The free ATS CV checker
built for UK jobs.
Score your CV in 60 seconds, spot missing keywords, and instantly see live UK jobs that match your profile. The only UK tool that does both.
01 — Start your scan
Upload your CV. Get your score.
From Reed, NHS Jobs, Indeed UK, Civil Service Jobs, LinkedIn UK…
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See UK jobs that match your CV.
Only UK tool that scans your CV and shows matching UK jobs in one click. After your ATS scan, discover live roles you're 80%+ ready for.
Optimised for British recruiters, not US ones.
Built for UK hiring conventions: British English spelling, UK date formats (DD/MM/YYYY), A-levels and GCSEs, personal statements, NHS pay bands, Civil Service Success Profiles, and FTSE 100 keyword conventions.
Unlike US-first tools (Jobscan, Enhancv, ResumeWorded), SpeedCV scores your CV against the exact ATS configurations used by UK employers. Our AI engine is trained on British recruitment practices — not adapted from a US model.
What is an ATS in the UK?
Most UK employers — NHS Trusts, Civil Service departments, FTSE 100 companies, and recruitment agencies (Reed, Hays, Robert Half) — rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to automatically filter CVs before a human recruiter sees them.
According to CIPD research, over 75% of large UK employers use an ATS as their first screening step. Your CV must pass this bot filter to reach a hiring manager. If your CV isn't ATS-compatible — wrong format, missing keywords, broken structure — it gets rejected automatically, regardless of your qualifications.
How ATS systems work in the UK.
Modern ATS systems follow a 3-step pipeline. Understanding each step helps you optimise your CV accordingly.
CV Parsing
The ATS extracts text from your CV and structures it into fields (name, work history, skills, qualifications, dates).
Keyword Matching
The ATS compares your CV against the job description and scores semantic + exact keyword matches.
Ranking & Filtering
Your CV receives a relevance score (0-100%). CVs below threshold never reach the recruiter.
6 mistakes that get UK candidates rejected.
Based on blind tests against Trac and Oleeo, these are the most frequent reasons UK CVs fail ATS screening.
Columns, tables or graphics
ATS parsers extract text linearly — multi-column layouts break parsing completely.
Not matching the JD language
Exact and semantic keyword match is the single strongest ranking factor.
Over-styling
Stick to standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia.
Missing UK personal statement
UK CVs need a 150-200 word personal statement at the top. US-style summaries don't cut it.
Wrong file format
Avoid .pages, .odt, .rtf. Use .docx (best parsing) or PDF/A.
Headers with contact info
Some ATS ignore header regions — put contact details in the body.
UK CV vs US Resume.
The differences aren't cosmetic — each field below affects how ATS systems parse and score your CV.
| Feature | UK CV | US Resume |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 2 pages standard | 1 page preferred |
| Photo | No (Equality Act 2010) | No |
| Personal statement | Yes, 150-200 words | Summary optional |
| Dates format | DD/MM/YYYY | MM/DD/YYYY |
| Qualifications | GCSEs, A-levels, BTEC | High School GPA |
| References | "Available on request" | Separate document |
| Spelling | British (organised, colour) | American (organized, color) |
We test against real UK ATS systems.
SpeedCV mirrors the exact configuration of the systems used by UK employers — not generic ATS simulations.
ATS CV checker for major UK hubs.
Analyse your CV against local job markets. Each UK city has its own dominant sectors and ATS configurations — SpeedCV tailors the analysis accordingly.
London
142 live jobs45,000+ London jobs analysed. Top sectors: finance (Canary Wharf, City), tech (Shoreditch), media (Soho). Dominant ATS: Workday, SuccessFactors.
Check my CV for London jobs →Manchester
38 live jobsTech hub of the North. MediaCityUK (BBC, ITV), fintech startups, creative agencies. Keywords heavy on digital, agile, broadcast.
Check my CV for Manchester jobs →Birmingham
24 live jobsFinancial services (HSBC UK HQ), professional services, manufacturing. Heavy Civil Service presence — Oleeo ATS prevalent.
Check my CV for Birmingham jobs →Leeds
18 live jobsLegal sector hub (DLA Piper, Pinsent Masons), digital media (Sky, Channel 4 regional), retail HQs.
Check my CV for Leeds jobs →Glasgow
12 live jobsFinance (Barclays, JPMorgan), energy (BP, Shell), tech (Skyscanner). Scottish public sector large employer.
Check my CV for Glasgow jobs →Edinburgh
14 live jobsFinance (Standard Life, RBS), government (Scottish Parliament), tech startups (Administrate, FanDuel).
Check my CV for Edinburgh jobs →Bristol
9 live jobsAerospace (Airbus, Rolls-Royce), tech (Dyson, Graphcore), media (BBC Bristol). Strong engineering CV demand.
Check my CV for Bristol jobs →Cambridge
7 live jobsTech (ARM, Microsoft Research), biotech (AstraZeneca), academic research. Deep specialist keywords expected.
Check my CV for Cambridge jobs →Why UK job seekers choose SpeedCV.
Built in the UK
For UK hiring standards — not adapted from a US tool.
60-second results
No upload delays, instant AI analysis.
No sign-up required
First scan free, no email needed.
Live matching UK jobs
Only UK tool that shows matching jobs post-scan.
GDPR + UK DPA 2018
Full compliance, UK-hosted infrastructure.
Why use an ATS checker?
Without an ATS check, you're flying blind. Here's what the data says about UK job applications.
An ATS checker tells you exactly which keywords are missing, which sections are weak, and how your CV compares to the job's requirements — before you apply.
Beat the ATS in 3 steps.
Three simple steps. Free. No account needed for your first scan.
Upload your CV
PDF or Word · drag & drop · no email required
Paste the UK job description
From Reed, NHS Jobs, Indeed UK, Civil Service Jobs
Get your score + matching jobs
Score 0-100, missing keywords, UK jobs that match
Frequently asked questions.
Related tools.
Stop getting rejected by bots.
Check your CV now — get your ATS score and UK jobs that match, in the time it takes to make a cup of tea.
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