In today’s competitive job market, your resume is often the first impression you make on potential employers. With the rise of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) used by companies to streamline the hiring process, it’s no longer just about having a visually appealing or well-written resume. To ensure your resume passes through these automated systems and lands in front of a real recruiter or hiring manager, you need to optimize it for ATS.
An ATS resume checker tool helps you identify issues in your resume that may prevent it from being properly parsed or ranked by these systems. These tools analyze the content, keywords, formatting, and overall structure of your resume to ensure it’s ATS-friendly.
In this article, we’ll review the top 5 ATS resume checker tools you should try in 2024 to ensure your resume is up to par and increases your chances of landing your next job.
What Is an ATS and Why Does It Matter?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by companies to manage the hiring process. ATS helps streamline tasks such as posting job openings, collecting resumes, screening candidates, and tracking applicants throughout the hiring process. It sorts resumes based on keywords, relevant skills, qualifications, and other criteria that align with the job description.
The reason an ATS matters is that it can determine whether your resume gets seen by human eyes or not. In fact, many large companies use ATS to filter out resumes that don’t match the job description closely enough. If your resume isn’t optimized for ATS, it could be rejected without a recruiter ever reviewing it.
To ensure your resume stands out, you need to use a tool that can check for ATS compatibility.
Why Use an ATS Resume Checker?
An ATS resume checker can help you in several ways:
- Identify Keywords: ATS relies heavily on specific keywords relevant to the job role. These tools help you determine which keywords you should include.
- Ensure Proper Formatting: Poor formatting can confuse ATS, causing your resume to be misinterpreted or even rejected. A resume checker ensures your formatting is ATS-friendly.
- Highlight Missing Information: Some ATS tools will point out critical skills or experience that might be missing from your resume based on the job description.
- Improve Overall Readability: A checker will make sure that your resume is easy for both humans and machines to read, with correct use of headings, sections, and formatting.
With that in mind, let's dive into the top 5 ATS resume checker tools you should try in 2024.
1. Jobscan
Overview
Jobscan is one of the most well-known ATS resume checker tools available, trusted by job seekers and career coaches alike. This tool compares your resume to a job description and gives you a detailed analysis of how well it matches the job requirements. It’s an excellent tool for optimizing your resume and increasing your chances of getting through the ATS screening process.
Features
- Job Match Score: Jobscan gives you a match score between your resume and the job description, showing you how well your resume fits the job.
- Keyword Optimization: The tool highlights keywords and phrases that are missing from your resume, based on the job description.
- ATS Compatibility Analysis: Jobscan checks for common ATS formatting errors, such as the use of non-ATS-friendly fonts or unusual file types.
- Customizable Templates: Jobscan offers ATS-friendly resume templates to help you build a resume from scratch or optimize an existing one.
- Skills Report: The tool also gives you feedback on how to improve your skill section by ensuring the right skills are included.
Pros
- In-depth analysis and keyword recommendations.
- Provides actionable insights for both resume and cover letter optimization.
- Detailed feedback on formatting issues.
- Free limited version available.
Cons
- Full features are only available through a paid subscription.
- Might be overwhelming for first-time users due to the level of detail provided.
Best For: Job seekers who are serious about optimizing their resumes for specific job applications.
Pricing
- Free version available.
- Paid plans start at $49.95 per month.
2. Resumake
Overview
Resumake is a free ATS-friendly resume builder that helps you create professional resumes quickly. It allows you to easily input your information and download a resume that is optimized for ATS. This tool is ideal for people looking for a simple, no-fuss solution to building and optimizing their resumes.
Features
- ATS-Friendly Design: Resumake offers customizable, clean, and simple resume templates that are ATS-friendly.
- Instant Feedback: It provides instant feedback on your resume as you create it, making it easier to avoid common mistakes.
- Free and Easy to Use: The tool is free to use and doesn’t require an account to create a resume.
- Multiple Export Options: You can export your resume in PDF, DOCX, or TXT formats — all of which are generally ATS-compatible.
Pros
- Completely free to use.
- Simple, intuitive interface.
- Offers easy export options for various ATS systems.
Cons
- Limited functionality compared to other tools.
- Not as advanced in keyword optimization or in-depth analysis.
Best For: Job seekers who need a quick, simple, and ATS-friendly resume without too much complexity.
Pricing
- Free
3. Zety
Overview
Zety is an online resume builder that offers a wide range of customizable templates designed to be ATS-friendly. In addition to building resumes, Zety includes a suite of tools to help you with cover letters, job applications, and career advice. It also provides a resume score that assesses how well your resume aligns with ATS criteria.
Features
- ATS-Friendly Templates: Zety provides a range of templates that are specifically designed to work well with ATS systems.
- Resume Score: After completing your resume, you’ll receive a score that shows how well your resume is optimized for ATS.
- Expert Tips: Zety offers tips for improving your resume, such as where to place keywords and how to format sections.
- Cover Letter Builder: Zety also includes a tool to create tailored cover letters to accompany your resume.
Pros
- Easy-to-use interface with professional templates.
- Resume score gives clear actionable insights.
- Multi-platform support (can work across devices).
- Career advice and templates for all industries.
Cons
- Full access requires a paid subscription.
- Free version limits the number of resume downloads.
Best For: Job seekers looking for a well-rounded resume builder with additional career resources.
Pricing
- Free limited version available.
- Premium plans start at $5.99 per month.
4. CVViZ
Overview
CVViZ is an AI-powered resume screening platform that helps job seekers optimize their resumes for ATS. It’s particularly useful for applicants in tech and other high-demand industries, offering highly accurate recommendations based on the specific job roles you’re targeting.
Features
- AI-Powered Resume Review: CVViZ uses artificial intelligence to analyze your resume and offer personalized feedback on how to improve it.
- Job Description Matcher: The tool helps you compare your resume to a specific job description and recommends keyword changes.
- Keyword Recommendations: CVViZ will suggest keywords that should be added to your resume to improve ATS compatibility.
- ATS Scoring: CVViZ provides an ATS score that reflects how likely your resume is to get through ATS filters.
Pros
- Uses AI to deliver personalized and relevant feedback.
- Highly accurate ATS scoring.
- Great for job seekers in tech, healthcare, and other niche industries.
Cons
- Not as beginner-friendly as other tools.
- Requires a subscription for full features.
Best For: Job seekers who want advanced AI-powered feedback and are applying to competitive, high-demand roles.
Pricing
- Free trial available.
- Paid plans start at $19 per month.
5. ResumeWorded
Overview
ResumeWorded is an AI-powered resume checker that analyzes your resume against thousands of real job descriptions to determine how well it matches the requirements of the role. It helps you identify areas for improvement, optimize your resume for ATS, and ensure that it’s both ATS-friendly and visually appealing to recruiters.
Features
- ATS Resume Scanning: ResumeWorded scans your resume for ATS compatibility, providing a detailed report of issues and recommended fixes.
- Job Description Matching: The tool compares your resume with the job description to ensure your resume includes the right keywords and skills.
- Actionable Insights: The tool provides detailed tips on how to improve your resume’s content, structure, and keyword usage.
- Resume Scoring: ResumeWorded gives you a resume score that reflects how well your resume aligns with industry standards and ATS expectations.
Pros
- AI-powered analysis for personalized feedback.
- Resume score helps you track your progress.
- Covers both ATS compatibility and general resume quality.
Cons
- Limited features in the free version.
- Requires a paid subscription for access to all features.
Best For: Job seekers who want to optimize their resumes for both ATS and human readers.
Pricing
- Free version available with basic features.
- Premium plans start at $19.99 per month.
Conclusion
In 2024, optimizing your resume for ATS is more important than ever. Using an ATS resume checker tool can help you identify issues with your resume, improve keyword usage, and enhance formatting, all of which increase your chances of passing the ATS screening process and landing an interview.
Whether you're looking for a free tool like Resumake or a more advanced solution like Jobscan or CVViZ, there are a variety of options available to suit different needs and budgets. By using one or more of these top ATS resume checkers, you'll ensure your resume is ready to impress both the machines and the human recruiters who review it.
0 Comments