How to Check if Your Resume is ATS Friendly: Complete Guide 2026

With over 98% of Fortune 500 companies using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), ensuring your resume is ATS-friendly is no longer optional—it's essential. But how do you check if your resume will pass through these automated systems? This complete guide will show you exactly how to test your resume and what makes it ATS-compatible.

What is an ATS-Friendly Resume?

An ATS-friendly resume is formatted and structured in a way that Applicant Tracking Systems can easily parse and understand. These systems scan resumes for keywords, skills, experience, and qualifications, then rank candidates based on how well they match the job description.

How to Check if Your Resume is ATS Friendly

Method 1: Use Our Free ATS Checker Tool

The most reliable way to check your resume's ATS compatibility is using our free ATS resume checker. Here's what it analyzes:

• File format compatibility (PDF vs DOCX)
• Contact information structure
• Section headings and organization
• Keyword optimization
• Formatting issues (tables, images, complex layouts)
• ATS compatibility score

Method 2: Manual Checklist

You can also manually check these key elements:

What Makes a Resume ATS Friendly?

1. Proper File Format

Best formats: PDF or DOCX. Avoid image files (JPG, PNG) as ATS systems cannot read text from images. While PDF is generally preferred, some older ATS systems work better with DOCX.

2. Clear Section Headings

Use standard, recognizable section headings:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary or Objective
• Work Experience or Professional Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications (if applicable)

Avoid creative headings like "Where I've Been" or "My Journey" as ATS systems may not recognize them.

3. Keyword Optimization

ATS systems scan for keywords from the job description. Use our resume keyword extractor and job description analyzer to identify and include relevant keywords naturally throughout your resume.

4. Simple Formatting

Keep formatting simple:

• Use standard fonts (10-12pt size)
• Avoid tables, text boxes, and columns
• Use simple bullet points (• not graphics)
• No headers or footers
• No images or graphics
• Consistent date formats (MM/YYYY or Month YYYY)

Common ATS Mistakes to Avoid

How to Test Your Resume for ATS

Step-by-Step Testing Process

1. Use our free ATS checker: Upload your resume to our ATS resume checker tool for instant analysis.
2. Review the compatibility score: Get a detailed breakdown of your resume's ATS compatibility across multiple categories.
3. Check for formatting issues: Review any flagged formatting problems that could prevent ATS parsing.
4. Analyze keyword optimization: See which keywords are present and which might be missing.
5. Make improvements: Use the recommendations to optimize your resume.
6. Re-test: After making changes, test your resume again to verify improvements.

Does My Resume Pass ATS?

If you're asking "does my resume pass ATS?", the best way to find out is to test it. Our free ATS checker provides:

• An overall ATS compatibility score
• Detailed feedback on each section
• Specific recommendations for improvement
• Keyword analysis and suggestions

Next Steps

Now that you know how to check if your resume is ATS friendly, take action:

1. Test your current resume with our free ATS checker
2. Use our job description analyzer to extract keywords from job postings
3. Optimize your resume with our keyword extractor
4. Get your resume score to see overall quality