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 .

Litigation Paralegal

Alexander Shunnarah · Metairie, LA

Why Work For Us

Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is a rapidly growing personal injury law firm based in Alabama with offices across the nation. We handle complex cases and provide each attorney and staff with the support they need enabling us to best serve our clients. Our attorneys and staff pride themselves on their skill set, experience, compassion, and commitment. We are dedicated to giving our clients the utmost attention and care while fighting for them to get what they deserve.

At Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, we take a real approach. We are innovative, always finding ways to be better, and have a go-getter mentality across the board. Each team member plays a critical role in our mission. We know our people are what makes us great. If you’re looking for a career where you can help make a difference in the lives of others alongside a supportive team, we encourage you to apply!

What We Value

  • Client Commitment
  • Integrity
  • A Will to Win
  • Teamwork
  • Personal Accountability
  • Passion

What You'll Do

Do you find joy in helping victims of disaster? Is it easy for you to communicate with people and identify their needs? Do people getting screwed by the system motivate you to effect change?

Due to our unique team composition, there’s no other position in the world that offers as valuable a learning experience and professional growth opportunity as this.

If you’re an ambitious person with a growth mindset, then you couldn’t possibly want to work anywhere else.

You’re going to be part of a team that is moving incredibly quick. The speed with which we implement new ideas is likely faster than you’ve ever experienced. You’ll get a 360-degree view of how the business works and it will be your ideas that help us grow even faster.

Lots of fast-growing companies make the same claims; smart people, a unique culture, and the ambition to have a big impact. We are THE leader in our space and we are aggressively (and successfully) spreading the word having recovered hundreds of millions for victims of disasters. You're going to help us continue doing that by helping grow our marketing strategy. The last couple of years have shown us that we can have our best year no matter what obstacles we face. This position is mission-critical. You will have an opportunity to positively impact the lives of every team member and every client. No red tape to cut through here.

Specifically, you will:

  • Send letters of representation
  • Update clients on case status
  • Collect documents and info from clients
  • Evaluate client needs
  • Connect clients with internal and external resources
  • Advocate for clients internally
  • Assist attorneys with pleadings, correspondence, and scheduling
  • Obtain world domination

What You Need

  • 1+ year of legal experience in Property Casualty cases (Required).
    • Personal Injury case experience will also be considered.
  • Experience working cases based in Florida or are willing to learn about working cases in the area (Preferred)
  • FileVine or Case Management System knowledge (Preferred)
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Experience drafting and reviewing legal documents.
  • Experience with medical records management.
  • Microsoft Office (Required)

What You Get

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance - 100% paid by the firm
  • Generous PTO Plan
  • 401k plan with a 3% match
  • Stellar bonuses if you crush it
  • Working Location:
    • Metairie, LA
    • In-person
  • Salary: $50,000-60,000 per year

Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].

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