Career Genius

ATS Compatibility Checker: Why Your Resume Is Being Rejected

"75% of qualified candidates never reach human eyes because their resumes fail the digital screening process. Don't become another silent rejection statistic."

The Invisible Wall Between You and Interviews

Imagine applying to dozens of perfect-fit jobs only to hear nothing back—not because you lack qualifications, but because a machine filtered out your resume before a human ever saw it.

This is the reality for millions of job seekers. With over 99% of Fortune 500 companies using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen candidates, your resume must pass digital screening before it reaches human recruiters.

Do Any of These Apply to You?

If you checked any box, your resume may be getting filtered out.

How ATS Systems Really Work (And Why They Reject Resumes)

The Three-Stage Digital Screening Process:

1

Technical Parsing

The ATS attempts to extract and categorize information from your resume. If it can't properly read your file format, layout, or structure, your resume is immediately rejected.

2

Keyword Matching

The system scores your resume based on keyword matches with the job description. Low match scores result in automatic rejection, regardless of your actual qualifications.

3

Ranking Algorithm

Resumes are ranked against other applicants. Only those above a certain threshold (typically the top 10-25%) are forwarded to human recruiters for review.

Common ATS Rejection Reasons

  • Incompatible file formats – Some systems struggle with PDFs or non-standard file types
  • Complex formatting – Tables, columns, headers/footers, and graphics often break parsing
  • Non-standard section headings – Using creative alternatives to "Experience" or "Education"
  • Missing keywords – Failure to include critical terms from the job description
  • Inconsistent dating formats – Mixing different date formats throughout your experience
  • Unrecognized fonts – Uncommon or decorative fonts that systems can't properly read

Our ATS Compatibility Checker Finds What's Holding You Back

Technical Format Analysis

  • File compatibility testing across major ATS platforms
  • Layout assessment for parsing errors
  • Header/footer detection and extraction verification
  • Table and column analysis for data loss risks
  • Image and graphic identification that may cause rejection
  • Font and character validation for readability issues

Content Structure Verification

  • Section heading recognition and standardization
  • Chronological ordering verification
  • Date format consistency and machine readability
  • Contact information parsing accuracy
  • Education and credential formatting assessment
  • Work experience structure compatibility

Keyword Optimization Analysis

  • Keyword density measurement against job descriptions
  • Industry terminology scanning for relevant terms
  • Skill categorization and match rate calculation
  • Acronym and abbreviation recognition testing
  • Semantic context analysis for keyword relevance
  • Missing keyword identification for optimization

The ATS Compatibility Advantage

3x

more likely to get interviews with an ATS-optimized resume

75%

of resumes with fixable issues are currently being filtered out

15+

major ATS platforms tested by our compatibility checker

What Our Users Say

"After months of sending applications with zero responses, I ran my resume through the ATS checker. It found issues with my two-column layout and missing keywords. After fixing these problems, I started getting interview calls within days."

Sarah L., Marketing Manager

"I was shocked to learn that my carefully designed resume with graphics and colors was being automatically rejected. The compatibility checker identified exactly what to fix, and my interview rate went from 0% to 35%."

David T., Software Engineer

Stop being filtered out before humans see your resume

Upload your resume for a free ATS compatibility check. In less than 60 seconds, you'll know exactly why your resume might be getting rejected and how to fix it.