Start with missing contact details and incomplete background records. Our ATS readiness estimate measures document details; it is not a universal industry score or hiring cutoff.
Check the essentials
- Make your name, email and phone readable in the document body.
- Use clear headings for your work, education, projects or other relevant background.
- Give each role a title, organization, dates and a description of your contribution.
- Check that education and project records contain usable details rather than empty placeholders.
Projects, volunteering and research can demonstrate relevant background when you are early in your career. You do not need to invent formal employment, a qualification or achievements.
Tailor to the job
Review the job's actual requirements and describe the skills and experience you truthfully have. A full builder report can check literal term coverage against a pasted job description. It does not understand every synonym or decide whether you meet the role's qualifications. Repeating keywords does not improve coverage.
Improve the writing
Use clear verbs and specific outcomes where they help a reader. Include real measures when appropriate; qualitative contributions are valid too. Length and writing advice do not lower your readiness score. There is no universal ATS word-count cutoff.
Check the exported file
Try selecting and copying text from the PDF or Word file, and review the order and content. Complex columns, tables, headers and graphics can affect parsing differently across systems. Follow the employer's file-type and size instructions. Our score does not independently test your exported layout in every ATS.
Read how the ATS score works for the rubric, sources and limits.