ATS Guide • 2025
ATS Resume Checker: How to Pass Any ATS in 2025 (Free Checklist)
Most “ATS scores” are marketing. What matters is clean parsing, the right keywords, and a format recruiters can search. This guide shows you exactly how ATS works and gives you a 15-point checklist that gets more interviews — without ugly templates.
TL;DR
- Use a **simple one-column layout** (no tables/graphics for layout).
- Export a **text-based PDF** (or DOCX if requested in the portal).
- Mirror **job-specific keywords** in your Work Experience bullets.
- Put **contact, title, location, eligibility** in plain text at the top.
- Save with a clear file name:
Firstname-Lastname-Role-2025.pdf.
How ATS really works (and what actually matters)
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) don’t decide your entire fate. They parse the text of your resume, extract fields, and let recruiters filter for things like skills, years of experience, and location. Your goal is to be **easily parsable** and **clearly relevant** for the role.
That means your resume should be readable as plain text, include the right terms, and avoid design elements that break parsing (columns, icons in place of bullets, heavy tables). Focus on **keyword alignment** inside your achievements, not a generic skill dump.
ATS-safe formatting: the essentials
- One column, left-aligned; standard fonts (Inter, Arial, Calibri, Helvetica).
- Headings like Experience, Education, Skills are fine.
- Use real bullet characters or dashes — not images or icons.
- Dates in a consistent format: Jan 2022 – Mar 2025.
- Hyperlinks are okay, but display the URL or anchor text (ATS may drop the link).
Free 15-point ATS checklist
- Contact block: Name • Phone • Email • City/Region • LinkedIn.
- Target title: Put the role you’re applying for under your name.
- Summary: 2–3 lines tailored to the job’s top priorities.
- Experience bullets: Each bullet = action + impact + job keyword.
- Skills: Group by category; keep it truthful and aligned to the role.
- Education/certs: Plain text, consistent styling.
- File: Text-based PDF (DOCX only when asked).
- Layout: One column, no tables/graphics for layout.
- Dates: Consistent format, include months for recency clarity.
- Acronyms: Include both acronym and expanded term (e.g., “SQL (Structured Query Language)”).
- Numbers: Use metrics wherever possible (%, $, #, time saved).
- Keywords: Pull 6–10 from the job and mirror them naturally.
- File name:
Firstname-Lastname-Role-2025.pdf. - Read order test: Copy-paste from the PDF to plain text.
- Length: 1 page (0–7 years), 2 pages (8+), never tiny fonts.
Free vs paid ATS checkers (what you actually get)
| Checker type | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free “ATS score” sites | Quick feedback; catches obvious formatting issues | Scores are opaque; keyword advice can be generic | Initial sanity check |
| Paid resume reviews | Human feedback; role-specific edits | Quality varies; still need to tailor per job | Mid-career pivots and specialized roles |
| DIY + real job posting | Most accurate; aligns to the actual role | Requires effort; no shiny score | Every application you care about |
Bottom line: use tools to catch formatting gaps, but tailor your resume to the job description to actually pass recruiter filters.
5 steps to an ATS-ready resume (today)
- Pick one target role. Pull 6–10 core keywords from 3 real postings.
- Fix the layout. One column, standard fonts, no graphics/tables for layout.
- Rewrite bullets. Use action + impact, and naturally weave in target keywords.
- Export & test. PDF (text-based). Copy-paste test for read order.
- Tailor per application. Adjust 3–5 bullets to mirror the posting.
FAQs
Should I include a photo or icons?
No. Photos and icon-fonts often break parsing and can introduce bias. Keep it text-only.
Do templates help?
Only if they’re simple and text-based. Many “designed” templates use tables/columns that scramble parsing.
What about two pages?
1 page if you’re under ~7 years of experience, 2 pages otherwise. Avoid tiny fonts and dense walls of text.