Job-Specific Resume Generator using Perplexity AI and PDF Export - n8n Workflow

Job seekers needing highly customized, ATS-safe resumes for specific roles.
Recruiters automating personalized application material creation.
Automation specialists looking for advanced n8n templates integrating AI and file handling.
Users who need complex file manipulation, PDF processing, and AI prompting within a single n8n workflow.

This expert n8n workflow solves the critical challenge of tailoring a standard resume to a specific job description (JD) to maximize its chances of passing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Instead of manual editing, the user uploads their current resume and the target JD (both as PDFs) via a web-accessible n8n trigger form. The automation efficiently extracts the text content, combines it, and feeds it into the Perplexity AI n8n node, which acts as a professional resume writer. The AI generates a clean HTML resume optimized for keywords and professional structure. Finally, a dedicated PDF n8n node converts this structured HTML into a professional document, and the workflow saves it directly to Google Drive. This is a highly efficient and advanced example of what a complex n8n workflow can achieve in the HR and professional development space.

1. The process begins with the Form Trigger n8n node, which serves as the entry point and primary n8n trigger, presenting a public web form that allows users to submit their resume and the target JD as PDF files.


2. The uploaded binary data is standardized and prepared for extraction by the Process one binary file1 code n8n node.


3. The Extracting resume1 n8n node performs crucial PDF processing, converting both the resume and JD documents from binary data into plain text.


4. The Merge Resume + JD1 code n8n node then concatenates these two large text blocks—the candidate's details and the job requirements—into a single unified input variable (merged).


5. The combined text is passed to the Customize resume1 n8n node, which utilizes Perplexity AI's powerful sonar-reasoning model. This AI step is configured with a powerful system prompt instructing it to act as an expert resume writer, focusing strictly on generating a valid, ATS-safe HTML document tailored to align the candidate's experience with the JD's keywords.


6. The resulting HTML output is cleaned by the HTML format1 code n8n node, which extracts the pure ... content and removes newline characters, ensuring the format is perfect for the next step.


7. The specialized HTML to PDF n8n node then converts the perfectly formatted HTML string into a high-quality, professional PDF using the CustomJS PDF Toolkit.


8. The final step of this robust n8n workflow is the Upload file n8n node (Google Drive), which securely stores the newly generated, job-specific PDF resume as 'NEW_RESUNME' in a designated cloud folder. This ensures the result of the n8n workflow is easily accessible.

1. Import the n8n template: Copy the provided JSON and import it into your self-hosted or cloud n8n instance.


2. Set up Credentials:

1. Configure Form Trigger: The Form Trigger n8n trigger is automatically active but you may need to check the path (/resume-builder) and share the resulting webhook URL with users.


2. Configure Google Drive Folder: In the Upload file n8n node, ensure the Folder ID parameter points to the desired location in your Google Drive where the final resumes should be saved.

Form Trigger (n8n trigger):
Function: Initiates the n8n workflow via a public web form.
Key Configuration: Requires uploads for 'Resume PDF' and 'JD PDF'.
Process one binary file1 (Code n8n node):
Function: Standardizes the naming of the binary PDF files received from the form to ensure consistent downstream processing.
Key Configuration: JavaScript logic iterates through binary data, renaming keys.
Extracting resume1 (Extract From File n8n node):
Function: Extracts plain text from the uploaded PDF documents (both Resume and JD).
Key Configuration: Operation set to pdf; targets binary data dynamically.
Merge Resume + JD1 (Code n8n node):
Function: Combines the extracted text from the resume and the JD into a single string (merged) to provide a complete context to the AI.
Key Configuration: Simple JavaScript concatenation of two data items.
Customize resume1 (Perplexity n8n node):
Function: The core AI logic. Generates the ATS-optimized resume in HTML format by tailoring the input text based on highly specific system instructions.
Key Configuration: Uses the sonar-reasoning model. Instructions mandate strict HTML output, ATS structure, and truthful tailoring based on the job description keywords.
HTML format1 (Code n8n node):
Function: Cleans the raw AI output, extracting only the valid ... content and removing newline characters to prepare for PDF conversion.
Key Configuration: JavaScript regex used for strict HTML extraction and cleaning.
HTML to PDF (Custom Node):
Function: Converts the cleaned HTML string into a binary PDF file.
Key Configuration: HTML input mapped to {{ $json.cleanedResponse }}.
Upload file (Google Drive n8n node):
Function: Stores the final generated PDF resume in the specified Google Drive folder.
Key Configuration: Saves the file as NEW_RESUNME within the configured 'Resume' folder ID.