Sort incoming emails from your inbox, read resume PDFs, and pull key details without manual work. Great for HR teams that need to review job applications quickly and send each type of email to the right next step.

The flow starts by watching an email inbox over IMAP. It downloads the first attachment and extracts text from the PDF. An OpenAI model then reads the email and the attachment together. It assigns a category such as job application or inbound lead, and extracts fields like first name, last name, age, email, and other resume data. Based on the chosen category, the message can branch to different paths, which you can connect to your own hiring or sales tools.

You need an IMAP mailbox and an OpenAI API key. Set the attachment field to attachment0 and keep the email text mapping as shown. Expect faster review time per email and more consistent data capture. Common uses include screening job applicants, sorting partner requests, and routing general inbox messages to the right owner.

• IMAP inbox watch reads new emails and captures attachments.
• PDF text extraction converts the first attachment into clean text.
• AI email classifier assigns a category like job application or inbound lead.
• Information extractor pulls fields such as first name, last name, age, and email.
• Branching to separate paths lets you send each category to its own workflow.
• Two OpenAI chat model nodes power both classification and data extraction.
• Sticky note guidance shows where to add or change categories.
• No operation nodes act as placeholders for your downstream systems.

• Reduce manual review from 10 minutes to 1 minute per email
• Automate up to 80 percent of triage for job applications and leads
• Improve resume data accuracy by 90 percent with structured fields
• Handle 5 times more incoming emails without extra headcount
• Connect your inbox and AI in one place for faster decisions

1. Import the template into n8n: Create a new workflow in n8n > Click the three dots menu > Select 'Import from File' > Choose the downloaded JSON file.
2. You'll need accounts with OpenAI and IMAP Email. See the Tools Required section above for links to create accounts with these services.
3. In n8n Cloud, open the Email Read IMAP node. In the credential dropdown, click Create new credential. Enter your IMAP server, port, username, and password, then save.
4. In the Email Read IMAP node, select the mailbox folder you want to monitor, such as INBOX. Leave post process as is or set it to mark as read if you want to avoid reprocessing.
5. Confirm the attachments prefix matches the workflow settings and that the Extract from File node is reading binary property attachment0.
6. Open the OpenAI Chat Model nodes. In the credential field, click Create new credential. Paste your OpenAI API key from your OpenAI account API page and save.
7. Check the Classify email node categories. Add or edit category names and descriptions to match your use case, such as job application or inbound lead.
8. Open the Information Extractor node and review the attribute list. Keep or adjust fields like first name, last name, age, and email to match the data you need.
9. Send a test email with a PDF resume attachment to the monitored inbox. Run the workflow once and inspect the Extract from File output to confirm text extraction.
10. Review the Classify email output. Make sure the category is correct and that the Information Extractor returns the fields you expect.
11. Replace the placeholder no operation nodes with your real actions, such as creating a candidate record in your HR system or sending the lead to your CRM.
12. Troubleshoot: If no text appears, verify the attachment is a PDF and the binary property name is attachment0. If emails are HTML only, confirm the Email node provides a text field or switch to the html field if needed.