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 .

Scientist, Process Chemistry

Aralezbio · Berkeley, CA

About the Company

We envision a world where we continuously, sustainably, and affordably improve human life with synthetic biology. Our proprietary set of enzymes and our manufacturing approach enables the production of thousands of amino acids that were previously too difficult and expensive to make. These “noncanonical” amino acids that we make are already catalyzing the creation of revolutionary and innovative products that are good for people and the planet. 

Our technology outperforms traditional manufacturing approaches by 10–100x across the board. We already sell products to Big 10 Pharmaceutical companies, and our product family includes the key components of multi-billion dollar blockbuster drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.

We are a diverse, passionate, interdisciplinary team that finds joy in building something new that leaves the world better than we found it. We strive to always learn and improve and have a deep desire to capitalize on our creativity and be exceptional at what we do.

About the role

We’re seeking a highly talented scientist to play a critical role in manufacturing and production of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs). As a teammate on the Process Chemistry and Manufacturing team, your work will be a significant driver in bringing our vast (and growing) catalog of ncAAs to clients and companies working on next generation therapeutics. In this role, you will have the opportunity to produce innovative products unlocked by chemistry and biocatalysis at various production scales.

This is a full time, onsite role in Berkeley, CA.

What You’ll Do

  • Supply high quality non-canonical amino acids and derivatives for next generation therapeutics.
  • Work up to 80% of the time in the lab to support manufacturing related activities, including production, route development, process development, and scale-up of ncAAs that meet product and quality specifications.
  • Optimize reactions and isolation processes for robust and scalable production of a variety of products.
  • Author, review, and maintain batch records, tech transfer documents, SOPs, and reports to ensure reproducibility and traceability of work.
  • Apply process and product characterization to collect data, quantify production process, and ensure specifications are met.
  • Collaborate with a fantastic multidisciplinary team to bring greener chemistries to drug manufacturing and other industries.
  • Have a high regard for safety, people and ethical behavior.

What You’ll Bring

  • PhD with 2+ years of experience or MS with 5+ years of experience; advanced degree in organic chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical science, or related scientific discipline.
  • Hands-on experience and proven record in solving problems in multi-steps organic synthesis for small molecule, amino acid, or peptide production. Experience in product isolation including extractions, crystallization, precipitations, chromatography. 
  • Substantial experience with diverse analytical techniques, such as spectrophotometry, NMR, LC/MS, and HPLC for characterization and quantification.
  • Experience in experimental design, DoEs for troubleshooting and process optimization.
  • Experience in Process development and scale up is a plus.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills. Exceptional interpersonal and management skills to collaborate with and direct the work of others on assigned projects.
  • Thrives as part of a team, with a strong collaborative mindset.
  • Strong initiative and ability to work independently.
  • Proactive in identifying, analyzing, and solving problems.
  • Curiosity and drive for continuous improvement. 

Compensation 

Aralez Bio’s salary range for this position is $95,000-$120,000 per year, based on your performance and experience. In addition, your total rewards package will include equity and benefits.

Benefits at Aralez Bio

  • Medical / dental / vision insurance coverage
  • 401k
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Paid time off
  • Weekly catered lunch
  • Professional Development opportunities
  • Annual company retreat

Equal Employment Opportunity

Aralez Bio is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, sex, and any other group protected under federal, state, or local laws. 

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Please reach out if an accommodation is needed. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

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