Is a 70% ATS Score Good Enough to Get Shortlisted?

If you've scored a 70% on an ATS scanner, you might feel like you've passed the test. No, a 70% ATS score is generally not good enough for competitive roles. While it shows you have some relevant experience, a 70% will usually land your resume in the "B-pile," which means you'll only get a call if the "A-pile" (80%+) falls through.

Let's break down exactly what a 70% means, when it might actually be okay, and how to quickly push it to a safer zone.

What a 70% Score Actually Means

A 70% score tells the ATS that your formatting is likely legible, but you are failing on keyword density. You probably:

• Have a generic resume that isn't tailored to the specific job description.
• Are missing 3-4 critical hard skills or software requirements.
• Used acronyms instead of spelled-out words (e.g., "SEO" instead of "Search Engine Optimization"), confusing the scanner.

When is 70% Actually Okay?

There is one exception: if you are applying for a highly niche role where the applicant pool is incredibly small (under 20 people), a 70% might be enough for a human recruiter to take a look. However, if you are applying on LinkedIn or Naukri where roles get hundreds of applications, a 70% will be filtered out.

How to Improve a 70% Fast

The gap between 70% and 80% is purely keyword optimization. Look at the "Requirements" section of the job posting. Find the nouns (tools, processes, certifications) and ensure they exist verbatim in your skills or experience section.

To identify exactly which keywords you are missing without guessing, use RoastMyCV. We include a free ATS score check that highlights exactly where your resume is losing points, allowing you to bump a 70 to an 85 in just a few minutes.

Stop Settling for a 70%

A 70% means your application is highly vulnerable to being auto-rejected.

Find out what you're missing.Get a free ATS score and full roast at roastmycv.into identify exactly what tweaks will get you into the safe 80%+ zone.