Free tool
ATS CV checker
Check whether an applicant tracking system (ATS) can read your CV or résumé, and see exactly what it gets from your file. Free, no sign-up, and your file never leaves your browser.
How it works
- 1
Choose your CV
Pick the PDF or Word (.docx) file you send to employers. It’s read in your browser and never uploaded.
- 2
See what an ATS reads
The checker pulls out the text the way a text extractor does, and checks layout, icons, headings, contact details, dates, length and file name.
- 3
Fix what gets lost
Each problem comes with the fix. Compare the extracted text with your CV: anything missing or jumbled there is what an ATS gets wrong too.
Questions
What is an ATS?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is the software employers use to collect applications. It reads the text of your CV (or résumé) into a candidate profile that recruiters search by keyword. Workday, Greenhouse, Lever and iCIMS are common examples.
Will an ATS reject my CV automatically?
Usually not because of the format alone. Most rejections come from recruiters, knockout questions in the application form, or the number of applicants. But if an ATS can’t read your CV, your details land in the wrong fields or go missing, and recruiters searching for your skills won’t find you.
Is this an ATS score?
No. Every company sets up its ATS differently, so no free tool can show your real score. This checker tells you whether an ATS can read your file and what it would get wrong.
Is my CV uploaded or stored?
No. Your file is read in your browser. It never leaves your device, and nothing is saved when you close the page.
Should I send a PDF or a Word file?
Either works with most ATS, as long as the PDF was exported from a document (not scanned). If the job asks for Word, send .docx. This checker reads both, so you can test the exact file you plan to send.
Does a two-column CV work with an ATS?
Often not. Many ATS read straight across the page, so a sidebar and a main column get mixed together line by line. A one-column layout with standard headings is the safest choice.