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 .

Outside Sales Engineer - JACCO

Ambiententerprises · Columbus, OH

About Us:   

At Jacco & Associates, we believe in Transformative Partnerships Built on Support From Concept to Reality. We are a manufacture’s representative that works with Owners, Contractors, and Engineers to specify/ provide HVAC equipment that suites the needs of every application. Our Factory Trained Engineer’s have an in depth knowledge of all lines we represent in an effort to empower our people to make the best decisions for the project to maintain timeline.  

Role: Outside Sales 

You will play a crucial role as part of the Sales team helping to promote the Jacco brand. This is an exciting time for us with explosive growth and representation of the best products in the industry. We are looking for results-oriented team members that take pride in the products and services they can offer to their customers and colleagues. You will assist with the execution of projects from estimates through closeout. This is a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of major projects while gaining exposure to our impressive portfolio of work.  

Responsibilities:   

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with mechanical contractors and related industry partners within the assigned territory. 
  • Identify, develop, and pursue new business opportunities while growing existing customer accounts. 
  • Conduct regular customer meetings, jobsite visits, product presentations, and demonstrations to promote solutions and support project development. 
  • Assess customer project requirements and recommend appropriate products and technical solutions. 
  • Partner with internal teams to ensure successful project execution and a high level of customer satisfaction. 
  • Maintain accurate records of sales activities, pipeline development, and market insights, providing regular updates to leadership. 
  • Represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and networking opportunities to strengthen market presence and generate new business. 

 

Requirements:  

  • High School Diploma or equivalent. 
  • Experience within the HVAC or Manufacturing industry  
  • Proficiency in Microsoft office programs is required.  
  • Great communication and collaboration skills.  

 

  Estimated Salary: $70,000- $80,000 annually, with flexibility based on experience and skills with sales-based commission 

 

Jacco provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  

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