Published September 22, 2026 · 7 min read
Your CV score — also called your ATS score — determines whether your resume reaches a recruiter or gets auto-rejected. In India, most companies use ATS software to filter resumes automatically. If your score is below 75, you are likely being filtered out before anyone reads your resume. Here are 7 proven ways to improve your CV score and get more interview calls.
⚡ Before you start: Check your current ATS score for free at ScoreMyCV.in — it shows exactly which of these 7 areas you are failing in, so you know exactly what to fix first.
The single biggest reason for a low CV score is missing keywords. ATS systems search your resume for specific skills and tools that match the job description. If those words are not present, your score drops immediately.
How to fix it: Read the job description carefully and identify the key skills listed. Then make sure those exact words appear naturally in your Skills section, Summary, and experience bullets.
For a Data Analyst role, keywords to include: SQL, Power BI, Python, Excel, Tableau, DAX, Power Query, KPI, Dashboard, Data Cleaning, EDA, Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP.
For a Business Analyst role: Requirement Gathering, Stakeholder Management, Process Improvement, JIRA, Agile, BRD, UAT, Gap Analysis.
Many freshers skip the Summary section — this is a serious mistake. ATS systems check for a Summary section as part of your score. Without it, you lose points immediately.
Your summary should be 3-4 lines that mention your role, years of experience (or internship), key skills, and what you bring to the table. It should be keyword-rich and start with your target job title.
Example: "Data Analyst with 1 year of internship experience in dashboard development, SQL reporting, and KPI tracking. Proficient in Power BI, Advanced Excel, Python, and Tableau. Immediate joiner, open to relocate."
ATS systems check whether your bullet points start with strong action verbs. This signals achievement-oriented writing and is a key scoring factor.
Weak: "Responsible for creating dashboards in Power BI" Strong: "Developed interactive Power BI dashboards tracking 6 KPIs for HR leadership"
Action verbs that improve your ATS score: Developed, Analysed, Built, Implemented, Automated, Designed, Optimized, Improved, Delivered, Streamlined, Generated, Resolved, Validated, Managed, Led.
Aim for at least 8 bullet points starting with unique action verbs across your resume.
Resumes with numbers score higher on ATS and are more compelling to recruiters. Numbers make your achievements specific and credible.
Instead of: "Improved reporting process" Write: "Reduced manual reporting time by 40% through Excel automation"
Instead of: "Worked on SQL queries" Write: "Wrote optimised SQL queries across 5+ tables, reducing report generation time by 30%"
You do not need exact figures — reasonable estimates based on your actual work are fine. Even small numbers (2 projects, 3 dashboards, 5 KPIs) make a big difference.
ATS systems check for specific sections in your resume. Missing a section means losing points directly. Every resume must have:
✓ Summary / Professional Summary ✓ Technical Skills / Core Skills ✓ Experience / Internship ✓ Projects ✓ Education ✓ Certifications (if applicable)
Each section heading must be clearly labelled. Do not rename them to something creative — stick to standard names that ATS can recognise.
ATS systems verify your contact section for completeness. Missing any of these reduces your score:
✓ Email address ✓ Phone number (with country code — +91 for India) ✓ LinkedIn profile URL ✓ City and state (important for location-based filtering) ✓ "Open to Relocate" — add this if you are willing to move cities
Your LinkedIn URL should be a clean, custom URL (linkedin.com/in/yourname) — not the default long URL with random numbers.
ATS software cannot read content inside tables, text boxes, headers, footers, or multi-column layouts. Even if your resume looks great visually, the ATS may extract your text in the wrong order or miss sections entirely.
Rules for ATS-friendly formatting: ✓ Single-column layout only ✓ No tables for skills or contact info ✓ No text boxes or headers/footers ✓ Standard fonts: Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman ✓ Font size 10-12pt for body, 14-16pt for name ✓ Use bullet points, not dashes or symbols ✓ Save as .docx (Word) when submitting online — ATS reads Word better than PDF
| Factor | Max Score | How to Maximise |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Information | 10/10 | Email + Phone + LinkedIn + Location |
| Resume Sections | 25/25 | Summary, Skills, Experience, Education, Projects |
| Role-Specific Keywords | 30/30 | Match keywords from job description |
| Action Verbs | 20/20 | 8+ bullets starting with verbs from the ATS list |
| Quantified Achievements | 15/15 | Add numbers to 8+ bullet points |
Upload your resume and get an instant breakdown of exactly what is hurting your score and what to fix.
Check My CV Score Free →How can I improve my CV score quickly?
The fastest way to improve your CV score is to: (1) add missing role-specific keywords to your Skills section, (2) write a professional summary if you don't have one, (3) change weak bullet points to start with action verbs. These three changes alone can improve your score by 15-20 points.
What is a CV score and how is it calculated?
A CV score (also called ATS score) is a rating out of 100 that measures how well your resume is optimised for Applicant Tracking Systems. It is calculated based on contact information, resume sections, role-specific keywords, action verbs, and quantified achievements.
How many keywords should I add to improve my CV score?
Aim to match at least 80% of the role-specific keywords for your target job. For a Data Analyst role, this means including 15-20 relevant tools and skills. Check your keyword score on ScoreMyCV.in to see exactly which keywords you are missing.
Does CV score matter for freshers?
Yes, CV score matters especially for freshers because you are competing with many other applicants for the same role. A high ATS score ensures a recruiter actually reads your resume. Many freshers have great skills but low scores simply because of missing keywords and formatting issues.
Can I improve my CV score without work experience?
Yes. For freshers without full-time experience, focus on: adding internship projects with strong keywords and metrics, listing all relevant technical skills, adding certifications, and writing a strong summary that highlights your tools and what you can do.