How to Use a Free Online Resume Checker to Boost Your ATS Score
Introduction
You prepared your resume with hours of hard work, applied for that particular job you were dreaming of, and then... silence. No call came, no interview invitation. Why did this happen? The bitter truth is that your resume perhaps didn't even reach the eyes of any recruiter. It was rejected by a software named ATS (Applicant Tracking System) even before it could be seen.
In today's era, big companies use this system so that they can sort thousands of applications. But there's no need to be worried. I'm going to tell you how you can beat this system with the help of a Free Online Resume Checker. With this, not only will your resume pass this software, but it will directly reach those people who can hire you.
What is an ATS and Why Should You Care?
In simple words, ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a kind of robotic software which companies use to sort resumes. Whenever you apply online for any job, your resume goes first to this software, not to any human. This system scans your resume, gives it a score and then decides whether you are worth recruiter's time or not.
Here's the harsh reality: studies reveal that nearly 75% of resumes are nixed by ATS before a human even gets to see them. It means that 3 out of 4 capable people like you get out without any mistake just because of a software.
This system mainly looks at three things: whether your resume has correct keywords, whether your formatting is correct or very tangled, and most importantly, how is the match of your resume with job description.
How ATS Score is Calculated
People always ask: how is ATS score calculated? Let me break it down. The resume screening software looks at several things:
- Keyword Matching: This is the most important part. Are those words present in your resume which are written in job vacancy?
- Work Experience: Software sees how much your past experience matches with that job for which you're applying.
- Skills Section: Do you have those technical skills which they're looking for?
- Education: Do you meet company's minimum education conditions?
- Formatting: Is software able to read your resume? Often people put too much fancy designs or graphics in resume to make it beautiful, due to which this system gets confused.
Every company's software can be a bit different, but most work on a Percentage System. If your score is above 80%, you've got a pretty good shot at getting an interview. But if it's below 60%? Then believe me, your resume won't even reach any human's desk.
Why Resumes Get Rejected by ATS (Common Mistakes)
Let me share the main resume rejected by ATS reason scenarios I see all the time:
Use of Images and Graphics
You might think that a resume with photo or graphics will look good, but ATS can't read photos.
Wrong File Format
Sometimes we send PDF while company's system can read only Word Documents.
Absence of Keywords
If you haven't used exact terms given in job description, software will think that you're not fit for this job.
Complicated Formatting
Tables made in resume, many columns or too many headers and footers confuse this system.
How to Check ATS Score of Resume for Free
Now comes the most useful part— how to check ATS score of resume for free by yourself sitting at home? Just follow these 5 steps:
- Open Browser: Search for https://onlineatschecker.com/
- Upload: Most tools let you upload resume and get ATS score instantly. Use the same version you plan to send to employers.
- Add Job Description: Paste the description of the job for which you're applying. This enables the tool to tell how fit your resume is for that particular job.
- Check Score: As soon as you press the button, you'll see a Compatibility Percentage (like 75% or 85%).
- Review Feedback: Good tools also tell you which Keywords are missing in your resume.
Is My Resume ATS Friendly? (Quick Self-Check)
- ✓Can I copy and paste all the text from my resume?
- ✓Did I use standard section headings? (Work Experience, Education, Skills)
- ✓Is my resume saved as a .docx or simple PDF?
- ✓Did I avoid using tables, text boxes, or columns?
- ✓Are my dates formatted consistently? (MM/YYYY format is safest)
How to Improve ATS Score of Resume (Proven Strategies)
Mirroring
Write the same words which company has used in their vacancy. If they've asked for "Customer Service", don't change it to "Client Relations".
Improve Skills Section
Make a separate place for skills in your resume and use bullet points there. Include all those Hard Skills and Soft Skills which are necessary.
Keep Layout Plain
Remove all kinds of fancy designs. Use a clean and straight template. Keep font also very ordinary like Arial or Calibri.
How to Fix Low ATS Score
Your score came back at 40% and the job closes tomorrow. What do you do?
- Quick Fix 1: Add missing keywords. Look at what the checker flagged. Add those exact words to your resume in relevant places.
- Quick Fix 2: Remove problematic elements. Delete any images, graphics, or unusual formatting right now.
- Quick Fix 3: Restructure your sections. Make sure you have clear headers: "Work Experience," "Education," "Skills."
- Quick Fix 4: Expand your skills section. If you have the skills they want but didn't list them, add them immediately.
- Quick Fix 5: Use a resume parser test online. Tools like resume parser test online show you exactly how an ATS reads your resume.
FAQs
How to check ATS score of resume for free?
You can check ATS score of resume for free using tools like Jobscan, Resume Worded, or Skillsyncer. Simply upload your resume, paste the job description, and get an instant compatibility score.
What is the best free ATS resume checker online?
The best free ATS resume checker online depends on your needs. Jobscan offers detailed analysis with keyword matching. Resume Worded provides instant feedback on formatting.
How to improve ATS score of resume quickly?
Start by adding missing keywords from the job description. Simplify your formatting by removing tables and graphics. Use standard section headings like 'Work Experience' and 'Education'.
Is my resume ATS friendly? How can I tell?
Do this simple test: can you copy all text from your resume and paste it elsewhere? If yes, and you've used standard formatting with clear section headings, your resume is likely ATS compatible.