Free tool

ATS CV checker

See your CV the way applicant tracking systems read it. Upload a PDF and get a score out of 100 with concrete fixes, free and without an account.

Free, no account needed
Results in a few seconds
Your CV is never stored

What the ATS checker looks at

Most employers filter applications with an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a person reads them. The ATS turns your PDF into plain text and files it into fields. These checks show where that goes wrong.

Readable text

An ATS can only read real text. Scanned CVs and CVs saved as images come through empty.

Standard section headings

Headings like Work Experience, Education and Skills tell the ATS where each part of your CV belongs.

Contact details

Your email address and phone number should be plain text, not hidden in an image or an icon.

Length

One to two pages suits most roles. A very short CV gives the ATS too little to match.

Simple layout

Columns and tables can make the ATS read lines in the wrong order or mix them together.

Consistent dates

One date format everywhere lets the ATS work out your years of experience correctly.

Bullet points

Short bullet points are easier to parse and to skim than dense paragraphs.

Measurable results

Numbers such as percentages, amounts and team sizes show your impact and catch a recruiter's eye.

Readable symbols

Icon fonts and unusual symbols often turn into garbage characters after parsing.

Job ad keywords

Paste a job ad and we compare its key terms with your CV and list the ones that are missing.

Frequently asked questions

An applicant tracking system is software that employers use to collect, sort and search job applications. It extracts the text from your CV, files it into fields such as experience and education, and ranks candidates by how well they match the job.

It reads your PDF the way an ATS does: it extracts the text, looks for standard headings, contact details and dates, checks the layout for columns and tables and, if you paste a job ad, compares the keywords. Each check adds points to a score out of 100.

No. The file is processed in memory and discarded as soon as your result is shown. We don't save the file, its text or the job ad, and you don't need an account.

Not always, but they are risky. Some systems read straight across the page and mix lines from both columns. A single-column layout is the safest choice when you apply through online forms.

Aim for 80 or more. Start with the fixes at the top of the list, because they cost the most points. When you add a job ad, the keyword match carries the most weight.

Yes. It's free and needs no account. To keep it fast for everyone, there is an hourly limit per visitor.

Start from a CV that applicant tracking systems can read

Build your CV in a clean, ATS-friendly template and download a text-based PDF that applicant tracking systems read correctly.

Create your free CV Browse CV templates CV examples