The hiring process has changed dramatically. Today, your resume doesn’t land directly in the recruiter’s hands.

Instead, it passes through a digital gatekeeper known as an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This system scans your resume, extracts crucial data, matches it against job requirements, and assigns a score. If your score falls short, your resume may never reach a human eye.

That’s why using an ATS score checker is not just useful—it’s essential. This guide covers everything you need to know.

It explains what ATS score means and how ATS filtering works. You will learn what causes rejection and how to check your score. Finally, it shows you how to improve your score significantly. We’ll also explore how tools like TodoResume help job seekers boost their resume’s visibility.

By the end, you will know how to improve your resume for today’s hiring systems. This will help you notice more.

What Is an ATS Score?

Meaning of ATS Score in Recruitment

An ATS score is a number that shows how well your resume matches the job description. It also indicates how easily an ATS can read it. Most ATS systems grade resumes on:

Keyword relevance
Skills matching
Role and industry alignment
Resume structure
Formatting clarity
Experience level
Section hierarchy

Think of the ATS score as a ranking system. If 500 candidates apply, the ATS will shortlist only the top-scoring resumes. The system automatically filters out those with a low score—even if they qualify.

Why Companies Use Applicant Tracking Systems

Companies are flooded with applications. Even small organizations receive 200–1,000 resumes per job post. To manage this volume, employers rely on ATS systems to:

Automatically scan and parse resumes
Identify qualified candidates using keyword matching
Remove irrelevant or under-qualified profiles
Rank candidates based on relevance
Reduce the recruiter’s workload
Maintain consistency in hiring decisions

ATS also helps companies comply with hiring regulations, avoid bias, and streamline recruitment workflows.

How ATS Reads and Parses Your Resume

ATS systems work like a search engine. They extract structured data and categorize information under sections like:

Summary / Objective
Skills
Education
Certifications
Job Titles
Employment Dates
Responsibilities

But ATS has limitations. It struggles with:

Decorative designs
Fancy templates
Multiple column formats
Icons and graphics
Tables
Text inside shapes
Unconventional headings

This is why formatting causes even highly qualified candidates to get rejected—not lack of skill.

How Does an ATS Score Checker Work?

Understanding Resume Parsing

Resume parsing is the first stage. The ATS score checker converts your resume into plain text. During this step, it tries to recognize:

Section titles
Bullet points
Names of companies
Position titles
Dates of employment
Lists of skills and tools
Job descriptions

If the parser cannot detect content properly because of design-heavy templates, your ATS score will drop drastically.

Keyword Matching & Skills Identification

Next, the ATS matches your resume against the job description. It scans for:

Hard skills (e.g., Python, CAD, SEO)
Soft skills (e.g., leadership, problem-solving)
Industry terms (e.g., SaaS, FMCG, compliance)
Tool knowledge (e.g., Excel, Jira, Salesforce)
Certifications (e.g., PMP, AWS, Digital Marketing)

The more closely your resume matches these keywords, the higher the score.

Formatting, Layout & File Type Evaluation

Many job seekers unknowingly use templates that look attractive but are unreadable by ATS. The checker evaluates formatting elements such as:

Layout simplicity
Consistency of headers
Whether bullet points are scannable
Placement of skills
File type compatibility (PDF vs Word)

Clean formatting = better readability = higher ATS score.

Scoring Criteria Used by ATS Tools

An advanced ATS score checker evaluates:

Keyword match ratio
Skills density
Resume structure clarity
Use of ATS-friendly headings
Language relevance
Formatting cleanliness
Readability of file content
Presence of quantifiable achievements
Industry alignment
Job title relevance

This multi-layer evaluation helps you understand exactly why your resume is passing or failing.

Why Your Resume Needs a High ATS Score

Chances of Getting Shortlisted

Studies show:

75% of resumes fail ATS checks
Only the top 20–30% scoring resumes reach a recruiter
High-scoring resumes have 3x more interview calls

If your score is below 70, your chances are minimal.

Between 70–85 is good.

Above 85 is excellent.

Common ATS Resume Rejection Reasons

Most resumes are rejected for reasons unrelated to skills:

Over-designed templates
Use of icons or graphics
Missing job-relevant keywords
Weak skills section
Lack of industry-specific terms
Incorrect file formats
Resume written in paragraphs instead of bullet points

The ATS is strict—if something is unreadable, it simply skips it.

Impact of Resume Format on ATS Score

Format plays a bigger role than people realize. Even with strong content, your score will drop if:

You use multi-column layouts
You insert shapes or tables
Text overlaps with graphics
Headings are non-standard (e.g., “What I Bring to the Table”)
Images are embedded with text

ATS-friendly formatting can improve your score by as much as 30–40 points.

Free ATS Score Checker by TodoResume

Overview of TodoResume ATS Score Tool

You can analyze your resume instantly using the ATS score checker offered by TodoResume. The tool gives a clear look at your resume’s strengths and weaknesses for ATS. It helps job seekers see where they need to improve.

Key Features of TodoResume ATS Checker

The tool provides:

Instant ATS readability score
Keyword match percentage
Missing skills and keywords
Formatting analysis
Section-by-section breakdown
Actionable optimization suggestions
Job title alignment insights
Free scanning without login

It serves both freshers and experienced applicants.

Why This Tool Gives More Accurate Results

Unlike generic ATS scanners, this tool:

Uses multi-level keyword analysis
Checks semantic meaning, not just raw keyword presence
Compares bullet points with industry expectations
Detects formatting problems that real ATS systems flag
Evaluates both content and structure
Highlights job-specific skills based on title and industry

This gives users a realistic picture of how recruiters will view their resume.

How to Use the ATS Score Checker (Step-by-Step)

Go to the ATS score page
Upload your resume (Word or PDF)
Enter your job title or target role
Start the ATS scan
View your ATS score and complete report
Follow the optimization tips provided
Re-upload the improved version to check score again

Most users see a 20–40 point improvement after following suggestions.

How to Check Your Resume’s ATS Score Online

Uploading Your Resume for ATS Scan

Use a clean version of your resume. Ensure:

Standard fonts
Single-column structure
No heavy design elements
Use of readable bullet points (●, •, -)
Minimal decorative styling

Reviewing Skills Match & Keyword Suggestions

The ATS scan will show:

Keywords present in your resume
Keywords missing from the job description
Hard skills vs soft skills ratio
Industry-specific skills required
Tools or software you didn’t mention

This helps you tailor your resume with precision.

Understanding ATS Compatibility Report

A detailed ATS report typically includes:

Score breakdown
Resume readability
Parsed text preview
Formatting issues
Keyword match summary
Skills density
Recommended improvements

This enables clearer understanding of both strengths and weak areas.

Optimizing Based on the Score

To improve your score:

Add missing keywords naturally
Rewrite bullet points for clarity
Simplify formatting
Remove icons or images
Use standard headings
Add quantified achievements
Strengthen your Professional Summary

Optimizing even 4–5 elements can boost your score significantly.

Tips to Improve Your ATS Score

Use ATS-Friendly Resume Format

ATS-friendly formats are simple, clean, and structured. Stick to:

Black text
White background
Single-column layout
One consistent font
No borders or shapes

Avoid experimental or designer templates.

Add Job-Specific Keywords

Your resume must reflect:

Tools used in the job
Technical skills required
Industry knowledge
Certifications
Core job functions

Example: For a Digital Marketing role, keywords include SEO, Google Ads, Meta Ads, Analytics, Content Strategy, etc.

Avoid Design-Heavy Resume Templates

Most design-heavy templates fail ATS checks because:

ATS cannot read multi-column grids
Icons break parsing
Text inside shapes is often unreadable
Fancy fonts get misinterpreted

Human recruiters love clean resumes too—simplicity wins both ways.

Write Clear Headings & Sections

ATS expects standard headings like:

"Work Experience"
"Education"
"Skills"
"Certifications"
"Projects"
"Summary"

Anything else confuses it.

Avoid Images, Icons & Tables

ATS cannot interpret:

Profile pictures
Logos
Skill bars
Decorative symbols
Text inside tables or boxes

Stick to plain text formatting.

ATS-Friendly Resume Templates & Examples

Best Template Types for ATS

Choose templates that follow:

Uniform margins
Logical hierarchy
Simple bullet points
No colored backgrounds
No fancy shapes or separators

Example of a High-Scoring ATS Resume

A strong ATS-compliant resume typically includes:

A targeted job title
Keyword-rich professional summary
3–5 bullet points per role
Achievements written with metrics (e.g., “Improved sales by 27%”)
Proper section ordering
A dedicated skills section

Mistakes to Avoid in ATS Resume Design

Avoid:

Multiple columns
Skill charts
Uncommon headings
Icons or graphics
Using image-based text

These mistakes can single-handedly ruin your ATS score.

TodoResume vs Other ATS Scanners

Accuracy Comparison

Many online scanners only identify keywords. But this tool evaluates:

Formatting
Structure
Keyword density
ATS readability
Role alignment
Content positioning

This makes the score more reliable.

Ease of Use Comparison

Most ATS tools require sign-up or paid subscriptions. This checker allows:

Free use
No login
Instant results
Simple interface

Why This Tool Is Better for Freshers & Job Seekers

Freshers especially benefit because:

They lack job-specific experience
They need help with keyword selection
They often use Canva templates that ATS rejects
They don’t know correct formatting

The tool highlights these errors clearly.

FAQs About ATS Score Checker

What is a good ATS score?

70+ = Acceptable
80+ = Strong
90+ = Excellent

Can ATS read PDF resumes?

Yes—only if the PDF is text-based. Creative PDFs fail parsing.

Why is my ATS score low?

Common causes:

Missing skills
Unoptimized formatting
Broken or unreadable sections
Weak job alignment

How do I improve my ATS ranking?

Add job-specific keywords
Use an ATS-friendly template
Rewrite bullet points concisely
Add measurable achievements

Are free ATS scanners accurate?

Most are basic. This tool uses deeper scanning logic and provides real recruiter-level insights.

Final Thoughts

Your resume doesn’t get second chances. Before a recruiter sees it, the ATS decides whether it qualifies for visibility. A high ATS score can multiply your interview chances, while a low score pushes you out of the competition instantly.

You can greatly boost your chances of getting hired by using an ATS score checker on your resume and making the right changes. Take the first step today—scan your resume instantly using the free ATS checker and boost your chances of landing your next job.

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ATS Score Checker: Why Your Resume Isn’t Reaching Recruiters