Key Takeaways

  • 75% of U.S. employers use automated applicant tracking systems to screen resumes before a human reviews them (Harvard Business School & Accenture, 2021)
  • The most common ATS failures are missing keywords, incompatible formatting, and incorrect file types
  • ResumeGeni scores your resume across 8 parsing layers — modeled on the same steps enterprise ATS platforms like Workday, Greenhouse, and Taleo use to evaluate candidates

How ATS Resume Scoring Works

Applicant tracking systems parse your resume into structured data — extracting your name, contact info, work history, skills, and education — then score how well that data matches the job requirements. Many ATS rejections happen because the parser couldn't extract critical fields, not because the candidate wasn't qualified.

LayerWhat It ChecksWhy It Matters
Document extractionFile format, encoding, readabilityCorrupted or image-only PDFs fail immediately
Layout analysisTables, columns, headers, footersMulti-column layouts break field extraction
Section detectionExperience, education, skills headingsNon-standard headings cause sections to be missed
Field mappingName, email, phone, dates, titlesMissing contact info is a common cause of immediate rejection
Keyword matchingJob-specific terms, skills, certificationsKeyword overlap affects recruiter search visibility and ATS scoring
Chronology checkDate ordering, gap detectionReverse-chronological order is expected by most ATS
QuantificationMetrics, numbers, measurable outcomesQuantified achievements help human reviewers and some scoring models
Confidence scoringOverall parse quality and completenessLow-confidence parses get deprioritized in results

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ResumeGeni free?
Yes. ResumeGeni is currently in beta — ATS analysis, scoring, and initial improvement suggestions are free with no signup required. Full guidance and saved reports may require a free account.
What file formats are supported?
PDF, DOCX, DOC, TXT, RTF, ODT, and Apple Pages. PDF and DOCX are recommended for best ATS compatibility.
How is the ATS score calculated?
Your resume is processed through an 8-layer parsing pipeline that extracts structured data the same way enterprise ATS platforms do. The score reflects how completely and accurately your resume can be parsed, plus how well your content matches common ATS ranking criteria.
Can ATS read PDF resumes?
Yes, but not all PDFs are equal. Text-based PDFs parse well. Image-only PDFs (scanned documents) and PDFs with complex tables or multi-column layouts often fail ATS parsing. Our analyzer will flag these issues.
How do I improve my ATS score?
Focus on three areas: use a clean single-column format, include keywords from the job description naturally in your experience bullets, and ensure all sections (contact, experience, education, skills) use standard headings.

ATS Guides & Resources

Built by engineers with 12 years of experience building enterprise hiring technology at ZipRecruiter. Last updated .

Business Analyst Manager

9Thwayinsignia · United States - Remote

['Contingent'] No

9th Way Insignia is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business bringing transformative technology to our government customers so they can achieve their missions.  Our specialties include cybersecurity, cloud modernization, software development, data analytics, enterprise architecture, enterprise IT, analytics, process automation, and artificial intelligence.  Learn more about 9th Way Insignia at https://9thwayinsignia.com/.

Application password: Niner

This position is contingent upon contract award.

Professional Level

Senior Consultant

Responsibilities

  • Evaluates workflows, organizational processes and procedures and develops enterprise- wide or large-scale computer/information management system solutions.  
  • Designs architecture to include the software, hardware, and communications to support the total requirement.  
  • Provides present and future cross-functional requirements and interfaces.  
  • Ensures systems are compliant and compatible with open systems architecture standards.  
  • May provide daily supervision to project staff. 
  • Responsible for leading a team of business analysts to identify, document, prioritize, and communicate business requirements and translate them into actionable solutions.  
  • Ensures that both current and future-state processes, capabilities, and technology align with the organization’s strategic objectives and compliance mandates.  
  • Involves close collaboration with stakeholders, cross-functional teams, external partners, and end users to drive continuous improvement in product delivery, user experience, and operational efficiency.  
  • Provides governance, guidance, and mentoring to junior analysts while standardizing processes and methods across the organization. 

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree in technical discipline; Associate’s Degree and 4 years of experience; 8 years of experience in lieu of degree to meet education requirement 
  • 6 or more years of relevant experience. 
  • 12 years directly related experience in lieu of degree. 
  • Strong proficiency with requirements management tools (e.g., JIRA, Azure DevOps), process modeling tools (e.g., Visio, Lucidchart), and documentation platforms (e.g., Confluence). 
  • Familiarity with Agile/SAFe methodologies, DevSecOps, and iterative development practices. 
  • Understanding of federal compliance standards and guidelines (e.g., FISMA, NIST, Section 508, FedRAMP) and how they influence requirements and solution design. 
  • Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. 
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex information in a clear, concise manner to both technical and non-technical audiences. 
  • Ability to facilitate collaborative sessions and manage stakeholder expectations effectively. 
  • Proven leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire trust, promote professional growth, and foster a positive team culture. 
  • Solid organizational and project management abilities, with experience in managing competing priorities and deadlines. 
Salary Range
$61,180—$90,000 USD

9th Way Insignia’s range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Clearance/Background Investigation
Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Benefits
Eligible employees will have access to our comprehensive benefits package which includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Voluntary Life Insurance, 401(k), Basic Life A&D, STD, LTD, PTO, Telehealth, paid holidays, FSA, HSA. Additional resources include our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Traveling Assistance.

Legal
We’re an equal employment opportunity employer that empowers our people to fearlessly drive change – no matter their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, or related medical conditions), national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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