Free ATS Resume Checker
Upload your resume, optionally paste the job description, and see in seconds how an applicant tracking system reads it: your score, the keywords you're missing and what to fix first.
How applicant tracking systems actually read your resume
Roughly all mid-size and large employers run applications through an ATS such as Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS or Taleo. The system converts your file to plain text, splits it into fields (name, email, employers, titles, dates, skills) and makes it searchable for recruiters. Nothing "rejects" you automatically in most setups, but a resume that parses badly is a resume the recruiter never finds when they search for "Python" or "account management".
What this checker looks at
- Contact details in plain text, so they land in the right fields.
- Standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) that parsers recognise.
- Dates for every role, which build your employment timeline.
- Formatting risks such as tables, columns and text boxes that scramble the reading order.
- Impact: bullets that start with an action verb and contain a number.
- Keyword match against the job description, the single factor recruiters search on most.
Quick wins that raise most scores
Use a single-column layout. Put your name, email, phone and LinkedIn URL as the first lines of text, not in a header. Name sections literally. Give every job a "Month Year – Month Year" date range. Start bullets with verbs like Led, Built, Reduced, Launched, and add a number to at least a third of them. Mirror the exact phrasing of the job posting for the skills you really have.
Frequently asked questions
›What is an ATS resume checker?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is the software companies use to receive and parse applications. An ATS checker simulates that parsing: it verifies that your contact details, sections, dates and skills can be read correctly and compares your resume with the job description's keywords.
›Is this ATS checker free?
Yes. The score, the keyword match and the list of fixes are free with no sign-up. The optional AI report that rewrites your bullets and summary is a one-time purchase.
›What score should I aim for?
Above 75 means your resume will parse cleanly and reads well. Between 55 and 75, fix the high-severity issues first. Below 55, the structure itself is usually the problem.
›Do you store my resume?
The free check keeps nothing. If you buy a report, the text is stored for 24 hours so the report can be generated and reopened, then deleted automatically.
›Which file formats work?
PDF and DOCX, or plain pasted text. Scanned PDFs (images) can't be read, which is also true for most real ATS software, so export a text-based PDF.
›Does a high score guarantee an interview?
No. The score measures whether your resume can be parsed and whether it contains the right signals. The content still has to match the job and be true.