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 .

Instructional Designer

Acog · Washington, DC

The Instructional Designer plays a key role in advancing ACOG’s online learning and professional development initiatives by designing high‑quality, engaging, and accessible educational experiences. Working closely with the Senior Product Manager, Education, subject matter experts, and cross‑functional partners, this role brings learning concepts to life through thoughtful instructional design and effective course development.

This position is primarily focused on instructional design and content development, from needs analysis through course launch and iteration. The Instructional Designer collaborates with colleagues who support learning platforms and technical operations to ensure courses are delivered smoothly and learners have a positive experience. While this role contributes to LMS‑enabled course delivery and provides design‑related support, it is not responsible for platform ownership or system administration.

Note: This position is considered Hybrid and will need to commute to ACOG's office located in Washington, D.C.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Instructional Design & Course Development

  • Collaborate with subject matter experts and staff to design and develop online learning modules and professional development courses.
  • Apply adult learning principles and instructional design models to create engaging, effective, and accessible learning experiences.
  • Develop and oversee course materials, including storyboards, scripts, assessments, and multimedia content.
  • Ensure alignment with ACOG’s educational goals, branding, and quality standards.

Online Learning Delivery & Platform Collaboration

  • Partner with internal teams and vendors to support course delivery within ACOG’s learning platform.
  • Participate in course setup, testing, and launch to ensure a high‑quality learner experience.
  • Review learner engagement data and course performance metrics to recommend instructional improvements.
  • Collaborate with appropriate partners to address platform or technical issues as needed.

Staff Collaboration & Support 

  • Serve as a resource for ACOG staff developing online courses or educational content.
  • Provide guidance on instructional design, course structure, and use of digital tools.
  • Support the planning and execution of virtual and hybrid learning initiatives as assigned.

Quality Assurance & Accessibility 

  • Oversee and conduct quality assurance reviews of online content to ensure accuracy, functionality, and accessibility.
  • Manage and apply accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and usability best practices in course design.

Additional Responsibilities 

  • Stay current with trends and technologies in instructional design and online learning.
  • Perform other duties as assigned to support the goals of the Product Management team.

Required Skills/Abilities:  

  • Strong knowledge of instructional design principles and adult learning theory.
  • Experience working with learning management systems (LMS) and online learning delivery environments, ideally within medical or healthcare education. Proficiency in e-learning authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Storyline, Rise, Adobe Captivate).
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Familiarity with SCORM, xAPI, and accessibility standards.

Education and Experience: 

  • Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in instructional design, education, educational technology, or related field, master’s degree preferred.
  • 5 years of experience in instructional design or online learning development.
  • Experience in healthcare or medical education preferred.

 

Salary Range
$80,000—$85,000 USD

Our Perks

Paid Parental Leave – Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace –  Flexible work schedule –  Commuting Allowance – Generous Paid Time Off – Holiday Pay – Life Insurance – Community Volunteering Opportunities – Generous 401(k) Company Contributions – Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Learning Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement – Company-Sponsored Team Outings – and more!

ACOG is an EEO employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. As a federal government contractor and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, the College takes affirmative action to ensure that applicants and employees covered are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex (gender), age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic that is protected by applicable law. For more information about your equal employment opportunity rights, please view this poster: EEO is the Law. The College also participates in E-Verify.

View full listing