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 .

Compliance Associate

Bdtmsd · New York, New York, United States

About BDT & MSD Partners:

BDT & MSD Partners is a merchant bank with an advisory and investment platform built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. We are distinguished by our decades of experience advising at the intersection of founders, families, and businesses, as well as by our differentiated capital base and culture of aligned investing. Since 2010, our affiliated funds have deployed more than $50 billion across our investment strategies.

BDT & MSD Partners was established in 2023 through the combination of BDT & Company, the merchant bank to the closely held, founded in 2009 by Byron Trott, and MSD Partners, a premier investment firm that since 2009 has invested on behalf of Dell Technologies Founder Michael Dell, his family, and other like-minded investors.

 

Website: https://bdtmsd.com/

Business Title: Compliance Associate, New York

Department: Legal & Compliance

Location: New York, NY

Salary Range: $115,000 - $135,000

BDT & MSD is committed to providing its employees with career growth opportunities and a competitive total compensation package. Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant qualifications, skills, and experience. The above range references only base salary and does not include any another type of compensation or benefits that may be available.

 

Job Type: Full-time, exempt

Scope:

The Compliance Associate will work closely with members of BDT & MSD’s Legal & Compliance team to ensure regulatory compliance across the platform.  The Associate will primarily focus on implementation of controls relating to the firm’s compliance program, including firm and personal trading, conflict clearance, certifications, training, testing and KYC.  BDT & MSD is looking for an individual with an interest in learning all aspects of compliance and will demonstrate a high level of personal and intellectual integrity, curiosity, ability to build strong relationships, and proactively contribute to the team

 Primary Responsibilities:

  • Assist in the drafting, maintenance, and implementation of policies, procedures, and trainings
  • Assist in KYC and other deal related tasks
  • Assist in conflict clearance relating to investment opportunities and preclearance of Firm Trading
  • Document issues and implement solutions in a timely manner after discovery and resolutions
  • Participate in internal and external reviews of the firm’s compliance program
  • Assist with regulatory filings (SEC (ADV, Form PF, Section 13 and 16), CFTC, BEA, Department of Treasury) and other general compliance matters and projects as needed

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree with an excellent record of academic achievement
  • 2025 or 2026 J.D. degree or 2+ years of Compliance experience with a SEC-Registered Investment Advisor

Desired Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated interest in financial markets and securities market regulation
  • Ability to think critically and solve challenges with innovative solutions
  • High ethical standards
  • Motivated team player with ability to work independently, take initiative, and deliver results
  • Ability to perform at a high-level within a fast paced, entrepreneurial culture with a focus on excellence
  • Ability to manage ad hoc projects proactively, independently and to completion
  • Strong organizational and communication skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to write effectively

At BDT & MSD, we are committed to creating and prioritizing a diverse, equitable & inclusive work environment into all we do. We are focused on building a workplace that reflects a variety of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, as well as fostering an inclusive and development-oriented culture. Our people are our most important asset. We believe that having a strong team of diverse, world-class talent is not only the right thing to do but also critical to every aspect of our collective success as a business.

BDT & MSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

 

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