Skip to content
Utilboxes

Resume ATS Checker

Upload your resume as a PDF, DOCX or TXT file, or paste its text, add the job description and press Check resume. You see which keywords from the ad are missing and which formatting problems — two columns, missing dates, icon fonts — trip up applicant tracking systems. Treat the score as a checklist. Nothing is uploaded.

Runs entirely in your browser

Updated

How to use the Resume ATS Checker

  1. 1Upload your resume as a PDF, DOCX or TXT file, or paste its text.
  2. 2Paste the job description you are applying for.
  3. 3Press Check resume.
  4. 4Work through the missing keywords and failed checks, update your resume, and check again.

How it works

An applicant tracking system (ATS) converts your resume to plain text so recruiters can filter and search it, often using words from the job ad. This tool starts with the same step: it reads the text out of your PDF or Word file. If little or no text comes out, the file is probably a scan or an image — and a tracking system will not be able to read it either.

It then picks out the terms that matter in the job description — skills, tools and repeated phrases, ignoring filler words — and looks for each one in your resume, allowing for simple variations such as plurals and verb endings. Terms the ad repeats count for more.

The format checks look for what commonly breaks parsing or screening: missing contact details, non-standard section headings, two-column PDF layouts that can scramble the reading order, a resume that is very short or very long, missing dates, few measurable results, and characters from icon fonts that cannot be read as text.

There is no universal ATS score — every system works differently, and many recruiters read resumes themselves. Treat the score as a checklist for tailoring your resume to a role, never as a prediction of whether you will be shortlisted.

Tips and common mistakes

  • Paste the whole job advert, including the requirements and responsibilities, not just the title.
  • Add missing keywords only where they are true, in the context of what you actually did.
  • Keep the layout to a single column with standard headings such as Experience and Education.
  • Run the check again after editing to confirm the problems are fixed.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good ATS score?
No official score exists. Here, a keyword match above about 70% with no failed format checks means your resume clearly reflects the job ad. Never add keywords you cannot back up — a person reads it next.
Is PDF or Word better for applicant tracking systems?
Both work when the file contains real text in a simple, single-column layout. Use the format the application asks for; if it does not say, a text-based PDF keeps your layout intact.
Should I copy the job description into my resume?
No. Use the employer's wording for skills you genuinely have, in the context of what you did with them. Keyword stuffing is easy for recruiters to spot.
Is my resume uploaded?
No. The file is read and checked in your browser, and nothing is sent to a server.
What is an applicant tracking system?
Software employers use to collect applications. It turns each resume into plain text so recruiters can search and filter it, often by words from the job advert.
Why does my PDF resume show almost no text?
The PDF is probably an image — a scan or a design exported as a picture. A tracking system cannot read it either. Export a text-based PDF from your word processor instead.
Should I send the same resume to every job?
Keep one master version, then adjust the summary, skills and the order of your achievements for each advert.
Share this toolShare on XShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on RedditShare by email

Guides

Related tools

Resume GeneratorFill in your details and download a clean one-page CV.GeneratorsWord CounterLive word, character, sentence and reading-time counts.PDF to TextExtract the plain text from a PDF, page by page.PDF ToolsLinkedIn Post FormatterAdd bold, italic, bullets and safe line breaks to a LinkedIn post, then copy it.