The CV Checker that Beats the ATS

Upload your CV to Enhancv’s Resume Checker. Once the scan is complete, you’ll be redirected to a page showing your report, with a score displayed on the left-hand side.

Bear in mind, there’s no such thing as a genuine “ATS score.” Any online tool claiming to provide one isn’t showing you an actual ATS measure.

Enhancv’s CV scoring system is based on two key factors:

• Percentage of parsed content — Much like an ATS, we parse your CV to understand its content. The clearer the layout and structure, the better it will perform when processed by employer ATS software.
• Issues our checker finds — We highlight typos, weak phrasing, and missing impact. This reflects the quality of your writing and whether your CV includes measurable achievements.

A higher CV score comes from strengthening the most important sections of your CV. Here’s how you can improve it:

• Revise your experience section to show measurable achievements. Go beyond listing duties—demonstrate what you accomplished in each role.
• Add skills that match the role you’re applying for, especially those mentioned in the job description.
• Include a dedicated accomplishments section to showcase the highlights of your career.
• Save your CV as a PDF and use a clean, professional template.
• Correct spelling and grammar errors, and keep your writing in an active voice throughout.

For an ATS-friendly CV, use keywords from the job description naturally, keep the layout simple, and stick with standard headings such as "Work Experience" and "Education".

Contrary to much of the advice online, saving your CV as a PDF from a professional builder like Enhancv is more reliable than Word or DOC files, as it preserves formatting. Double-column CVs work just as well as single-column ones, and fonts don’t make a big difference as long as they’re easy to read.

Always spell out acronyms along with their full terms, add a clear skills section, keep work history consistent with job titles and dates, and carefully check for spelling or grammar mistakes.

Enhancv’s CV Checker score is calculated using 19 checks across two main areas. A score above 80 is a good indication that your CV is in strong shape.

That said, the score is only part of the picture. Key sections such as contact details and work experience must be accurate and well-presented. Always review your CV carefully before sending an application.

Yes. We’ve tested the most widely used applicant tracking systems and found that the idea an ATS can’t read PDFs is a myth. In fact, PDFs often perform better since they are static files that preserve formatting and cannot be altered once saved.

It’s easy to focus too much on individual sections and lose sight of how they fit together in your finished CV. A full CV review helps you step back and see the bigger picture.

Often this highlights issues such as a poorly placed skills section or a mismatch between your skills and achievements. That’s why careful proofreading and thorough quality checks are so important.

We’ve reviewed thousands of CVs from our users and gathered feedback from recruiters to identify the most common mistakes people make when creating their CV.

Here are the mistakes you should avoid:

• Using clichés and overused buzzwords
• Providing false or misleading information
• Leaving typos or grammar errors unchecked
• Listing duties instead of achievements
• Adding unrelated experience
• Relying on one generic CV instead of tailoring it
• Leaving out personality and individuality
• Using messy or inconsistent formatting
• Skipping unpaid experience, which can be valuable—especially for entry-level roles

Create a checklist of everything your CV should communicate. This could include:

• Key job achievements
• Culture fit shown through personality and hobbies
• Extracurricular activities, relevant websites, or projects

Once you draft your CV, compare it with your checklist to make sure nothing important is missing.

Also use the job description as a guide. It outlines the skills, experience, and competencies needed, so highlight accomplishments that align with the role.

In the end, your CV should clearly answer:

1. Who are you?
2. What experience do you have?
3. What motivates you to join this company?
4. How will you contribute to its success?

Don’t leave your application until the last half hour before the deadline. To do this properly, start working on your CV early.

Give yourself time to step away from it—ideally for a few days—so you can come back with fresh eyes.

Reading it after a break makes you feel like an external reviewer, helping you catch errors and weak spots you would otherwise miss.

Yes, Enhancv’s CV checker is ideal for creating a tailored CV for a specific job. It also works as a grammar checker and provides an overall critique, helping you spot and correct mistakes.