Why keywords matter
Most large US employers run applications through an applicant tracking system (ATS). Recruiters search it for the skills and job titles in the job description, and many systems rank resumes by how well they match. A strong candidate can be missed simply because their resume says “built dashboards” when the advert asks for “Tableau”.
How the checker works
We look for more than 120 skills, tools and business skills in both texts, using the same skill list that tags the jobs on USA Jobs 24. The patterns are careful with names like C++, C#, .NET and Java vs JavaScript. Your score is the share of the job’s skills that your resume mentions. We also list other words and two-word phrases the job description repeats that your resume doesn’t use, which often include the job title, industry terms and certifications.
Using the results well
- Add a missing skill only if you really have it, and show it in context: “Built weekly sales dashboards in Tableau for 40 store managers.”
- Use the employer’s wording where it is honest to do so: if they say “customer success”, don’t only say “client support”.
- Put the most important matches in your summary and recent roles, where recruiters look first.
- Save your resume as a simple .docx or PDF without tables or text in images, so the ATS can read it.
More tips are in our guide to writing a resume that gets interviews.