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Free ATS Resume Checker

100% Free

See your resume exactly the way an Applicant Tracking System reads it — plain text, no formatting. Get an ATS score and find the keywords you're missing. 100% free, no sign-up to scan.

Built by the tech recruiters at Hiretop, who screen resumes for real roles every week.

  • See the plain text an ATS actually extracts from your file
  • Match your resume against any job description
  • Your PDF is parsed in your browser — only the extracted text is sent for scoring

1 · Your resume

2 · The job

English only · No sign-up · Unlimited checks

Your PDF is parsed in your browser. Only the extracted text is sent for scoring (via a third-party AI service); we don't store your resume.

How an ATS reads your resume

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is the software employers use to collect, parse, and filter resumes. When you apply, it strips your formatted resume down to raw text and maps it into fields — contact, work history, skills. Recruiters then search and filter that text by keyword. If the parser mangles your layout, or your resume is missing the terms a recruiter searches for, you can be screened out before a human ever sees it. This free ATS checker shows you that plain-text view and scores how cleanly your resume parses.

ATS-friendly resume tips

Use a single column

Multi-column layouts, sidebars and text boxes often parse out of order.

Name skills explicitly

List the exact tools and keywords from the job post, full name + common abbreviation.

Standard section headings

"Experience", "Skills", "Education" map cleanly; creative headings confuse parsers.

Skip images & icons

Logos, skill-bar graphics and headshots carry no parsable text.

Quantify results

Numbers (%, scale, time saved) get you shortlisted once keywords get you found.

Simple file, simple fonts

A single-column PDF or .docx with a standard font parses cleanly everywhere.

Free ATS resume checker — what you get

Unlike resume builders that hide the result behind a paywall, this checker is free to scan and shows you the raw ATS output up front. Upload a PDF, optionally paste a job description, and get your ATS score, a readiness checklist, and the exact keywords you're missing — in seconds, with no account.

How to use your ATS score

Your ATS score is a starting point, not a verdict. Work through it in order:

  1. 1

    Fix what failed first

    Clear any failed readability checks — missing contact details, no clear section headings, or scrambled text — so an ATS can parse your resume at all.

  2. 2

    Add the missing keywords

    Work the relevant skills and tools from the job description into your experience and skills sections, but only the ones you genuinely have.

  3. 3

    Re-check and compare

    Run the scan again to confirm the score moved up and the keyword gaps closed.

  4. 4

    Then write for the human

    Once you pass parsing, strengthen your bullets with quantified results — a recruiter, not a bot, makes the final call.

Frequently asked questions

What is an ATS resume checker?

An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) resume checker shows how the software employers use will read and parse your resume. This free checker reveals the plain text an ATS extracts, scores how well your resume matches a job, and flags missing keywords — so you can fix issues before you apply.

Can I use this checker without a job description?

Yes. Upload your resume alone to see the exact plain text an ATS extracts and the quick facts it can read. To get a match score and a list of missing keywords, also paste a target job description.

Why does my resume look different in the ATS preview?

An ATS strips away formatting and reads only text. Tables, multiple columns, sidebars, icons, text inside images, and content in headers or footers often get reordered or dropped. If the preview looks scrambled, an ATS sees it that way too.

Is PDF or DOCX better for ATS?

A simple single-column .docx is the safest choice for older systems. A text-based PDF is fine for most modern ATS as long as it avoids columns, tables and images. Never submit a scanned or image-only PDF — it has no readable text.

What is a good ATS score?

Treat it as a readiness signal: 80+ means your resume parses cleanly and covers the expected keywords; 60–79 means fix the flagged issues first; below 60 means it likely needs significant work before applying.

Does a high ATS score guarantee an interview?

No. A high score means your resume should pass automated parsing and keyword filters, but a recruiter still judges your experience, results and fit for the role. The score gets you seen — your content gets you shortlisted.

How should I use keywords from the job description?

Add only skills and tools you genuinely have, using the exact wording from the job post plus common variants (for example 'JavaScript' and 'JS'). Place them naturally in your experience and skills — keyword stuffing is easy for both an ATS and a recruiter to spot.

Is my resume data stored?

No. Your PDF is parsed in your browser, so the file is never uploaded. Only the extracted text is sent for scoring (via a third-party AI service), and we don't store your resume in a database.

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