How an ATS reads your CV
An applicant tracking system converts your file to text, then looks for sections (experience, education, skills), dates, job titles and keywords. Recruiters search and filter that data. If the conversion goes wrong, because the CV uses columns, tables, text boxes or a scanned image, important parts can be dropped or mixed together before a person ever sees them.
What this checker looks at
- Readability: can text be extracted from the file at all?
- Layout: tables, multiple columns, text boxes, images and text in the page header or footer.
- Contact details: email, phone and a location or profile link.
- Structure: standard headings, and dates in a consistent format.
- Content: bullet points, action verbs, measurable results, length and plain wording.
- Job match: which important words from the job post appear in your CV.
Tailor your CV to each job
Keywords matter because recruiters search for them. Read the job post, then reflect its wording where it is true: if it says “project management” and you did that work, use those words rather than “running projects”. Never add skills you do not have. Our guides on writing an ATS-friendly resume, optimising your LinkedIn profile and interview questions cover the rest of the process.
Need a clean CV to start from?
Build one with our free CV and resume maker. It uses a single-column layout and saves a PDF with real text, with or without a photo.