What is an ATS?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is the software many employers use to collect applications. It turns your resume into plain text, fills in a candidate profile and lets recruiters search and filter. If your text comes out jumbled, or the words a recruiter searches for are missing, a strong application can be overlooked before a person reads it.
What the score looks at
The checker reads your resume the way this site stores it and awards points in six groups. These are the exact checks it runs:
Contactup to 15 points
- Full nameName is set.4 pt
- HeadlineHeadline names the role you target.3 pt
- EmailEmail address is valid.3 pt
- PhonePhone number is present.3 pt
- LinkedIn or portfolioA professional link is included.2 pt
Summaryup to 12 points
- SummarySummary is present.6 pt
- Summary lengthSummary length is ideal.4 pt
- Specific summarySummary includes a concrete number.2 pt
Experienceup to 30 points
- Work experienceExperience is listed.8 pt
- Dates on every roleEvery role has a start date.4 pt
- Bullet pointsRoles average two or more bullets.6 pt
- Quantified resultsBullets include numbers.6 pt
- Action verbsBullets lead with action verbs.4 pt
- Reverse chronologicalRoles are ordered newest first.2 pt
Educationup to 10 points
- EducationEducation is listed.6 pt
- Education datesEducation entries have dates.2 pt
- Degree or fieldDegrees and fields are specified.2 pt
Skills & extrasup to 12 points
- Skill countSkills list is rich enough for keyword matching.6 pt
- Unique skillsNo duplicate skills.2 pt
- LanguagesLanguages are listed.2 pt
- Certificates or projectsExtra qualifications strengthen the profile.2 pt
Formatup to 10 points
- ATS-safe templateTemplate is parser-friendly.3 pt
- Page countLength is within two pages.4 pt
- Consistent datesDate ranges are consistent.3 pt
When you paste a job posting (in the keyword scanner or in the editor), a seventh group adds up to 12 points for the terms your resume shares with it.
The points earned are converted to a score from 0 to 100. Some checks give partial points.
How to read your score
The score is a heuristic, not a verdict. It doesn't imitate any particular ATS product, and employers configure their systems differently. A high score means the basics are in place: the text is readable, the essentials are there and your bullets are specific. It cannot promise that a given application gets through, and a lower score doesn't mean a recruiter will reject you.
Tips that help with any system
- For large job portals, prefer a single-column template. Two-column layouts look tidy to people but some systems read the columns out of order.
- Keep standard section headings such as Experience, Education and Skills, so the system knows what each part is.
- Start bullets with an action verb and add a number where you can: "Cut onboarding time by 30%" says more than "Responsible for onboarding".
- Use the job posting's own words for skills you really have. The resume keyword scanner shows which ones are missing.
- Download your PDF from this site: the text stays real, selectable text rather than an image.