Question 1

What is ATS First?

Accepted Answer

ATS First is a job application toolkit built around one goal: getting your resume past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and in front of human recruiters. The platform combines four main tools. The AI Resume Builder creates professional, ATS-safe resumes with customizable templates and AI-generated bullet points. The Cover Letter Builder pairs matching templates with an AI writing assistant. The free ATS Resume Checker scores your resume from 0 to 100 against a job description and lists the exact fixes that will raise your score. And the AI Interview Coach lets you practice role-specific interview questions with instant feedback.

You can build, edit, and check documents for free — the free plan includes 3 ATS checks and 3 PDF downloads every month. A one-time Pro pass unlocks premium templates, unlimited checks, and unlimited PDF and DOCX downloads. There is no subscription and nothing auto-renews.

Question 2

What is an ATS and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software employers use to collect, parse, and rank job applications before a recruiter reads them. When you apply online, the ATS converts your resume into plain text, extracts your job titles, skills, education, and dates, and scores your application against the keywords in the job description. Recruiters then work from that ranked list — resumes that parse badly or miss key terms may never be seen by a human at all. This matters because ATS use is now the norm, not the exception: the vast majority of Fortune 500 companies and most mid-sized employers filter applications this way. A qualified candidate can still be screened out by a two-column layout, a graphic-heavy template, or missing keywords. Optimizing for the ATS — standard section headings, a clean single-column layout, and language mirrored from the job posting — is exactly what our resume builder and ATS checker are designed to do.

Question 3

Is ATS First free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can build, edit, and preview resumes and cover letters completely free, and the free plan also includes 3 ATS score checks and 3 PDF downloads every month. A one-time Pro pass removes the limits and unlocks premium templates and DOCX export — see the Pricing section below for the full free-vs-paid breakdown.

Question 4

How does the AI Resume Builder work?

Accepted Answer

The builder walks you through your resume section by section — contact details, summary, work experience, education, skills — and the AI helps at each step: it can generate achievement-focused bullet points, suggest stronger phrasing, and keep your wording aligned with what ATS keyword matching rewards. You see a live preview the whole time, and you can switch templates or adjust colors, fonts, and spacing without re-entering anything. You don't have to start from scratch, either: upload an existing resume in PDF or DOCX format and the builder parses it into editable sections, so you can improve the content and apply a cleaner template. Every template is designed to parse correctly in ATS software — single-column layouts, standard headings, no graphics or tables. Building, editing, and previewing are free; the free plan includes 3 PDF downloads per month, and a Pro pass adds premium templates, DOCX export, and unlimited downloads without ATS First branding.

Question 5

What file formats can I download my resume in?

Accepted Answer

You can download your resume as a PDF on every plan — the most universally accepted format, and one that keeps your formatting consistent across devices and platforms. A Pro pass also unlocks DOCX export, which is useful for employers or older ATS installations that specifically ask for a Word document.

Question 6

Are the resume templates ATS-friendly?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! All our templates are designed with ATS compatibility in mind. They use clean formatting, standard section headings, and proper document structure that ATS systems can easily parse. We avoid graphics, tables, and other elements that can confuse ATS scanners.

Question 7

Can I upload my existing resume?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can upload your existing resume in PDF or DOCX format. Our system will parse your content and import it into the builder, where you can edit, improve, and apply professional templates to give it a fresh look.

Question 8

How many resumes can I create?

Accepted Answer

On the free plan you can keep one saved resume and one saved cover letter in your account. A Pro pass removes the cap, so you can save unlimited versions — one tailored resume per role, industry, or company — without starting from scratch each time.

Question 9

How does the Cover Letter Builder work?

Accepted Answer

Our Cover Letter Builder makes it easy to create personalized, professional cover letters. Start by selecting a template, then fill in your details. Our AI assistant helps you craft compelling content that highlights your qualifications and matches the job requirements.

Question 10

Can I customize the cover letter templates?

Accepted Answer

Yes! All our cover letter templates are fully customizable. You can change colors, fonts, spacing, and layout to match your personal style or complement your resume design. You can also edit all text content to perfectly tailor your letter for each application.

Question 11

Does the AI help write cover letter content?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our AI writing assistant analyzes your experience and the job description to suggest relevant phrases, achievements, and keywords. It helps you write compelling content that resonates with recruiters and demonstrates your fit for the role.

Question 12

How accurate is the ATS scoring?

Accepted Answer

Our ATS checker simulates the same checks that major systems like Taleo, Workday, and Greenhouse run on a resume: whether the file parses into clean text, whether standard sections (summary, work experience, education, skills) are detected, how well your keywords match the target job description, and whether your bullet points contain concrete, quantified achievements. Formatting hazards like tables, text boxes, and graphics are flagged too. An honest caveat: every ATS vendor scores differently and most keep their algorithms private, so no tool — ours included — can promise your exact number inside a specific employer's system. Treat the score as a reliable directional signal rather than a guarantee. Because each flagged issue comes with a specific recommendation, the practical workflow is simple: fix the highest-impact items, re-upload, and watch the score move. The free plan lets you check up to 3 resumes every month.

Question 13

What does the ATS score mean?

Accepted Answer

The ATS score is a 0–100 rating of how well your resume will survive automated screening. It aggregates several sub-checks: parseability (can software extract your text cleanly), section structure (are standard headings like Work Experience and Skills present), keyword match against the job description you're targeting, and content quality signals such as quantified achievements and complete contact details. As a rule of thumb: 80 or above means your resume is well optimized and should pass most ATS filters. 60–79 means it will likely parse, but keyword gaps or formatting warnings are costing you ranking positions. Below 60 signals structural problems — often layout or missing sections — that can get you filtered out before a recruiter ever looks. Remember the score is job-specific: the same resume can score 85 against one job description and 55 against another, so re-check each time you tailor your resume for a new application.

Question 14

How can I improve my ATS score?

Accepted Answer

Run a check and the report lists the exact issues holding your score down, each with a specific recommendation. The highest-impact fixes are usually the same few: mirror the exact keywords and job title from the job description (if they say "JavaScript", don't write "JS"); use standard section headings like Work Experience, Education, and Skills; switch to a clean single-column layout with no tables, text boxes, or graphics; start bullets with action verbs and quantify results with numbers; and make sure your contact information is complete and at the top of the document. Then re-upload and re-check — scores typically improve noticeably after the formatting and keyword fixes alone. The free plan includes 3 checks per month, which is enough to iterate on one application; a Pro pass removes the cap. For the full method, our blog post "How to Improve Your ATS Score" walks through a 20-point checklist.

Question 15

What features are free vs. paid?

Accepted Answer

The free plan covers a complete job application: build and edit a resume and a cover letter with the basic templates, save one of each to your account, run 3 ATS resume checks per month, and download 3 PDFs per month (free exports carry a small "Made with ATS First" line). The ATS checker's core report — your score, detected issues, and recommendations — is free with a login; some advanced analysis sections are part of Pro. A Pro pass removes the ceilings: unlimited ATS checks, every premium template, unlimited saved resumes and cover letters, unlimited PDF downloads with no branding, DOCX export, and the AI cover letter generator. Pro is sold as a one-time pass (7-day, 1-month, or 3-month) rather than a subscription, so there is no recurring charge to remember to cancel — see "How does Pro pricing work?" below for the details.

Question 16

How does Pro pricing work?

Accepted Answer

Pro is a one-time payment for a fixed period, not a subscription. Choose a 7-Day Pass (currently ₹199) for an interview happening this week, a 1-Month Pass (₹499) for an active job search, or a 3-Month Pass (₹999) to cover a full job-search season. Every pass includes the same features — unlimited ATS checks, premium templates, and unlimited PDF and DOCX downloads with no branding — the only difference is how long it lasts. There is no auto-renewal and no card kept on file: when your pass ends, your account simply drops back to the free plan. Your saved resumes and cover letters stay in your account, and nothing is charged again unless you decide to buy a new pass. Payments are processed securely through Razorpay, which accepts cards, UPI, net banking, and popular wallets.

Question 17

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), UPI payments, net banking, and popular digital wallets. All payments are processed securely through Razorpay.

Question 18

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer refunds for downloads that have technical issues or don't match the preview. If you're not satisfied with your purchase, contact us within 7 days at support@atsfirst.com with your order details, and we'll process your refund.

Question 19

Is my data secure?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We take data security seriously. All data is transmitted using SSL encryption, and we never share your personal information with third parties. Your resume content is stored securely and only accessible to you. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

Question 20

Do I need an account to use ATS First?

Accepted Answer

You can use the resume builder and ATS checker without an account. However, creating a free account allows you to save your work, access your documents from any device, and download your completed documents.

Question 21

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

To delete your account and all associated data, please contact us at support@atsfirst.com from the email address associated with your account. We'll process your request within 48 hours and permanently remove all your data from our systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

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Cover Letter Builder

ATS Checker & Scorer

Pricing & Payments

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