Quick answer
A resume usually compresses better than a scanned administrative document because it often contains text and a simple layout. But resumes that include headshots, graphic templates, portfolio pages, or exported design elements can become much heavier than expected.
The best strategy is to keep the document readable and professional first, then reduce size only as much as needed. A resume is not a photo gallery. Recruiters need sharp headings, clean spacing, and easy-to-read text.
What usually works best
That makes ExactSizer useful for the final submission step. Instead of exporting the resume over and over from Word, Canva, or InDesign, you can compress the final PDF toward 1MB directly and adjust the PDF profile only if the upload system still rejects it.
If your resume includes a lot of visuals, start with a 1MB target. If the portal is stricter, use 500KB only when required. Smaller is not automatically better when hiring managers need to review the file on different screens and devices.
If it still fails
The same approach also works for cover letters, supporting documents, recommendation letters, and certificates that applicants upload with their resume.