75% of resumes get deleted by software before a human sees them. Not rejected. Deleted. The recruiter never knew you existed.
This happens because Applicant Tracking Systems parse resumes for keywords. Your resume says "built backend systems." The job posting says "developed REST APIs." Same work. Wrong words. Deleted.
Here are five free tools that fix this. Each solves a different problem. I'll tell you which one to use based on where you're stuck.
1. Resume Matcher β If You Keep Getting Ghosted
GitHub: https://github.com/srbhr/Resume-Matcher
Best for: People who apply to dozens of jobs and hear nothing back.
I built this because I was mass-applying and getting auto-rejected from roles I was qualified for. The problem was obvious once I saw it: my resume used different words than the job posting. ATS doesn't do synonyms.
Resume Matcher takes your master resume and a job description, then rewrites your resume to match. Not keyword stuffing. Actual rewriting. You edit the output, then download a PDF that parsers can read.
Why it works:
- Find the missing keywords that get you rejected
- Rewrites your resume so you stop guessing what ATS wants
- Four templates that parsers actually read without choking
βοΈ Resume Matcher on GitHub
2. Reactive Resume β If You Need a Resume Fast and Free
GitHub: https://github.com/amruthpillai/reactive-resume
Best for: People who need a working resume tonight without paying for Canva Pro.
Most resume builders bait you with free design, then put a paywall on the PDF export. Reactive Resume is fully open-source. No account. No watermark. No $15/month ransom for your own document.
Why it works:
- Download your PDF without creating an account or paying
- Export to JSON so you can version control with Git
- Templates designed for ATS parsing, not Instagram screenshots
βοΈ Reactive Resume on GitHub
3. OpenResume β If You Want to Test Your Current Resume
GitHub: https://github.com/xitanggg/open-resume
Best for: People who already have a resume and want to check if ATS can read it.
OpenResume has a parser. Upload your existing resume and watch what it extracts. If the parser mangles your job titles or misses your skills section, the ATS will do the same. Use it as a diagnostic before you apply anywhere.
Why it works:
- Parser shows you exactly what ATS sees (and misses)
- Runs in your browser with zero data sent to servers
- Builder included if your current resume fails the test
4. RenderCV β If You Want Version Control
GitHub: https://github.com/rendercv/rendercv
Best for: Engineers who want to manage their resumes like codebases.
Your resume content lives in a YAML file. Run a command. Get a PDF. Track changes in Git. Diff versions. Roll back mistakes. Switch templates by editing one line instead of reformatting the whole document.
Why it works:
- Git history for every change you make
- Template swaps without touching your content
- LaTeX rendering that looks sharp, not like a Word doc
5. LapisCV β If You Live in Markdown
GitHub: https://github.com/BingyanStudio/LapisCV
Best for: People who already use Obsidian, Typora, or VSCode for everything.
Write your resume in Markdown. Export to PDF. That's it. No new interface to learn. If you take notes in Markdown, write docs in Markdown, and manage your life in Markdown, your resume should live there too.
Why it works:
- Works inside tools you already use daily
- Edit text, see PDF update immediately
- Version control is trivial since it's just a text file
The Decision
Stuck in application black holes? Resume Matcher.
Need a resume built for free tonight? Reactive Resume.
Want to diagnose why your current resume isn't working? OpenResume.
Prefer managing documents like code? RenderCV.
Already living in Markdown? LapisCV.
Pick one. Build your resume. Apply to jobs. Stop optimizing which tool to use.
What's Next
Hey, I'm Saurabh Rai. I write about open-source tools, job hunting, and building in public. If this was useful, follow me on DEV to catch the next post in this series covering portfolio templates that actually get you interviews.
And if you're tired of guessing why applications disappear, give Resume Matcher a try. It's free, it's open-source, and I built it because I was stuck in the same rejection loop.
βοΈ Star Resume Matcher on GitHub
Now stop reading and go fix your resume.
Top comments (1)
This one is for all the OSS Resume Builders π
And to all the DEVs who want to get hired!