only URLs stored as hyperlinks in the PDF are clickable. Plain text URLs are not auto-linked in the preview.

Q2: How can I access links that aren’t clickable in the preview?
A: Download the resume and open it in Chrome or Adobe Acrobat, which auto-link plain text URLs.

Q3: Why can’t I select or copy text from some resumes?
A: The resume may be an image or a non-text PDF. Download and try in another viewer, or request a text-based version from the candidate.

Q4: What should I do if the resume preview shows an error?
A: Download the resume directly. If the issue persists, contact support with the candidate’s email.

Q5: Is PyjamaHR breaking links in resumes?
A: No. PyjamaHR’s viewer does not auto-link plain text URLs, but does not alter the original file.

Q6: How do I report a resume preview issue to support?
A: Provide the candidate’s email and a description of the issue for faster resolution.

Q7: Can I improve the preview experience for all resumes?
A: Encourage candidates to submit resumes in text-based PDF format with properly embedded hyperlinks.

Q8: Why do links work in downloaded resumes but not in the preview?
A: External PDF viewers often auto-link URLs, while PyjamaHR’s viewer does not.

Q9: What file formats are best for PyjamaHR resume preview?
A: Text-based PDFs with embedded hyperlinks offer the best compatibility.

Q10: Can I select text in all resumes?
A: Only if the resume is not an image or scanned PDF.

Q11: What if I need to review many resumes with the same issue?
A: Report all affected candidate emails to support for batch troubleshooting.

Q12: Will PyjamaHR improve link handling in the future?
A: The product team is aware and improvements are under consideration.


Related Features & Next Steps

  • Candidate Profile Management: Resume preview is part of the candidate profile workflow.

  • Document Download: Use the “Download” button for full resume functionality.

  • Support Contact: For persistent issues, contact support with candidate email and error details.

  • Recommended Article: [How to Request and Upload Candidate Resumes in PyjamaHR]

  • Next Steps:

  • Update your job postings to specify preferred resume formats.

  • Train your team to use the download workaround for critical reviews.


Still experiencing issues?
Contact PyjamaHR Support with the candidate’s email and a detailed description of the problem for prompt assistance.

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