Paste your resume and a job posting below to check your ATS formatting, keywords and bullets in seconds.
The checker is free, needs no signup and runs in your browser, so your text is not sent anywhere.
AdvertisementIt reads the text you paste and scores 11 checks, such as headings, contact details, numbers in bullets and keywords from the job posting. Then it lists the three fixes to make first. It cannot see your layout, so Step 3 helps you confirm columns, tables, headers and fonts yourself.
The score is this page’s own estimate. It is not a real ATS result. Try the sample first to see how it works. The sample person and numbers are fictional.
Free Resume ATS Checker
Step 1. Paste your resume text
Step 2 (Optional). Paste the job posting (best for keywords)
Step 3 (Optional). Confirm what text cannot show. Tick each one.
0 of 6 confirmed. Check the rest in your file before you apply.
Step 4. Click Check my resume
How This Checker Scores Your Resume
| Check | Points | What it looks for |
|---|---|---|
| Contact details | 10 | An email address and a phone number near the top of the page body |
| Standard section headings | 20 | Summary, Work Experience, Education and Skills on their own lines, with a deduction for creative labels |
| Plain characters | 5 | No emoji, icons or fancy bullets |
| Table or column signs | 5 | Lines with tabs or wide gaps, which often come from tables or columns |
| Dates | 5 | Enough dates to read your work history |
| Bullets | 5 | At least 5 plain bullets |
| Numbers in bullets | 5 | A number in most bullets |
| Action verbs | 5 | A verb at the start of most bullets |
| Weak phrases | 5 | Responsible for, Duties included, Team player and similar phrases |
| Length | 5 | A word count that fits one or two pages |
| Job keywords | 30 | How many of the posting’s repeated words appear in your resume |
The point values, the 60% number rule, the 80% action verb rule and the word range are this page’s own rules. The advice behind each check comes from the sources listed below.
What a Text Checker Cannot See
| What to check | Why text cannot show it | How to check it |
|---|---|---|
| Columns | Pasted text loses the page layout | Open your file and look for more than one column |
| Tables and text boxes | They paste as plain lines | Click your contact block and your dates. If a box or table outline appears, rebuild them as plain text |
| Header and footer | Their text may not paste at all | Make sure your name and phone number appear in the page body |
| Fonts | Text has no font | Use a common font at 10 to 12 points |
| Graphics | Images do not paste | Remove photos, icons and charts |
| File type | The checker only sees text | Follow the application. If it does not say, Checkr calls a Word file the most widely supported type |
| Image-based PDF | Text cannot be selected | Try to select a line in your PDF. If you cannot, export a text-based PDF or send a Word file |
How to Fix Your Results
| Result | Fix |
|---|---|
| Missing a heading | Add it on its own line: Summary, Work Experience, Education or Skills |
| Creative heading | Rename it. My Journey becomes Work Experience |
| Uncommon symbols | Replace them with plain round bullets or hyphens |
| Wide gaps or tabs | Rebuild the lines as plain text in one column |
| Few dates | Put dates at the end of each job title line, such as Jan 2022 to Present |
| Few numbers | Add a percent, count or time saved to the bullet |
| Weak opening | Start with a specific verb. Responsible for answering calls becomes Answered about 60 calls a day |
| Missing keywords | Add a missing word only if it is true for you, in a real bullet or in Skills |
Before and After Bullets
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Responsible for customer calls | Answered about 60 customer calls a day with a 95% satisfaction score |
| Helped with weekly reports | Prepared 4 weekly reports for the support manager |
| Worked on a new call guide | Wrote a call guide that cut repeat calls by 20% |
| Team player with great people skills | Coached 4 new representatives on call quality |
How to Use This Checker in 5 Steps
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Copy the text from your resume file and paste it into Step 1 |
| 2 | Copy the job posting and paste it into Step 2 |
| 3 | Tick each layout item you have confirmed in your file |
| 4 | Click Check my resume and fix the three items listed first |
| 5 | Paste again and repeat until the red items are gone |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this resume ATS checker really free?
Yes. There is no signup and no limit. It runs in your browser.
Is my resume saved or sent anywhere?
No. The check runs in your browser using the text you paste. Nothing is sent or stored by this tool.
Is this a real ATS?
No. Employers use many different systems, and none of them use this score. The checks follow common advice from Checkr, JazzHR, Jobscan and Indeed.
What is a good score?
85 or higher means your pasted text looks strong. Any score is only a guide, so fix the red and orange items first.
Why should I paste the job posting?
Checkr, JazzHR and Indeed all advise using the exact skills, titles and tools from the posting. The checker counts how many of the posting’s repeated words your resume contains.
Can the checker see columns, tables or fonts?
No. It reads only pasted text, so use the tick list in Step 3 and the table above to check your file.
Should I add every missing keyword?
No. Add a word only if it is true for you. Indeed warns against stuffing keywords in places where they do not make sense.
How do I copy text from a PDF?
Open the PDF, select all, copy and paste. If you cannot select the text, the PDF may be image-based. Jobscan says that if its scanner cannot see text, an ATS likely cannot either.
Does an ATS reject resumes by score?
The sources used for this page do not say that. Jobscan says recruiters search applicant tracking systems using skills and qualifications from the job posting, so matching the posting’s words matters.
Which file type should I use?
Follow the application. If it does not say, Checkr calls a Word (.docx) file the most widely supported type and says PDFs work in many systems but not all.
Conclusion
An ATS check is a quick way to catch problems before an employer does. Fix the red items, add the posting’s real keywords where they are true and confirm your layout in Step 3. Then paste your resume above and check it today.
Related Reading
- Resume format and sections
- What is a skills-based resume
- Resume preparation tips
- Billing specialist resume sample
Sources: Checkr, How to Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly. JazzHR, ATS Resume Formatting Tips for Today’s Job Candidates. Jobscan, Why Jobscan Can’t Parse Your Resume. Indeed Career Guide, How To Make an ATS Resume; 137 Action Verbs and Power Words To Use on Your Resume. The sample resume, person and numbers are fictional.