Question 1

How do I check my resume against a job description?

Accepted Answer

Upload your resume as a PDF or DOCX file, then paste the full text of the job description. ATSAlign picks out the skills and requirements the posting asks for and checks which of them your resume uses. A free check shows your match score and the first 2 missing must-have keywords. The full keyword list and AI rewrites come with ATSAlign Pro.

Question 2

Why should I check my resume against the job description before applying?

Accepted Answer

Because the words matter. Many employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to collect and parse applications, and recruiters search and filter them. Some systems also grade or rank applications against the posting. If your resume describes your work in different words from the posting, those searches may not find you. The USAJOBS Help Center makes the same point to federal applicants: "if the qualifications section says you need experience with MS Project, you need to use the words MS Project in your resume." Required screening questions, sometimes called knockout questions, can also screen people out. No outside tool can see how a particular employer has set up its ATS, so treat your match score as a guide.

Question 3

Is this tool free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You need no account and no credit card for your first check: guests get 1 free check a day, and a free account gets 2. A free check shows your full match score and the first 2 missing must-have keywords. The full keyword list and AI rewrites come with ATSAlign Pro, a one-time pass that never renews.

Question 4

What job description sources does this work with?

Accepted Answer

Any source. ATSAlign checks the text you paste, so you can copy a job description from a job board, a company career site or a recruiter's email. Copy the whole posting, including the requirements and qualifications, so the check sees every must-have.

Question 5

What do I do after checking my resume against the job description?

Accepted Answer

Look at the missing must-have keywords. For each one that is true for you, use the posting's own words in a real bullet or in your skills section. For example, if a civilian posting says "preventive maintenance" and your military resume says "Conducted PMCS", describe the same work in the posting's words. Leave out anything you have not done, then check again. There is no official passing score, because every employer sets up its ATS differently, so aim to cover the must-have skills and terms the posting repeats.

Question 6

Can I check my resume against multiple job descriptions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is worth doing for every role you apply to, since each posting asks for its own mix of skills and terms. As a guest you get 1 free check a day, a free account gets 2, and ATSAlign Pro lifts that daily limit (fair use applies).

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