Frequently asked questions

Getting started

Is ATSunlock free?

Yes. Create a free account to check your CV, see role suggestions, make manual edits and build resumes. Your first tailored rewrite is on the house.

Do I need an account?

Yes, a free one. Log in or create an account to check your CV, build resumes and write cover letters; it only takes a name, email and password.

Which files can I upload?

PDF, DOCX or TXT files up to 5 MB, and PDFs up to 20 pages. Scanned PDFs without selectable text can’t be read — paste the text instead.

Can I start without an existing CV?

Yes. Choose “Create a resume” to start from one of the tested templates and write your CV with a live A4 preview.

Can I write a cover letter too?

Yes. Choose a cover letter template, write your letter with a live preview and download it as a PDF or text file. If you’ve built a resume here, you can fill in your details from it. Letters are saved to your account, like resumes.

Scores & checks

Is the score an employer’s ATS result?

No. It estimates how clearly your CV text reads and which job skills it shows. It cannot predict whether a specific employer’s ATS will pass it.

How is the readiness score worked out?

Your CV text is assessed against five criteria, which add up to an estimated readiness score. Each criterion is shown on its own with suggestions you can expand.

What are the suggested roles based on?

Up to three UK roles drawn from your CV, each with quotes from your CV as evidence and gaps to check. Suitability and seniority are estimates, not judgements.

How does the job match checklist work?

Add a job title or paste a job advert and you’ll see which of its skills your CV already shows and which are missing.

Tailored rewrites

Will a rewrite invent experience?

No. The standard rewrite can change wording, structure and emphasis but only uses facts from your CV. Every draft is checked line by line against your original, and job requirements you don’t meet stay out of the CV.

Can I review changes before using them?

Yes. The draft is shown beside your original with source-coverage and wording-change indicators, and anything the check flags is highlighted. Applying the draft is up to you.

Do manual edits cost anything?

No. Editing your CV yourself is always free, and applying a draft you’ve already generated does not use another rewrite.

Privacy & data

What happens to my CV?

CV text is sent to Google Gemini for analysis. A generated draft is held in server memory for up to 10 minutes to recover retries; it is not saved permanently. Resumes and cover letters you build, including any profile photo, are saved to your account.

Is my original file uploaded?

No. Your file is read in your browser and stays there; only the extracted text is sent for analysis.

Is my work saved if I reload?

Resumes and cover letters you build are saved to your account automatically as you type. Versions you save from the ATS check with “Save to My Resumes” are kept in your account too. A CV you’re checking and its drafts live in the current browser tab until you save them, so save or download before leaving.

What happens to my chat messages?

Messages to the assistant are sent to Google Gemini to write a reply and aren’t saved. If you rate a reply, only the rating is kept, not the conversation.

Downloads

How do I get my finished CV?

Download a text copy or print to PDF from the preview. The A4 preview matches what prints.

See how your CV reads

Free readiness check in about a minute with a free account.

Check your CV