What is an ATS resume checker? A tool that scans your CV for compatibility with Applicant Tracking Systems. The software 75% of companies use to filter candidates. Check your ATS score in seconds.
10 free checks/month • No credit card required
ApplyArc is a free ATS resume checker that scans CVs for compatibility issues, missing keywords, and formatting problems. It scores resumes against real Applicant Tracking System parsing rules and provides specific fix instructions. The free plan includes 5 AI generations per month. ApplyArc is a UK-registered company listed on Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice.
You just spent 3 hours tweaking your CV. But you've got no idea if it'll survive an ATS scan. 75% of resumes get rejected before a human sees them. ApplyArc checks yours in seconds — and tells you exactly what to fix.
Other job search tools charge $29–50/mo → ApplyArc starts free, Pro £19/mo
75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before a human ever sees them
Paste your resume below and find out in seconds. No sign-up, no data stored — runs entirely in your browser.
100% client-side · your resume never leaves your browser
75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before a human sees them. Here's why:
Tables, columns, headers, and graphics that ATS can't parse
Skills and qualifications not matching job requirements
PDF issues, image-based text, or incompatible file types
Missing standard sections or unusual headings ATS doesn't recognise
complete scanning to maximise your chances of getting past automated filters.
Get a percentage match score showing how well your CV aligns with the job requirements.
See exactly which keywords from the job description are missing from your resume.
Identify formatting issues that might cause parsing errors in ATS systems.
Get natural ways to incorporate missing keywords without sounding robotic.
Optimise for machines while keeping your CV engaging for recruiters.
Test different versions against multiple job postings to maximise your chances.
ATS checking is one of 17 tools. Your AI Career Coach sees your full pipeline and tells you what to do next.
Three simple steps to optimise your resume for ATS systems.
Copy the job posting you're applying for. Our AI extracts the key requirements and keywords.
Paste your CV text or upload your resume file. We support Word, PDF, and plain text.
Instantly see your match score, missing keywords, and specific suggestions to improve.
Most ATS checkers stop at the score. ApplyArc's AI Career Coach connects your resume to everything else in your job search.
Bad advice costs interviews. Here's what's actually true about ATS systems in 2026.
Truth: ATS systems score keyword relevance, not frequency. Repeating 'Python' 15 times won't help. Using it once in context will. Modern ATS tools penalise obvious keyword stuffing.
Truth: Most modern ATS platforms parse PDFs just fine. The real issue is PDFs created from images or with complex layouts. A clean, text-based PDF works perfectly.
Truth: Plain text is safe but unnecessary for most systems. A well-formatted Word doc or clean PDF passes 95% of ATS platforms. Focus on structure, not stripping all formatting.
Truth: Most ATS tools rank candidates, they don't set hard cutoffs. A 60% match might still get seen if the pool is small. But higher scores mean you appear higher in the recruiter's queue.
Truth: Each job description has different keywords and priorities. A resume optimised for a PM role will score poorly for a software engineering role, even if you're qualified for both. Tailor every time.
Different sectors use different platforms and prioritise different things. Here's what to watch for.
Common ATS: Greenhouse, Lever
Focus on specific tech stack keywords. List frameworks, languages, and cloud platforms explicitly. They search by skill, not by title.
Common ATS: Workday, Taleo
Conservative formatting matters. Avoid fancy layouts. Emphasise regulatory knowledge (FCA, SOX, Basel III) and compliance certifications.
Common ATS: Trac, NHS Jobs
Job titles must match NHS banding. Include registration numbers (GMC, NMC) and specific clinical competencies in dedicated sections.
Common ATS: Civil Service Jobs
Use the STAR framework. Government ATS scoring often maps directly to the person specification. Address every bullet point explicitly.
Common ATS: BambooHR, JazzHR
Even creative roles get ATS-filtered. Include tool names (Figma, Sketch, Google Analytics) as plain text. Link portfolios separately.
Common ATS: iCIMS, Oracle HCM
High-volume hiring means stricter filtering. Availability, certifications (food hygiene, SIA), and quantified experience matter most.
We'd rather be upfront about limitations than overpromise.
Every company configures their ATS differently. We optimise based on industry best practices, but there's no universal 'pass' button.
We highlight gaps and suggest improvements. The actual editing is yours. This is a checker, not an auto-writer.
We can't simulate Workday or Greenhouse directly. We follow parsing standards that work across all major systems.
If your experience doesn't match the role, no amount of keyword optimisation will fix that. We'll tell you the score honestly.
Before you submit any application, run through these formatting basics. Most ATS rejections come from formatting errors, not missing skills.
Use a single-column layout
Two-column and sidebar layouts confuse older ATS parsers. Keep everything in one vertical flow.
Save as .docx unless told otherwise
PDF parsing varies wildly between platforms. Workday and Taleo handle .docx more reliably than PDF.
Use standard section headings
'Work Experience' not 'My Journey'. 'Education' not 'Academic Background'. ATS looks for exact heading matches.
No headers, footers, or text boxes
ATS software often skips content inside headers and footers entirely. Your contact info disappears.
Spell out acronyms at least once
Write 'Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)' the first time. Some ATS searches for the full phrase, not the abbreviation.
Use standard fonts at 10-12pt
Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman. Decorative fonts can corrupt during parsing and turn your resume into garbled text.
No images, charts, or icons
Skill bars, profile photos, and infographic-style layouts are invisible to ATS. They parse text only.
Include exact job title keywords
If the listing says 'Project Manager', use 'Project Manager' in your resume. Not 'PM' or 'Delivery Lead' alone.
See if your CV will pass ATS screening. Free, instant analysis.
No credit card required • 10 free checks/month
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) resume checker scans your CV to identify formatting issues, missing keywords, and other problems that might cause automated screening systems to reject your application. Most large companies use ATS software, understanding how to pass these filters is essential for getting your resume seen by human recruiters.
Our AI analyses your resume against the job description to: (1) Check ATS compatibility, formatting, file structure, and parsability. (2) Extract keywords from the job posting and compare them to your CV. (3) Calculate a match score showing how well your experience aligns with requirements. (4) Provide specific suggestions to improve your ATS score.
Yes! The free plan includes 5 AI analyses per month. Plenty for an active job search. You can check multiple versions of your resume, compare against different job descriptions, and implement our suggestions. Pro users (£19/month) get unlimited checks plus all 17 AI tools.
Generally, aim for 70% or higher keyword match. However, don't keyword-stuff. ATS systems and recruiters can detect this. Our checker balances keyword optimisation with natural language to help you score well while remaining readable. We show which keywords to add naturally and which you already have.
No. Our approach focuses on identifying missing keywords and suggesting natural ways to incorporate them into your existing experience. We don't rewrite your resume. We highlight opportunities to strengthen it. The goal is a CV that passes ATS screening AND impresses human readers.
Our checker is designed for compatibility with major ATS platforms including Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, Taleo, iCIMS, and BambooHR. We follow industry best practices for formatting and structure that work across systems.