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 .

Field Researcher

Arealytics · Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

The Company:

 Arealytics is a proactive Commercial Real Estate research and technology company offering products and solutions to Real Estate Professionals.

 

Position Summary:           

Arealytics is looking for Full Time Field Researchers. Ideal for individuals currently driving for Uber or meal delivery companies and interested in the property or research industry. They will site inspect and take photos of existing buildings. Field researchers physically visit the building to verify the integrity of existing data and collect missing data, followed by taking multiple photos of the building. Field Researchers will also identify and track commercial developments and the construction life cycle.

 

Performance Duties:

·       Physical site inspections, either walking or driving of commercial properties within the assigned region

·        Collect data associated to commercial properties including but not limited to identifying new availability, buildings that may be missing from the database, updating construction status, etc.

·        Digitally record property information into the research console (ERC) using the Arealytics drive app.

·        Take professional digital photographs of Commercial buildings and upload to the platform using the drive app.

 

Employees will be provided with a company car, mobile device and travel reimbursement for the role.

 

This position requires:

·        Critical thinking and the ability to make decisions

·        Ability to use technology proficiently, including a computer, various software platforms, smartphone, drone, and digital camera.

·        Ability to effectively communicate with management and the public.

·        Ability to stay on task and effectively plan and execute research schedules

·        Self-starter and motivated

·        Repetitive standing, sitting, and walking up to 8 hours per day

·        A valid driver's license

·        A successful candidate will provide a driving‑history report prior to hire and may be required to provide updated driver history reports upon request.

 

Education/Qualifications:

·        Knowledge of Real Estate (not essential but not preferred. All training will be provided)

·        Successful completion of Secondary School or higher education

·        Photography experience preferred but not required

·        RePL Certificate for flying a Drone - preferred but not required.   If you do not have RePL Certificate, Arealytics will enroll you in the course to become certified.

 

 Expectations:

·        Maintain all company equipment provided with a high standard of care.

·        Follow all safety standards and laws of the road.

·        Communication: utilizes effective and professional verbal and written communication.

·        Teamwork: willing and able to work harmoniously with others. Responds positively to instructions.

·        Ability to work Autonomously: willing and able to self-direct and manage their time to be effective during working hours

·        Initiative: demonstrates action in the absence of specific direction. Sees what needs to be done and acts without prompting.

·        Reliable and predictable attendance required.

 

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