DraftlyCV

ATS Resume Checker

What an ATS resume checker actually measures — and how to score higher.

Most resumes are filtered before a person reads them. An ATS resume checker shows you that filter in advance: which requirements from the posting your resume already proves, which ones it misses, and exactly where to fix them.

What your ATS score band means

85–100: strong match. Your resume names the core requirements and backs them with evidence. Focus on the cover letter and referrals next.

70–84: close. Usually two or three missing hard skills or a title mismatch. Small, honest edits move this into the top band.

50–69: partial. The resume reads generically against this posting. Rewrite the summary and top three bullets around the role's actual language.

Below 50: either a genuine experience gap or a layout problem. Check that your file is single-column with selectable text before assuming the former.

Fixes that raise an ATS score fastest

Match the exact job title in your headline when it is honest to do so. 'Data Analyst' and 'Business Data Analyst' are different strings to a parser.

Move missing-but-true skills out of the footer and into the bullets where you used them. Keywords buried in a skills list carry less weight than keywords tied to an outcome.

Use standard headers: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Projects, Certifications. Creative labels like 'My Journey' get skipped.

Delete tables, text boxes, sidebars, and header/footer content. That is where parsers silently lose entire sections.

Re-run the check after each edit. The score should climb; if it does not, the keyword was cosmetic rather than substantive.

Frequently asked questions

What is an ATS resume checker?

It is a tool that scores your resume against a specific job description the way an applicant tracking system would — matching skills, titles, and keywords, then reporting what is missing.

Is DraftlyCV's ATS resume checker free?

Yes. You get a full ATS analysis free with no signup. Signed-in Pro users can run unlimited checks and apply the fixes inside the editor.

What is a good ATS score?

Above 80 is strong, 60 to 80 needs keyword work, and below 60 usually means the resume is missing core requirements or uses a layout the parser cannot read.

Do all companies use an ATS?

Nearly every mid-size and large employer does, and most job boards feed into one. Small companies often use one too through their hiring platform.

Can an ATS read PDFs?

Yes, modern systems parse PDFs reliably. What breaks parsing is layout — tables, columns, headers/footers, text inside images, and non-standard section names.

How do I improve my ATS score?

Match the job title wording, add the missing hard skills where you genuinely have them, use standard section headers, and remove graphics-heavy layout elements.

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