How the ATS CV checker scores your CV
Applicant tracking systems such as Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS and SmartRecruiters read your CV in two steps. First they parse it: the file is turned into plain text and split into fields such as contact details, job titles, employers, dates, education and skills. Then recruiters search and rank candidates, mostly by keywords from the job advert. This free ATS CV checker tests both steps and gives you a CV score out of 100:
| Category | What is checked | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Job keyword match | The skills and terms from the job description that your CV contains or misses, plus the job title | 25 |
| Impact & wording | Bullets that start with action verbs, achievements with numbers, weak "responsible for" phrasing, clichés and "I/my" | 20 |
| ATS readability | Whether text can be extracted at all, columns, tables and text boxes, contact details hidden in the header | 15 |
| Sections | Standard headings: work experience, education, skills and profile | 15 |
| Contact details | Email, phone and LinkedIn profile | 10 |
| Length & layout | Word count, number of pages and use of bullet points | 10 |
| Dates | Dates for each role, in one consistent format | 5 |
Without a job description, the keyword category is left out and the score is calculated from the other six. For the most useful result, paste the advert you are applying for: matching its wording is what moves you up a recruiter's search results.
What is a good ATS score?
Aim for 80 or more overall and a keyword match rate of around 70 to 80% for each job you apply to. A score between 60 and 80 usually means a few quick fixes, such as adding missing skills, standard headings or numbers to your achievements. Below 60, check the readability section first: if an ATS cannot extract your text, nothing else matters. A perfect 100% keyword match is not the goal; a CV stuffed with every word from the advert reads badly to the person who opens it next.
How to write an ATS-friendly CV
- Use a simple, single-column layout. Avoid tables, text boxes, graphics and icons for important information. Columns are the most common reason an ATS mixes up job titles, employers and dates.
- Use standard section headings: Profile, Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications. Creative headings like "My Journey" are not recognised.
- Mirror the job description. Use the same names for skills, tools and qualifications as the advert ("Project management", not only "PM"; write both if unsure).
- Put contact details in the body, not in the page header or footer, which some systems skip.
- Start bullets with action verbs and add numbers: "Reduced customer complaints by 30% in six months" says far more than "Responsible for customer service".
- Use one date format such as "Mar 2021 – Present" for every role.
- Save as .docx or a text-based PDF. Never send a scanned image or a design exported as a picture. Use our Word to PDF converter to create a clean PDF, or PDF to Word if an employer asks for a Word file.
CV or resume: is there a difference for an ATS?
For the software, none. "CV" is the usual term in the UK, Ireland, Europe, India and much of the world, while "resume" is used in the US and Canada, where it tends to be shorter. This checker works for both, in any industry, and recognises common section headings in English, Turkish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.
Private by design
Most online resume checkers upload your CV to their servers and often ask you to sign up. This ATS CV checker reads the file inside your browser with the same PDF and Word libraries our file tools use. Your CV and the job description are never uploaded, stored or used to train anything. Check as many versions as you like, for free.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ATS?
An applicant tracking system is the software employers and recruitment agencies use to collect applications, store CVs in a searchable database and filter candidates. Most large companies use one, so your CV is usually read by software before a person sees it.
What is a good ATS score for a CV?
80 out of 100 or higher is a strong result. For keyword matching, a rate of 70 to 80% against the specific job advert is a good target.
Can an ATS read a PDF CV?
Modern systems read text-based PDFs well. Scanned PDFs, image exports and complex designs often fail. If the employer asks for Word, send a .docx. The checker shows the exact text it could extract, so you can see what an ATS would see.
Do ATS reject CVs automatically?
Sometimes, through "knockout" questions such as right to work or required licences. More often a CV is simply ranked low or never found in a keyword search, which is why matching the job description matters.
Is my CV uploaded or stored?
No. The CV is processed entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to our servers.
Which file types can I check?
PDF, Word (.docx) and plain text. You can also paste the text of your CV. Old .doc files need to be saved as .docx first.
Should I add every keyword from the job description?
No. Add the skills and terms you genuinely have, in the advert's wording, and show them in your experience. Recruiters read the CV after the ATS, and keyword stuffing hurts your chances.
Does the checker work for any job or country?
Yes. It works for any role and recognises standard CV and resume headings in several languages. Keyword matching uses the job description you paste, so it adapts to every advert.