How our ATS checker actually works
Most "ATS checkers" online are static keyword counters: paste your CV, get a generic list of buzzwords you don't have. That's not how a real Applicant Tracking System scores you. Modern ATS platforms (Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, Taleo, iCIMS, SmartRecruiters) do four things sequentially, and your CV has to survive all four.
- Parse. The ATS converts your file into structured data: name, contact details, employment history with dates and job titles, education, skills. Two-column layouts, headers/footers, text boxes and decorative icons routinely break this step and your experience ends up in the wrong field.
- Match. The system compares the keywords and phrases in your CV against the job description — both exact terms and common variants. A CV that says "managed a team" when the job calls for "people management" can lose points it shouldn't.
- Score and rank. Each application gets a score. Recruiters then filter the queue — usually only the top scorers get a human review.
- Surface signals. Recruiters often sort by years of experience, specific certifications, or location. If those aren't clearly written in plain text, you're invisible to the filter.
What we score (and why)
Our checker grades six categories that map directly to how a real ATS treats your CV:
- Keyword match — coverage of the role's hard skills, tools, and required qualifications. With a job description pasted, we measure overlap; without one, we infer the target role from your CV and score against industry norms.
- Formatting & parseability — signals that your CV will be read correctly: standard section headings ("Experience", "Education", "Skills"), no tables, no graphics-only content, no text inside images.
- Action verbs & impact — bullets that lead with strong verbs ("led", "shipped", "reduced", "negotiated") instead of weak openers ("responsible for", "duties included").
- Quantified achievements — numbers, percentages, currency, timeframes. "Increased conversion by 18% in 6 months" beats "improved conversion".
- Length & structure — appropriate length for seniority, consistent date formatting, no gaps, no walls of text.
- Contact & essentials — email, phone, location, LinkedIn. Missing contact info is one of the most common reasons CVs are auto-rejected.
How to use the result
Treat the overall score as a traffic light, not a verdict. Anything under 60 means something fundamental is wrong — usually formatting or a complete keyword mismatch. Between 60 and 80, you're in the game but not winning it: focus on the lowest two category scores and the "Top fixes" list. Above 80, you're competitive — tailor the CV further for each specific role rather than chasing a perfect 100.
The "Missing keywords" list is the fastest single improvement you can make. Don't stuff them in artificially — rewrite the bullet point so the keyword appears naturally in context. An ATS rewards the phrase, but a recruiter reads the sentence.
Privacy
We do not store the CV or job description you paste. The text is sent to our analysis service, scored, and the result is returned to your browser. Nothing is written to a database. You can verify this by reading our privacy policy.