Best Resume Scanners: How to Scan Your Resume for Problems

A resume scanner can help you identify problems in your resume before you send it to an employer. These tools can analyze your resume for keywords, formatting, skills, readability, and other factors that may affect how well your resume matches a job.

Resume scanners can be especially useful when you're applying for jobs online and want a second check before submitting your application. However, a resume scanner should be treated as a helpful review tool, not as a guarantee that your resume will pass an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or result in an interview.

What Is a Resume Scanner?

A resume scanner is an online tool that analyzes the content and formatting of your resume. Depending on the service, a scanner may look for:

Some scanners simply analyze the resume itself. Others allow you to enter a job description so the tool can determine how closely your resume matches the position.

This second type can be particularly useful because a resume isn't necessarily strong simply because it is well written. It also needs to demonstrate the qualifications relevant to the job you're applying for.

Why Use a Resume Scanner?

It's easy to become familiar with your own resume after reading it dozens of times. You may stop noticing:

• Repeated words
• Missing information
• Weak descriptions
• Formatting inconsistencies
• Unclear job titles
• Missing keywords
• Sections that need improvement

A resume scanner provides another perspective. It can quickly analyze the document and point out areas that deserve closer attention. This doesn't mean you should make every change the scanner recommends. Instead, use the results as a checklist for reviewing your resume.

How Resume Scanners Work

The exact process varies by service, but most resume scanners follow a similar process.

1. Upload Your Resume

You begin by uploading your resume to the scanner. The service reads the information contained in the document and analyzes its structure and content.

Some scanners accept PDF files, while others may also accept Word documents or other formats.

2. Add a Job Description

If the scanner supports job matching, you can usually paste the job description for the position you're targeting. This allows the tool to compare your resume against the requirements and terminology in the posting.

3. Review the Analysis

The scanner may provide:

• An overall score
• Keyword recommendations
• Missing skills
• Formatting suggestions
• Content recommendations
• ATS-related feedback
• Areas that could be strengthened

The exact results depend on the tool.

4. Make Appropriate Changes

Review the recommendations and determine which ones actually apply to your situation. If a scanner identifies a skill you genuinely have but failed to mention, adding it to the appropriate section may improve your resume.

If the scanner recommends adding a qualification you don't have, ignore the recommendation. Your resume must remain accurate.

What Does a Resume Scanner Look For?

Different scanners use different methods, but several areas are commonly analyzed.

Keywords

Keywords are terms that appear in the job description and relate to the position. These can include:

If the job description asks for experience with a particular software program and you have that experience, your resume should make that qualification clear.

A scanner may identify the term as missing if it doesn't appear anywhere in your resume.

Skills

Resume scanners may compare the skills on your resume with the skills mentioned in the job description. For example, an employer may be looking for someone with:

• Project management
• Microsoft Excel
• Data analysis
• Customer service
• Team leadership

If you have those skills but your resume doesn't clearly communicate them, a scanner may identify the difference. This can help you determine whether your resume needs to be more specific.

Job Titles

Job titles can also be relevant when a resume is compared with a job description. If your previous position had a different title but involved responsibilities closely related to the target position, your work experience should clearly describe those responsibilities.

Don't change your actual job title to something you didn't hold simply to match the job posting. Instead, use the description of your work to demonstrate the relevant experience.

Work Experience

A scanner may evaluate whether your work experience contains relevant information. It can look at:

Strong work experience descriptions should communicate what you actually did and, when possible, the results you achieved.

Resume Scanners and ATS

Resume scanners are often associated with Applicant Tracking Systems. An ATS is software employers can use to collect, organize, and process job applications.

Depending on the system and how the employer configured it, an ATS may evaluate information such as:

This is why many resume scanners provide an "ATS score" or similar rating. However, there is no universal ATS score. Different employers can use different systems and different screening criteria.

A resume that receives an 85% score from one resume scanner won't necessarily receive the same result from an employer's ATS. The useful part of an ATS analysis is the specific feedback it provides, not simply the number attached to it.

What Makes a Resume ATS-Friendly?

If you're applying online, a straightforward resume format is generally a safer choice. Consider using:

• Standard section headings
• Readable fonts
• Clear text
• Conventional resume sections
• Consistent formatting
• Simple layouts
• Limited graphics
• Minimal decorative elements

Avoid placing important information inside images, graphics, or other elements that may make the text harder to process. A simple resume can still look professional.

You don't need to sacrifice appearance to create an ATS-friendly document. Single-Column vs. Multi-Column Resumes Many modern resume templates use two or more columns.

Although these designs can look attractive, they can make the document more complicated to process depending on the ATS and how the resume was created.

If you're concerned about compatibility with online application systems, a simple single-column resume is often the safer choice. This allows information to follow a straightforward reading order.

Resume Scanner Scores

Some resume scanners provide a numerical score. For example, you might receive a score based on:

A low score doesn't necessarily mean your resume is bad. It may simply mean that the tool found several areas that could be improved. Likewise, a high score doesn't guarantee that an employer will be interested in your application.

Don't spend hours trying to achieve a perfect score. Instead, look at the reasons behind the score and determine whether the suggested improvements are actually useful.

How to Scan Your Resume Effectively

You can get more useful results by using a scanner as part of a larger review process.

Start With an Accurate Resume

Upload a resume that accurately represents your experience. Don't add information simply because you think it will produce a better score.

Use the Actual Job Description

When possible, scan your resume against the specific job you're applying for. This gives the tool a better understanding of the qualifications you're trying to demonstrate.

Review Missing Keywords

Look at the terms the scanner identifies. Determine whether they accurately describe your experience. If you have the skill but failed to mention it, consider adding it naturally to your resume.

Examine Formatting Suggestions

Check whether the scanner identifies potential formatting issues. Make sure your resume remains readable and consistent.

Review Your Work Experience

Look at your bullet points and determine whether they clearly explain your responsibilities and accomplishments. Replace vague descriptions with more specific information when possible.

Scan the Updated Version

After making appropriate changes, you can run the resume through the scanner again. This can help you see whether the issues identified during the first scan have been addressed.

Don't Add Keywords You Don't Have

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers can make is treating resume scanning like a game. If a scanner says you are missing a particular skill, that doesn't mean you should automatically add it.

Suppose the job requires experience with a software program you've never used. Adding that software to your resume simply to improve the scanner's score would be misleading.

Instead, focus on qualifications you actually have. A resume should accurately represent your experience regardless of what an automated tool recommends.

Don't Rewrite Your Resume Just to Increase the Score

A resume scanner is a tool, not the employer. If changing a sentence increases your score but makes the resume less natural or less accurate, the higher score isn't necessarily an improvement.

For example, stuffing a resume with repeated keywords can make the document awkward to read. Use keywords naturally. Your goal is to make your qualifications clear to both automated systems and human readers.

Resume Scanner vs. Resume Checker The terms "resume scanner" and "resume checker" are sometimes used interchangeably. Both can analyze your resume and identify potential problems.

However, different services may focus on different features. A resume scanner may emphasize:

• Keyword matching
• ATS analysis
• Job description comparison
• Skills matching

A resume checker may provide broader feedback involving:

• Grammar
• Formatting
• Content
• Readability
• Structure
• Resume quality

There can be considerable overlap between the two. When comparing services, focus on the actual features rather than the name of the product. Resume Scanner vs. Human Review

Automated scanning can be fast and useful, but it isn't the same as having a person review your resume. A scanner can identify that a keyword is missing.

A human can determine whether that keyword belongs in your resume and how it should be incorporated. A scanner can identify that a bullet point is vague.

A person may be better able to understand the significance of the accomplishment behind that bullet. For this reason, the strongest approach is to use automated tools as an additional review step rather than your only source of feedback.

Protect Your Information When Using Resume Scanners

Before uploading your resume to any online service, review the company's privacy practices. Your resume may contain personal and professional information, including:

Understand how the service handles uploaded documents and personal information. You may also want to remove unnecessary personal information before uploading your resume for analysis.

Common Resume Problems a Scanner Can Help Find

A resume scanner may help identify problems such as:

Missing Keywords

Relevant terms from the job description may not appear in your resume.

Missing Skills

Skills requested by the employer may not be clearly represented.

Weak Descriptions

Your work experience may describe responsibilities without demonstrating accomplishments.

Formatting Issues

Inconsistent headings, spacing, fonts, or other formatting can make a resume look less polished.

Excessive Repetition

The same words or phrases may appear too frequently.

Poor Job Matching

Your resume may not clearly demonstrate how your background relates to the position.

Missing Information

Important sections or details may be absent. These findings can give you a useful starting point for improving your resume.

Are Resume Scanners Worth Using?

A resume scanner can be worth using if you want an additional way to review your resume before submitting an application. It's particularly useful when you're applying for positions online and want to compare your resume with specific job descriptions.

The biggest benefit is not necessarily the score. The real value comes from identifying potential problems that you can evaluate and correct. A scanner can save time by quickly identifying keywords, skills, formatting issues, and other areas that deserve attention.

Use Resume Scanning as One Part of Your Job Search

A resume scanner can help you find potential problems, but it shouldn't become the entire resume-writing process. Start with accurate information about your experience. Compare your resume with the job you're applying for. Review the scanner's recommendations carefully, make only the changes that genuinely improve your resume, and then review the finished document yourself.

Don't add qualifications you don't have just to increase a score, and don't assume that a high score guarantees that an employer's ATS will accept your resume.

The most useful resume scanner is one that helps you understand where your resume can be improved. The final goal is not to create a resume that pleases one particular tool. It's to create a clear, accurate, professional resume that makes your qualifications easy for both automated systems and employers to understand.