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 .

Senior Director, Clinical Development

Annexonbioscience · San Francisco Bay Area

Company: 

At Annexon Biosciences we are a biopharmaceutical company advancing a late-stage clinical platform of novel therapies for people living with devastating classical complement-mediated neuroinflammatory diseases of the body, brain, and eye. Our novel scientific approach targets upstream C1q to block the classical complement inflammatory cascade before it starts, and its therapeutic candidates are designed to provide meaningful benefits across multiple autoimmune, neurodegenerative and ophthalmic diseases. With proof-of concept data in Guillain-Barré syndrome, Huntington’s disease and geographic atrophy, we are rigorously advancing our mid-to late-stage clinical trials to bring new potential treatments to patients as quickly as possible. At Annexon, you’ll be part of a team committed to making an impact together.   

For more information on Annexon and our pipeline, check out our site Annexon Biosciences & Annexon Pipeline. We trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ANNX and are headquartered in Brisbane, CA. 

We're seeking exceptional talent from all backgrounds to fuel our growth. At Annexon, we're building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We value unique perspectives and unconventional paths. If you're the best candidate for the job, even if you don't perfectly fit the traditional mold, we encourage you to apply. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and our company culture! 

Position: 

The Sr. Director of Clinical Development will serve as a key leader in driving the clinical strategy and execution of one or more development programs. This role will be responsible for the end-to-end design and execution of clinical programs, from Phase I through Phase III, ensuring scientific integrity, regulatory compliance, and alignment with corporate objectives. The Sr. Director will collaborate with cross-functional teams, lead regulatory submissions, and establish critical partnerships with key opinion leaders and external stakeholders to advance clinical initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring a strategic vision, proven expertise in clinical trial design and execution, and the ability to manage complex programs in a fast-paced environment. This individual will play a crucial role in translating innovative therapeutic concepts into real-world treatments, shaping the company’s success in the rapidly evolving field of neurology. 

Responsibilities include: 

  • Lead the strategic direction and execution of clinical development programs, from early-phase through late-stage clinical trials ensuring they are scientifically robust and meet regulatory requirement. 
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with teams in clinical operations, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, and biostatistics to ensure the successful execution of clinical development plans.  
  • Drive the preparation, submission, and management of regulatory filings, including clinical trial applications, investigator brochures, and study protocols, ensuring alignment with global regulatory guidelines (FDA, EMA). 
  • Analyze, interpret, and communicate clinical trial data to inform key decisions, providing clear recommendations to guide clinical development strategy.   
  • Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs), clinical investigators, and external stakeholders to advance clinical initiatives.  
  • Manage clinical trial budgets, timelines, and resources, ensuring the delivery of high-quality results aligned with corporate objectives.  
  • Regularly present clinical progress, data outcomes, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership, stakeholders, and external partners.  
  • Stay at the forefront of industry trends, scientific advancements, and regulatory developments to ensure the company remains competitive in the clinical development strategies.  
  • Identify potential risks in clinical development timelines, budgets, or regulatory pathways, and develop contingency plans to mitigate them. 

Education, Experience, and Skills: 

Required: 

  • MD or PhD in Neurology, Neuroscience, or a related field.  
  • Over 10 years of experience in clinical development, with a focus on CNS-related indications.  
  • Proven leadership in designing, managing, and executing clinical trials from early phase through late-stage development.  
  • Demonstrated experience in leading clinical development teams at a senior or executive level, ideally within a high-growth biotech or pharmaceutical environment. 
  • In-depth knowledge of global regulatory requirements and guidelines (e.g., FDA, EMA) and clinical development processes, including Experience in HA meetings, writing briefing books, attending/supporting meetings 
  • Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills with a proven ability to influence across functions and levels.   
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities.  
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data driven approach to decision making.   
  • Demonstrated success in building collaborations with cross-functional teams and external partners in a dynamic, fast paced environment.  

 Preferred:  

  • Experience with regulatory submissions and clinical trial oversight in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting. 
  • Familiarity with emerging trends in neurology, including cutting-edge therapeutic modalities. 

Salary Range: $336,000 - $374,000

Location: Annexon Biosciences is located in Brisbane, California and preference is given to candidates in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Benefits: