Free ATS CV Checker (UK)
Drop in your CV and find out in seconds whether applicant tracking systems can actually read it. No signup, no upload: everything runs in your browser.
Drop your CV here (PDF or DOCX)
Checked locally on your device. Your CV never leaves your browser.
What applicant tracking systems actually do
An ATS does not "read" your CV like a person. It extracts the text layer, maps it into database fields (name, employers, job titles, dates, skills), and lets recruiters search and filter those fields. Most rejections blamed on "the ATS" are really parsing failures: a scanned image with no text, a two-column layout read in the wrong order, or creative headings the field-mapper does not recognise. The myth that ATS software auto-rejects 75% of CVs is just that, a myth, but a CV that parses into garbage fields is invisible to a recruiter's search either way.
Each system has quirks. See our hands-on guides to Workday, Greenhouse and Taleo, or the differences between a UK CV and an American resume if you are applying across markets.
Frequently asked questions
Is this ATS CV checker really free and private?
Yes. The checker runs entirely in your browser: your CV is parsed locally on your device and is never uploaded to any server. There is no account, no email capture and no usage limit. That is also why it is instant, nothing travels over the network.
What does an applicant tracking system actually check on my CV?
An ATS extracts the text from your CV and maps it into database fields: name, contact details, employers, job titles, dates, education and skills. Recruiters then search and filter those fields. If the text layer, headings or dates do not parse, your CV becomes invisible to those searches regardless of how good it looks.
Should my CV be a PDF or a Word document for ATS?
Both work. Every major ATS (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS and similar) parses text-based PDF and DOCX reliably in 2026. What fails is a scanned or photographed CV saved as PDF, because it contains an image instead of text. Export from Word or Google Docs and you are fine either way.
Why does my CV score badly when it looks perfectly fine?
Because ATS software reads the text layer, not the visual design. Multi-column layouts, text boxes, tables, graphics and headers often extract as jumbled or missing text even when the CV looks polished. A single-column layout with standard headings and month-year dates parses cleanly and still looks professional.