How it works
Upload your CV
Upload the PDF you send to employers, not a different copy, so the check sees exactly what their software sees.
Get an ATS-friendliness score
Every CV scan includes an ATS-friendliness percentage with a comment on where the structure works and where it does not.
Fix layout and keywords
Follow the formatting and keyword suggestions, then scan again to check the difference.
What an applicant tracking system is
Many employers receive applications through an applicant tracking system (ATS). It stores CVs, pulls out details such as job titles, dates and skills, and lets recruiters search and filter candidates. If it cannot read part of your CV, that part may never be seen.
Parsing
The system turns your document into text and tries to sort it into fields like experience, education and skills. Unusual layouts make this harder.
Searching and filtering
Recruiters often search for skills, tools and job titles. CVs that use the same words as the job description are easier to find.
Every system is different
There are many ATS products and each employer sets theirs up differently, so no checker can guarantee how a particular one will treat your CV.
Common ATS problems
Two columns, tables and text boxes
These can be read in the wrong order or skipped. Keep the main content in one column.
Important details in headers, footers or images
Put your name and contact details in the body of the page, as plain text.
Creative section names
Headings such as "Where I've been" are harder to recognise than "Work experience", "Education" and "Skills".
Missing keywords
If the job asks for "stakeholder management" and your CV only says "worked with partners", a keyword search may miss you.
How iScanCV checks ATS compatibility
Layout
Whether your CV uses columns or graphics, and which standard elements are missing.
Sections
Which expected sections are present and which are missing.
Keywords
The keywords found, the ones repeated too often, and action verbs to add.
No checker can promise you will pass
iScanCV shows how likely software is to read your CV well and what to improve. Employers use different systems and settings, and people make the final decisions, so a high score is not a guarantee.
Questions and answers
What does ATS friendly mean?
An ATS-friendly CV is one that applicant tracking software can read accurately: a simple layout, standard section headings, plain text rather than images, and keywords that match the job.
Are two-column CVs bad for ATS?
Not always, but single-column CVs are read most reliably. If you use the iScanCV CV builder, templates marked ATS friendly use one column.
How do I add the right keywords?
Use the words the job description uses for skills, tools and qualifications, where they truthfully describe your experience. Comparing your CV with the job description lists the ones you are missing.
Related tools
- CV CheckerUpload your CV as a PDF and get a score with clear fixes in seconds. No account needed for your first score.
- CV Job MatchPaste a job description next to your CV and see the skills and keywords you have, the ones you are missing, and how to close the gap.
- AI CV BuilderAnswer a few questions about your experience, and AI writes it up as a finished CV for the role you want.
Check your CV's ATS score
Upload your CV and see how software is likely to read it.
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