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 .

Seasonal Operations worker

Andersons · Waterloo, IN

For assistance on how to apply, please click here

Job Description:

Position Summary
This position is responsible for assisting with daily operations at one of our Retail Farm Center locations, including basic equipment maintenance, shipping, receiving, storage, and handling raw materials and products.

Key Responsibilities

  • Ensure compliance and active participation in all relevant safety and environmental programs

  • Assist with unloading, loading, blending, storing, and transporting products, including driving for local deliveries

  • Perform basic equipment maintenance (i.e., greasing equipment, minor repairs, washing equipment) in alignment with the maintenance schedule for the facility and equipment

  • Perform basic quality inspections

  • Ensure the overall cleanliness of the facility

What is expected of you and others at this level

  • Minimal job-related experience

  • Work is prescribed and completed with close supervision and little autonomy

  • Duties are clearly defined and methods and tasks are described in detail

Education & Experience

  • High School Diploma or GED equivalent preferred

  • Must be able to maintain a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record

  • Class A or B CDL preferred

Physical Requirements and Working Environment

  • Will be required to work long hours and overtime to meet seasonal demands

  • Must be able to stand for an extended period of time

  • Ability to frequently lift/push/pull up to 75 pounds

  • Must be able to climb/stoop/kneel at heights up to 180 feet

  • Works indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions and temperatures

  • Working conditions could include dust, fumes, moderate noise and uneven surfaces

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It does not include all responsibilities and skills required of the job and may be changed at any time. All responsibilities must be completed in compliance with all safety protocols, policies, procedures and consistent with the spirit and philosophy of The Andersons’ Statement of Principles. 

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed, but are not to be seen as a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Also, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer. The Andersons, Inc. is a Drug-Free Workplace. The Andersons, Inc. is an EO employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation.

Note: The Andersons, Inc. conducts drug, alcohol and/or medical testing of applicants and employees based on type of position. A copy of our testing policy is available by contacting the HR Department at [email protected].

We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us.

PHISHING SCAM WARNING:  The Andersons is aware of the continued increase of phishing scams, leveraging various methods of attack via email, text, voice and social media. Please note that The Andersons only uses company email addresses, which contain “@andersonsinc.com”, to communicate with candidates via email. If you are contacted by someone about an open job at The Andersons, please verify the domain of the sender’s email address and that they are asking you to apply on this website. If you believe you’ve been a victim of a phishing scam, please visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Smart website to learn how to report it.