Resume ATS Score Checker

How to use the ATS Score Checker

1. Upload your resume as a PDF or DOCX file using the box above.
2. Review your score — this reflects how easily an automated system is likely to parse and read your resume's content and structure.
3. Work through the checklist below the score. Each item is marked as a pass, a warning, or a fail, with a plain-language explanation.
4. Make the suggested fixes in your resume file — for structural issues, the Resume Builder produces a layout designed to avoid the most common parsing problems.
5. Re-upload to confirm your score improved before you submit your application.

What is an ATS, and why does it matter?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to collect, sort, and often rank job applications before a person ever reviews them. Some systems automatically filter out resumes that don't meet certain keyword or formatting criteria, which means a strong candidate can be screened out purely because of how their resume was built — not because of their actual qualifications.

Common issues that hurt ATS compatibility

• Multi-column layouts and tables — many parsers read left-to-right, top-to-bottom, and can scramble content laid out in columns.
• Text inside images or graphics — if your contact info or skills are part of an image, most systems can't read them at all.
• Unusual section headings — "Where I've Worked" instead of "Experience" may not be recognized by keyword-matching systems.
• Missing keywords from the job description — many systems score resumes partly on how closely they match language from the posting.
• Uncommon file types — stick to PDF or DOCX unless a posting specifically requests otherwise.

How this checker works

This tool extracts the plain text from your uploaded file — the same way many ATS systems do — and checks it against common compatibility factors: file type, resume length, presence of contact details, use of standard section headings, and use of results-oriented language. It's a helpful proxy for compatibility, not a guarantee of how any specific employer's system will score your resume, since every ATS platform works a little differently.