MEC-00 — Scanned / image-only PDF
Short answer
MEC-00 checks whether the PDF contains a real text layer. If character density per page area is near zero, the CV is a scanned image: the ATS reads nothing and your application is stored as an empty record. It is a hard blocker — when it fails, the final score is capped at 45.
What the ATS sees
- (empty)
- name: — email: — experience: —
PDF with a text layer
- Ahmet Yılmaz
- Software Engineer — Trendyol · Mar 2022 – Present
Impact
45
Score cap
hard blocker
0%
ATS readability
no text layer
What it checks
- Extracted character count and density per page
- Full-page embedded image instead of a text layer
- Whether extracted text splits into meaningful words
Why it matters
An ATS cannot extract text. Your name, email and every skill are missing from the database, so the application looks empty and gets auto-rejected. A recruiter never sees this CV.
How to fix it
Rewrite the document in Word, Google Docs or the resuzu builder and use "Export as PDF". Quick test: open the PDF and try to select a sentence with the mouse — if you cannot, neither can the ATS.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether my CV is scanned?
Open the PDF and try to select and copy a sentence. If selection is impossible, the file has no text layer — that is exactly what the ATS sees.
Related rules
Guides That Cover This Rule
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