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ATS resume checker: score your resume against a real posting

Generic "ATS scans" grade your resume in a vacuum. This checker scores it against the actual job description you're applying to — the same scoring engine our tailoring pipeline uses. Free, no account.

Free ATS check

Your resume — PDF file
…or paste the text instead

No account, no card. Limited to a few checks per hour per person — it runs the same paid scoring pipeline, on us.

How ATS screening actually works

An applicant tracking system (ATS) collects every application and turns your resume into structured data: contact details, job titles, skills, dates. Recruiters then filter and search that database by the posting's requirements — so what matters is whether your resume states them in words the search will find, in a format the parser can read.

That's why resumes fail screens for mundane reasons: the experience is there, but it's phrased differently than the posting, buried under an irrelevant lead bullet, or locked in a table the parser can't read. Checking against the actual posting catches this before you apply.

What this checker measures

MaxCV runs a three-step scoring pipeline on your inputs:

  • Parses your resume into structured experience, skills and education — the same way an ATS does.
  • Decomposes the job description into individual, atomic requirements.
  • Maps every requirement to evidence in your resume: covered directly, via a synonym, or through a transferable skill.
  • Scores the as-is match (only requirements stated in the posting's own terms count) and the honestly-reachable match after tailoring.
  • Counts how many requirements are solidly covered, so you know your real gaps — not a vague grade.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is an ATS, exactly?
Applicant tracking system — the software companies use to collect and manage applications. It parses your resume into structured data that recruiters filter and search by the requirements of each posting. Most mid-size and large employers use one.
How is the match score calculated?
The job description is decomposed into individual requirements and each is mapped against your resume. The as-is score counts requirements your resume already states in the posting's terms; the after-tailoring score also credits synonyms and transferable skills your experience honestly supports — exactly what tailoring makes explicit.
Is this checker really free?
Yes — no account and no card. It runs the same paid scoring pipeline as the full product, so it's rate-limited to a few checks per hour per person. MaxCV charges for the tailoring that fixes what the check finds: $9.99 per 30-pack or $39 for 30 days unlimited, after 1 free run (plus 3 with a free account).
Which formats does it accept?
A PDF file (up to 10 MB) or plain pasted text of at least 80 characters. The full app accepts PDF and TXT files the same way.
How do I improve a low score?
Rephrase real experience in the posting's own terms, lead with the most relevant bullets and keep the formatting parseable — or let MaxCV do exactly that in one pass: it rewrites your resume honestly, shows every change for approval and returns an ATS-ready PDF with the new score.

Found gaps? Close them in one pass

No card. 1 tailoring without an account, 3 after sign-up.

Tailor my CV — free