How Does an ATS CV Checker Work? (+ CV Templates)

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Maciej Tomaszewicz, CPRW

Career Expert

Updated 21 December 2025

Reviewed by:

Roma Kończak, CPRW

Article Helpfulness:

Create a CV now

In today’s job market, it’s not always human eyes that judge your job application. Often, it’s an ATS software that accepts or rejects CVs. If you’ve ever applied for a job and never heard back, despite fitting the requirements, ATS could take the blame.

Using an ATS checker can help you optimise your CV so it can pass through the filters and get noticed by real recruiters. Let me tell you more about it.

In this guide, you’ll see:

What is an ATS?
Why having an ATS CV is a must.
How Zety’s CV checker works.
ATS-friendly CV templates.

Want to save time and have your CV ready in 5 minutes? Try our CV builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ CV templates and create your CV here.

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Sample CV made with our builder—See more templates and create your CV here.

One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My CV is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

What is ATS?

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, a type of software that employers and recruiters use to collect, scan, and rank job applications automatically. ATS software enables companies to quickly and efficiently filter out unqualified candidates, particularly when hundreds or thousands of resumes are submitted for a single role.

It’s basically a time-saving tool for recruiters—more than 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS to streamline hiring. That’s how big a deal it is. For applicants, it can be a significant hurdle, because:

ATS systems scan for keywords, job titles, and specific formatting.
If your CV format is incorrect, or your document isn’t worded in a way that the ATS understands, your application might be rejected.
CVs with design elements such as tables, graphics, or non-standard fonts can be misread or discarded.

Let’s dive deeper into why you need an ATS CV.

💡Read more: What is a CV

Why do you need an ATS-optimised CV?

Submitting a CV that isn’t tailored for ATS software is like shouting into the void. You might be the perfect candidate, but you’ll never know if no one sees your application. An ATS-optimised CV ensures your credentials are reviewed by a human recruiter, giving you a real chance to compete.

✅Here are more reasons why your CV must be ATS-ready:

It increases your visibility

Without strategic keywords or the correct format, your CV could be discarded before anyone reads it. ATS systems rank candidates based on relevance to the job posting.

An ATS-optimised CV can help you beat the competition

Hundreds of applicants may apply for the same position, and more than 75% of online applications are filtered through ATS systems. If your CV is optimised, your chances of being shortlisted dramatically increase.

It’s free of unreadable elements

Sophisticated design elements, such as text boxes, tables, and icons that are visually appealing, can confuse ATS parsing systems. If you’ve got a well-optimised CV, you’ll avoid this mistake.

It proves your professionalism

Recruiters expect CVs that adhere to industry standards. An ATS-friendly format signals that you’re prepared, serious, and detail-oriented.

It aligns with modern hiring practices

With remote hiring and digital recruitment on the rise, automated filters are now the first layer of screening. If your resume isn't ready for tech-driven systems, it won’t cut.

When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional CV template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.

How does Zety’s ATS CV checker work? (and why it’s different)

Zety ATS CV checker not only identifies issues with your CV—it also provides actionable feedback, custom suggestions, and a score to help you gauge your readiness. Here’s how to use it:

1. Upload your CV

Drag and drop your file or copy and paste the content into the tool. You can also build your document from scratch using Zety’s intuitive CV builder.

2. Get an instant ATS scan and score

The checker analyses your CV structure, formatting, keyword usage, and more. It then returns a score out of 100, along with suggestions for improvement. This score helps you understand how well your CV is likely to perform in a real ATS scan.

Oh, and what’s considered a good ATS score? It begins at 80.

3. Receive a detailed feedback report

You’ll get clear insights on:

Missing or weak sections (e.g. Education Section, Key Skills, Work Experience)
Spelling, grammar, and consistency errors
Formatting issues like unclear CV headers or unreadable CV fonts
Keyword matches based on the job role

Zety’s feedback isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s built to make your CV genuinely more compelling. Here’s what the tool evaluates and improves:

Formatting. Your CV will follow a recruiter-approved structure that’s easy to scan and ATS-compatible, so no more worrying about fonts, spacing, or alignment.
Word choice. Get expert guidance to trim unnecessary phrases, use impactful verbs, and make every sentence count.
Typos & grammar. Avoid costly mistakes. Over 60% of hiring managers reject CVs with typos. Zety scans for spelling and grammar issues so you don’t miss an opportunity.
Length. Whether you’re early-career or executive-level, Zety recommends the optimal CV length based on your experience and industry norms.
Summary statement. Craft a compelling introduction that showcases your value, strengths, and career goals tailored for your role and seniority.
Contact details. Ensure your name, phone number, email address, and online profiles are accurate and formatted correctly, so hiring managers can always reach you.
Measurable achievements. Zety helps you highlight results using figures that make your impact clear and persuasive.
Completeness. The checker ensures no essential section is missing and recommends extras (e.g. certifications or languages) to help you stand out.
Customisation by job title. Enter your desired role and get a targeted list of in-demand skills and keywords; perfect for tailoring your CV to any job post.

4. Browse live editing options

Zety’s platform lets you edit directly inside the tool, applying suggestions in real time to enhance your CV’s strength and ATS compatibility. And if you're starting from scratch or want to rebuild entirely, Zety’s CV builder is fully integrated so that you can go from corrections to a completely polished, ATS-proof document in minutes.

Unlike generic CV tools, Zety’s checker draws from a real-world CV database, built on documents that have actually landed interviews. It also provides job-specific keyword suggestions based on real listings. Simply paste in a job description, and Zety helps tailor your CV to match what recruiters and ATS software are looking for.

ATS-friendly CV templates

All of Zety CV templates can pass an ATS check with the perfect score. Below you’ll see a gallery of my top choices!

1. Cascade

This CV template, called Cascade, offers a well-optimised CV layout. It’s highly readable thanks to white space and a two-column design. The prominent bar on the left side, with ample space for contact details and additional sections, is impossible to overlook. Excellent for ATS and also for human readers.

2. Enfold

A mirror image of the previous example, Enfold is a very modern CV template. The only difference is that the prominent bar is on the left-hand side, which makes it stand out even more.

3. Muse

This creative CV template is among my favourites. Muse stands out with 3D-like elements, stars that score your skills, and ample white space that boosts the readability of your entire document.

4. Diamond

A true gemstone in Zety’s crown of visual CV templates, Diamond catches the eye of the reader immediately. It does it not only with a mighty bar at the top, with contact details impossible to miss, but also with diamond-shaped bullet points.

5. Minimo

An excellent proof that a great CV template doesn’t need flashy features. This minimalistic template, called Minimo, is ideal for all professionals applying for corporate roles. It’s very easy to read and looks professional. An excellent choice for those who prefer a subtle approach.

See our other CV guides:

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key takeaway

Don’t let poor formatting or missing keywords cost you an interview. Here's what matters when it comes to beating the bots and impressing recruiters:

Use a clean, professional layout with standard headings like Work Experience and Skills.
Match keywords from the job description and include measurable achievements using real numbers.
Keep your CV concise (1–2 pages), free of typos, and easy to read with a classic font.
Make contact details easy to find at the top and ensure every key section is complete.
Always use an ATS-compatible template.

Good luck!

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