Free CV Format Checker
Check your CV format for ATS compatibility. Free test for fonts, columns, tables, headers, file format, and parsing issues.
The problem
Your CV content might be excellent, but if the format breaks the ATS parser, the content never reaches a human. The most common parsing failures are formatting issues: multi-column layouts, text in headers, custom fonts, and tables.
How it works
Upload your CV (PDF or Word). The free format checker tests 7 formatting areas: file format, font compatibility, layout structure (single vs multi-column), header/footer content, tables and text boxes, section headers, and date format. You get a pass/fail for each.
What you get
- ✓ 7-point format compatibility test - free
- ✓ Checks fonts, columns, tables, headers, file format, dates, section names
- ✓ Specific fix instructions for each failed check
- ✓ Full content audit with keyword analysis (1 credit)
Frequently asked questions
What file formats can I check?
PDF and Word (.docx). The checker tests whether the format is ATS-safe and whether the text can be extracted cleanly by a parser.
Will the checker fix my CV for me?
The free checker tells you what to fix and how. The full CV audit (1 credit) provides specific rewrite suggestions for content, and the CV Builder lets you rebuild in an ATS-safe template.
Is a two-column resume always bad?
For ATS applications, yes. Multi-column layouts cause the parser to read across instead of down, scrambling your content. If you are emailing a CV directly to a recruiter (no ATS), a two-column layout is fine.