ATS CV checker: make your CV readable by applicant tracking systems
Many employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to store and search CVs. If your CV is hard for the system to read, a recruiter may never see it. Here is how to check yours.
In short: An ATS extracts the text of your CV and lets recruiters search it by keywords. To make your CV ATS-friendly, use a single column, real text (not images), standard section headings, the job ad’s keywords where they are true for you, and a PDF or Word file without tables or text boxes for layout.
How an ATS reads your CV
The system extracts the text in the order it is stored in the file, identifies sections (experience, education, skills) and indexes keywords. Recruiters then filter or search candidates by those keywords.
ATS-friendly checklist
- Single-column layout.
- Standard headings: «Experience», «Education», «Skills».
- No text inside images, icons or charts.
- No tables or text boxes for layout.
- Contact details in the body, not only in the header or footer.
- Keywords from the job ad (only if true for you).
- Standard fonts.
Quick self-test
- Open your PDF and select all text.
- Paste it into a plain-text editor.
- If the order is wrong or text is missing, an ATS may read it badly too.
ATS myths
- «ATS reject 75% of CVs automatically»: there is no reliable public evidence for a fixed figure; most rejections are human decisions based on searches and filters.
- «You must use white-text keywords»: no — recruiters see it and it looks dishonest.
- «PDFs never work»: text-based PDFs are read by most modern systems.
Keyword strategy
Use the exact terms from the job ad (for example «accounts payable» rather than only «AP») when they genuinely describe your experience, ideally once in the summary and once in the experience section.
Check your keywords with the tool
Upload your CV and paste the job ad: the tool lists the keywords from the ad, shows which ones your CV already has and asks you about the missing ones. Then it rewrites your CV in an ATS-friendly format.
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What is an ATS?
An applicant tracking system: software employers use to manage and search applications.
Do ATS reject CVs automatically?
Some filter by criteria set by the employer; more often, recruiters search by keywords.
PDF or Word?
Both usually work if the layout is simple; follow the job ad.
Are Canva CVs ATS-friendly?
Some are not, especially multi-column designs with icons.
Is the checker free?
Yes.
Updated 03 Nov 2026