ATS resume checker: what to check before you apply
Whether you use a tool or check by hand, the same few problems cause most resumes to read badly in an applicant tracking system. Run through these checks before every application.
1. Check the file
Upload the file type the employer asks for. Open your PDF and try to select and copy the text; if you cannot, it is an image and needs to be recreated as a text document. Keep the file name simple, such as “Firstname Lastname - Role.pdf”.
2. Check structure and reading order
Paste your resume’s text into a plain-text editor. Your name and contact details should come first, followed by sections in a sensible order. If text from two columns is mixed together, or dates are separated from their jobs, a parser will likely struggle too.
Use standard headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Projects, Certifications. Keep contact details in the body, not in a page header or footer.
3. Check keywords against the job description
List the required and preferred skills from the job post. Mark which your resume names, and whether each appears in an experience or project bullet. Use the employer’s exact wording for skills you have, such as “Power BI” rather than “BI tools”.
4. Final checks
Waywright runs the job-specific part of this check free: paste the job description to see which skills you cover, a job match score with each part explained, and a tailored version you can download as an ATS-friendly PDF or Word file. An account is required.
- Text is selectable and copies in the right order
- Contact details are in the body of the page
- Headings are standard and dates are consistent
- Required skills you have are named and backed by bullets
- No hidden text, images of text or keyword lists
- Links open and the file is not password-protected
Put the checklist into practice
Upload your resume and paste a job description. Review the generated draft and approve the changes before downloading. Waywright is free to use. An account is required.
Tailor my resumeRelated guides
- An ATS-friendly resume starts with readable information
Check readable text, clear headings, supported file formats and truthful keywords. Understand what an ATS-friendly resume can and cannot guarantee.
- How to find the right resume keywords in a job description
Find the skills, tools and job titles a job description asks for, decide which you can honestly claim, and place those resume keywords where recruiters and ATS will see them.
- How to check if your resume matches a job description
Check how well your resume matches a job description: required skills, evidence in your experience, job title, years and qualifications. Use a match score as a guide, not a guarantee.
- What is an ATS, and how does it read your resume?
What an applicant tracking system is, how ATS software reads and searches resumes, common myths about automatic rejection, and how to prepare a resume that both ATS and recruiters can read.
- ATS resume score: what it means and how to improve it
What an ATS score or resume score really measures, why checkers give different numbers, and how to check and improve your resume score against a specific job description for free.