CV score: check the overall quality of your CV

What gets scored

• Structure: are sections in a logical, standard order and clearly labelled
• ATS-friendliness: is the layout, font and file type likely to parse correctly
• Clarity and length: is the CV concise, free of jargon, and an appropriate length
• Impact: do bullet points describe achievements and results, not just duties
• Consistency: are dates, tenses and formatting used consistently throughout
• Contact and essentials: are all necessary contact details present and correctly formatted

How the overall score is calculated

Each category above contributes to an overall score out of 100. Structural and ATS issues are weighted heavily because they can prevent a CV from being read at all, regardless of how strong the content is. Content quality issues, like weak bullet points, are weighted next, since they affect how convincing the CV is once a human reads it.

Typical score bands

The most common issues we see

By far the most frequent issue is duty-based rather than achievement-based bullet points. 'Managed social media accounts' scores lower than 'Grew social media following by 40% over six months through a consistent content calendar', even though both describe the same underlying job.

The second most common issue is inconsistent formatting: mixing date formats, inconsistent use of bold text, or switching between past and present tense for current versus previous roles. These are quick fixes that noticeably improve how polished a CV appears.

ATS-friendliness checks explained

The tool checks for layout elements known to cause parsing problems, including multi-column designs, text inside images or icons, tables used for layout rather than data, and headers or footers containing essential information like your phone number. It also checks that section headings use conventional wording, since some parsers rely on recognising standard labels like 'Experience' or 'Education'.

Length and file format guidance

The score also considers whether your CV length suits your experience level (see the CV Builder page for detailed guidance on one versus two pages) and whether the file is saved in a widely compatible format. PDF is generally safe for most modern ATS systems and preserves formatting, but if a job application explicitly requests a Word document, follow that instruction.

Turning your score into next steps

After scoring, focus first on any issue flagged as affecting ATS parsing, since these can block your CV before it is ever read. Then work through content suggestions category by category. If you plan to apply to a specific role, follow up with the CV vs Job Match tool to tailor keywords, or use Improve my CV to have your bullet points rewritten automatically.