ATS resume checker
Will my resume pass the ATS?
Your resume is more likely to get through an ATS when it shows each of the job's requirements, uses the job's own words for skills you have, and is in a simple file the system can read. No tool can see a specific employer's ATS settings, but you can measure keyword and requirement coverage. ResumeRuler gives you a free ATS score for any job and shows what's missing.
Score your resume against a job for free
- First score free
- No account needed
- Nothing made up
- No data sold ever
How to make your resume ATS-friendly, in 5 steps
Most of it is about format and wording, not tricks.
Keep the layout simple
One column, standard headings (Experience, Education, Skills), and no key information inside tables, text boxes, headers or images. Some systems read text in order and can scramble tables and columns.
Give every role a clear line
Job title, employer and dates for each position, written out as text. That's how a system builds your work history.
Use the job's exact terms for skills you have
If the posting says "Salesforce" and you've used it, write "Salesforce", not "CRM tools". Spell out acronyms once: "search engine optimization (SEO)".
Show each must-have, not just a skills list
A keyword in a skills list is weaker than a bullet that shows where you used it. Recruiters search the ATS for terms, then read what's around them.
Check that your file reads cleanly
Save as Word (.docx) or a text-based PDF. Copy all the text out of the file and paste it into a plain text editor: if it comes out jumbled, a system may read it that way too.
What ResumeRuler’s ATS score measures
A score out of 100 for your best-fitting resume against one job, made of three parts:
70%
Requirement coverage
How well your resume shows each of the job's requirements, weighted by how important each one is to the job.
20%
The job's own terms
Whether your resume uses the job's specific terms (tools, skills, credentials) that also appear in the posting.
10%
Readability
Whether your resume's text can be read cleanly from the file.
Next to the score you see the requirements your resume is missing, so you know what to fix.
What is a good ATS score?
There is no universal ATS score: every checker measures something different, and no outside tool can see how a specific employer has set up its system. Use the score to compare versions of your resume for the same job, and the missing requirements to decide what to add. The goal is a resume that shows every must-have you really meet, in the job’s words.
Honest limits
What an ATS checker can’t tell you
- It can’t see an employer’s ATS, its filters or its screening questions, so treat the score as a guide, not a guarantee.
- A high ATS score gets your resume found; it doesn’t make you a fit. Check your match score too.
- Stuffing keywords you can’t back up may pass a filter and fail the interview. Add only what’s true.
Questions people ask
What is an ATS?
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, the software companies use to collect, store and rank job applications. Recruiters use it to search and filter applicants, often by keywords and screening questions, so a resume that doesn't show the job's requirements may never be read by a person.
Will an ATS reject my resume automatically?
It depends on the employer's setup. Many systems rank and filter applications rather than reject them outright, but screening questions and filters can remove applicants before a person reads them. Either way, a resume that clearly covers the job's requirements in the job's words is more likely to be found.
What is a good ATS score?
There is no universal ATS score: each checker measures differently, and no outside tool can see a specific employer's settings. Treat it as a guide. On ResumeRuler, a higher score means your resume shows more of the job's requirements, in the job's own terms, in a file that reads cleanly; use the missing items to raise it truthfully.
Is the ATS score the same as the match score?
No. The match score says how well you fit the job. The ATS score estimates how well your resume's wording covers the job's keywords and requirements, which is what applicant-tracking filters look at. ResumeRuler shows both, side by side; the ATS score is not added to the match score.
How do I raise my ATS score without lying?
Show the requirements you really meet but your resume leaves out, in the job's own words. ResumeRuler's resume boost does this in your own Word file as tracked changes, using only facts from your resumes and your answers, and shows your ATS score before and after.
Should I use Word or PDF?
Either works for scoring: ResumeRuler reads Word (.docx), PDF and plain text. Use .docx if you plan to boost your resume: it is the only format ResumeRuler can edit in place, keeping your layout.
Is the ATS checker free?
Yes. Your first job is on us, with no account needed: you get the match score and the ATS score together. After that, FREE gives you 2 jobs-to-score every month at no cost, or buy a one-time job pack, with no subscription.
Related questions
Check your ATS score now
Paste the job, add your resume, and see your match and ATS scores. Your first job is on us.