Can I check my CV for free?

Yes. Our CV checker is completely free. Upload your CV and paste a job description to get your ATS compatibility score, missing keyword analysis, and formatting recommendations with no sign-up required.

What is a good ATS score for a CV?

A score of 80 or above means your CV is likely to pass most ATS filters. Scores between 60 and 79 indicate it needs targeted improvements. Below 60 typically means significant formatting or keyword issues that cause automatic filtering before any human sees your application.

Should I upload my CV as PDF or DOCX?

DOCX is the safest format. It is natively text-based and compatible with all major ATS platforms. PDFs created from Word or Google Docs are usually fine. PDFs from Canva or design tools often fail ATS parsing entirely. When in doubt, use DOCX.

Is this a CV checker or a resume checker?

Both. In Australia, the UK, and New Zealand the document is called a CV. In the US and Canada it is called a resume. Our tool works identically for both. The ATS scoring rules are the same regardless of terminology.

Does this work for Australian CVs?

Yes. Our CV checker tests your document against the same criteria used by Australian ATS platforms including PageUp, JobAdder, Workday, and SmartRecruiters. It is optimised for Seek and Indeed AU applications.

How many times can I check my CV?

As many times as you need. We recommend checking your CV before every new application, especially when applying to different industries where keyword requirements differ significantly.

Is my CV stored after I upload it?

No. We process your CV for analysis and immediately discard it. We do not store, share, or sell your CV content. Your privacy is our priority.

What does a CV checker actually look for?

A CV checker analyses keyword match against the job description, formatting issues (tables, columns, graphics that block parsing), section completeness, contact information parsability, and file format compatibility. ResumeAdapter runs 25+ checks across these categories.

Free CV Checker: Test Your CV's ATS Compatibility Online (2026)

Name: ResumeAdapter
Rating: 4.8 (1250 reviews)
Author: ResumeAdapter

Not getting callbacks? Your CV may be getting filtered before any recruiter reads it.

With applications per job ad doubling in competitive sectors and ATS now standard across 60%+ of Australian employers, your CV needs to pass a machine before it reaches a human. Our free CV checker tells you exactly how to fix it.

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What Is a CV Checker?

A CV checker is an automated tool that analyses your CV against the same criteria used by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). ATS is the software employers use to filter, rank, and manage job applications before a human recruiter reviews them.

When you upload your CV to a CV checker, it runs the same parsing logic that real ATS platforms use: extracting keywords, checking section structure, detecting formatting problems, and comparing your content against the job description.

The result is a score and a list of specific issues to fix. Not a vague grade. A detailed breakdown of exactly what is holding your application back.

Check Your CV in 3 Simple Steps
What Our CV Checker Analyses
Understanding Your ATS CV Score
5 Quick Ways to Improve Your CV Score
Why Use a CV Checker Before Applying
CV Checker vs Resume Checker

Check Your CV in 3 Simple Steps

Step 1: Upload Your CV (PDF or DOCX)

Go to our free CV checker and upload your file. We support PDF and DOCX up to 5MB. If your CV is in Google Docs or Pages, export to DOCX first.

Important: PDFs from Canva, Adobe, or design tools often fail ATS parsing. If your score is unexpectedly low, try re-uploading as DOCX from Word or Google Docs.

Step 2: Get Your ATS Score and Detailed Feedback

In under 30 seconds you receive:

ATS compatibility score (0 to 100)
Keyword match analysis: which keywords from the job description appear in your CV and which are missing
Formatting check: flags tables, columns, text boxes, or graphics blocking ATS parsing
Section completeness: confirms all required sections are present (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills)
File format check: confirms your file is parseable

Step 3: Fix Issues and Re-Check for Free

Use the recommendations to update your CV, then re-upload to see your improved score. Most users improve by 15 to 25 points after the first round of targeted fixes.

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What Our CV Checker Analyses

Keyword Match Score

ATS systems rank your CV by how closely it matches the job description keywords. Our checker:

Extracts the most important keywords from your job description
Identifies which appear in your CV and which are missing
Flags high-priority gaps where critical skills are mentioned multiple times in the job ad
Suggests natural placements for missing keywords

Why keyword matching matters: If the job requires "stakeholder management" and your CV says "relationship building," the ATS may not connect these. Exact keyword match is critical in most ATS platforms.

For a full guide on keyword strategy, see our ATS Optimization Hub.

Formatting and Structure Check

We test your CV against 25+ formatting checks:

Check	What We Look For
Table detection	Tables break ATS parsing across all major platforms
Multi-column layout	Columns cause content to be read in the wrong order
Text box detection	Content inside text boxes is often skipped entirely
Graphics and images	Completely unreadable, treated as blank space
Font compatibility	Non-standard fonts may render as symbols or gibberish
File format	Whether the file is text-extractable or image-based
Header and footer content	Often skipped by ATS parsers

Section Completeness

ATS systems expect specific sections. Missing sections lower your overall score and can trigger automatic filtering:

Contact information (name, email, phone, location)
Professional summary or objective
Work experience with dates
Skills section
Education

File Format Compatibility

Not all PDFs are equal. We verify whether your file is text-extractable (good) or image-based (bad). PDFs from Canva, Adobe Illustrator, or scanned documents often fail parsing entirely, even though they look perfect on screen.

Understanding Your ATS CV Score

80 and Above: Interview Ready

Your CV will pass most ATS filters. A recruiter is likely to see it. Focus on polishing content and tailoring keywords for each specific role rather than fixing structural problems.

What to do: Refine your Professional Summary and bullets to match each job description. Use our tool to check keyword match for each specific application.

60 to 79: Needs Improvement

You may pass some ATS filters but will be ranked below well-optimised CVs. The specific issues flagged are usually missing keywords or minor formatting problems.

What to do: Fix the flagged issues. A targeted session of 30 to 60 minutes should push you into the 80+ range.

Below 60: Major Changes Needed

Your CV is being filtered out before any human sees it. This typically means significant formatting issues (tables, columns, Canva template) or major keyword gaps.

What to do: Start with our free ATS CV template for Australia as a structural base, then rebuild your content into the correct format. Re-check after.

Do not send another application without checking your score first.

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5 Quick Ways to Improve Your CV Score

1. Add the job's exact keywords

Copy specific skills, tools, and role titles from the job description directly into your skills section and experience bullets. Do not paraphrase. ATS keyword matching is often literal, not semantic.

2. Remove tables and columns

The single most common cause of low ATS scores across Australian platforms. Switch to a single-column plain-text layout. If your current template uses a sidebar, rebuild it.

3. Add a Professional Summary

A 3 to 5 line summary at the top, loaded with relevant keywords, gives ATS a strong signal about your fit before it even reaches your experience section. It is the highest-leverage addition for most CVs.

4. Fix your file format

Save as DOCX or as a PDF created from Word or Google Docs, not Canva. This single change can move your score significantly if the current file is image-based.

5. Use standard section headings

"Work Experience" not "My Career." "Skills" not "What I Bring." ATS systems look for exact heading matches. Creative section names reduce parsing accuracy.

For a full breakdown of ATS optimisation techniques, read our ATS Optimization Hub guide.

Why Use a CV Checker Before Applying

Most job seekers send their CV and wait, hoping for a response that often never comes. The reason is almost always ATS filtering, not lack of qualifications.

The Australian market in numbers:

Job ads fell 11% while applications rose 22% in 2025 (SEEK data)
ICT job applications per ad more than doubled since 2022
88% of employers say they are losing qualified candidates to non-ATS-friendly CV formatting
Entry-level roles now average 400 to 600 applicants; some remote and tech roles exceed 1,000 in the first week

In this environment, a 30-second CV check before applying is not optional. It is the minimum required to compete.

CV Checker vs Resume Checker

There is no functional difference.

The terminology differs by region:

Region	Preferred Term
Australia, UK, NZ, Ireland	CV
USA, Canada	Resume

Our tool works identically for both. The ATS scoring criteria (formatting, keywords, section structure) are universal standards. Whether you call it a CV or a resume, you upload the same type of document and receive the same quality of analysis.

If you are an Australian job seeker, searching for "CV checker" rather than "resume checker" will often surface more locally relevant results and guides. Our tool is built to serve both markets.

Your effort deserves results, not rejection emails.

Upload your CV once, get your score, fix what matters. Our free CV checker gives you the same feedback in 30 seconds that most job seekers never get.

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Or go directly to the full analysis tool: Analyse My CV Now