Start with essential gaps
Review terms marked Essential first. The checker assigns this label when a term appears near wording such as essential, required, must or proven.
Free UK CV tool
Check how closely your CV matches the job advert.
Get a transparent keyword match score, then see the job titles, skills, qualifications and action verbs found or missing. No account, upload or AI analysis.
Runs in your browserJob-specific resultScoring method explained
How to use the result
Treat the score as a coverage check, not a pass mark.
Employers configure recruitment systems differently, and people still assess the strength and truth of your evidence. This tool deliberately shows its inputs and outputs instead of claiming to predict an interview.
Add evidence, not a keyword list
Where a missing term is true, connect it to a role, project, qualification or measurable result. Context helps the recruiter judge your actual capability.
Check the final file separately
Pasted text cannot test parsing or layout. Follow the advert's file instructions and make sure the submitted PDF or DOCX contains selectable text.
Evidence checked
Why the checker focuses on these terms.
UK careers guidance recommends tailoring a CV to the job advert and naming relevant qualifications. Recruiter and ATS guidance also identifies job titles, skills, certifications and exact terminology as searchable information. The sources below support the method; WorkCV's score bands are guidance, not an industry standard.
Research reviewed 28 June 2026.
FAQ
ATS keyword checker questions.
Is this a real ATS score?+
It is a transparent keyword-coverage estimate, not a score from an employer's applicant tracking system. ATS products and recruiter settings differ, so no public checker can guarantee the score or decision an employer will produce.
How is the match percentage calculated?+
The checker extracts recognised job titles, skills and tools, qualifications, certifications and action verbs from the advert. Terms near words such as essential, required or must, and terms repeated in the advert, receive more weight. It then checks for those terms and common word variations in your CV.
Should I add every missing keyword?+
No. Add a missing term only if it accurately describes your experience, qualification or skill. Where it is true, use it naturally in a bullet that shows what you did and the result. Never claim a qualification or capability you do not have.
Does WorkCV save the text I paste?+
No. This checker runs in your browser and does not upload or save either text input. Clearing the page removes the pasted content.
Does this check whether my CV file can be parsed?+
No. Pasted text cannot reveal layout or file-format problems. Follow the vacancy instructions and use a clean text-based file. If the employer requires DOCX, do not submit a PDF instead.