How to Import and Export a CV Safely in BuildMyCV

Understand the three versions of your CV

The live browser draft, editable JSON backup, and finished PDF are related but not interchangeable. The browser draft is convenient for ongoing work and is saved locally in the current browser profile. The JSON file stores structured BuildMyCV data so you can restore and continue editing. The PDF is the presentation document intended for review or application submission. Exporting only a PDF does not preserve an easily editable builder version.

Export an editable backup before major changes

Open the builder and confirm that the live preview reflects the version you intend to save. Select Export JSON and let the browser download the data file. Do this before switching to a substantially different template, tailoring for a new role family, or removing sections you may need later. A backup is most useful when it represents a known state, so complete a quick factual check rather than exporting an unidentified work-in-progress.

Use a filename that explains owner, purpose, and date, such as samira-khan-master-cv-2026-07.json or samira-khan-product-roles-v2.json. Avoid final-final-new.json, which becomes meaningless after several edits. Keep a separate master version with the complete accurate history, then create focused application branches. Do not put passport numbers, national identifiers, banking information, or unnecessary sensitive data into the CV simply because the file is stored privately.

Store CV backups with appropriate privacy

A CV contains contact details, employment history, education, locations, and sometimes a portrait. Treat the editable backup as personal information. Store it in a device account you control, use screen locking and current security updates, and avoid leaving copies on public, shared, or employer-owned computers. If you use cloud storage, review sharing permissions and remove public links. Email attachments can be copied widely, so do not use an inbox as your only backup system.

Import a CV data file into BuildMyCV

Choose Import JSON in the builder and select a file previously exported by BuildMyCV. Import only files you trust and expect to contain CV data. A PDF, DOCX, image, or unrelated JSON document is not a compatible editable backup. The builder validates imported structure to reduce broken state, but validation cannot decide whether every fact is correct or whether the content suits the new vacancy. You remain responsible for reviewing the restored document.

Importing may replace the draft currently visible in the builder, so export the current version first if you may need it. After selection, wait for the document to populate and check the saved-status message. If a file is rejected, return to a known BuildMyCV export rather than manually altering unfamiliar code. Editing JSON directly can create invalid values, missing sections, or styling combinations the interface would not normally produce.

Validate every imported section

Review the imported CV from top to bottom. Confirm personal details, summary, employer names, job titles, dates, bullet lists, education, skills, links, and optional photo. Check that the selected template, accent colour, page size, global typography, field-level overrides, and photo position were restored as expected. A successful import means the data was readable; it does not guarantee that the content is current, complete, or suitable for today’s application.

Use the live preview to find visual problems caused by a different browser, viewport, or updated content. Long lines may wrap differently, and a second page can appear when the new device uses another print configuration. Test undo and redo only after confirming the imported baseline. Then export a fresh, clearly named backup if you make corrections, so the inaccurate or older source file is not accidentally treated as the newest version later.

Move a draft between browsers or devices

Local saving does not automatically synchronise a CV across devices, browsers, user profiles, or private windows. To move the draft, export JSON from the original browser, transfer the file through a secure method you control, and import it in BuildMyCV on the destination. Verify the destination copy before deleting anything from the source. A browser’s history or bookmark can reopen the site, but it does not carry locally stored CV data with it.

On a shared device, sign out of any storage service used for transfer, delete temporary downloads when appropriate, and clear the browser draft only after confirming you have a safe backup. Avoid using workplace systems for personal job-search documents when policy prohibits it or administrators may access files. If the CV includes a photograph, check that the image transferred with the structured data and that the crop remains appropriate in the preview.

Export a clean PDF for an application

When content and layout are ready, choose Download PDF to open the browser print dialog. Select Save as PDF, confirm the correct page size, orientation, scale, and page range, and disable browser headers and footers if they appear. Review the print preview rather than assuming it matches the editor exactly. If a heading moves or a blank page appears, cancel, return to the builder, and adjust content or spacing before saving again.

Give the PDF a professional filename containing your name and optional role, for example samira-khan-finance-analyst-cv.pdf. Reopen the saved file, zoom to 100 percent, test every visible link, and copy a paragraph to confirm selectable text. Check that no editor controls appear. Upload or attach this exact reviewed file, then keep it with the vacancy description so future interview preparation reflects the application the employer actually received.

Maintain a simple CV version system

Separate the master CV, role-family versions, and submitted application files. The master contains complete verified evidence. A role-family version emphasises a direction such as operations, marketing, or data analysis. A submitted version is frozen for one employer and date. This structure prevents the strongest bullet from disappearing during repeated tailoring and makes it easier to update a phone number, certification, or recent role across the versions that still matter.

Archive deliberately instead of saving endless ambiguous copies. Record employer, job title, submission date, JSON source version, PDF filename, and outcome in a small spreadsheet or note. Review backups periodically to confirm they still open and to remove unnecessary sensitive duplicates. A version system does not need complex software; it needs consistent naming, a reliable backup, and the discipline to verify the correct file before every application.

Final review checklist

• The target role is clear within the first third of the page.
• Recent bullets show actions, context, and useful outcomes.
• Dates, tense, punctuation, and links are consistent.
• Body text remains comfortable to read at 100% zoom.
• The exported PDF contains selectable text and clean page breaks.

Compare our ATS-friendly CV templates or open the free online CV builder.