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 .

Sales Development Representative

Belkins · Macedonia

Belkins is the most reviewed B2B appointment setting company in the USA, with over 300 5-star reviews, and is ranked among the Top-3 best professional service firms in the world 2024 by Clutch.

Trusted by industry leaders, including General Electric, Nvidia, UC Berkeley, Zendesk, Cloudflare, and over 1,000 other businesses in the USA — from startups to Fortune 500, empowering companies across 50+ industries with a results-oriented full-funnel outreach, boasting a staggering average of $10 return on every $1 spent with Belkins.

We foster long-term partnerships to unlock the full potential of B2B clients, allowing them to scale steadily regardless of market shifts.

We're looking for a driven Sales Development Representative, someone who takes ownership and delivers results that matter to our clients.
 
As an SDR, you'll be the engine behind our clients' growth. Every call, every conversation, every appointment you book moves their business forward. You'll represent clients across industries, execute outbound strategies, and constantly refine your approach to maximize conversions. If you're ambitious, resilient, and energized by knowing your work directly impacts the businesses we serve, this role is for you.
We're looking for a driven Sales Development Representative, someone who takes ownership and delivers results that matter to our clients.
 
As an SDR, you'll be the engine behind our clients' growth. Every call, every conversation, every appointment you book moves their business forward. You'll represent clients across industries, execute outbound strategies, and constantly refine your approach to maximize conversions. If you're ambitious, resilient, and energized by knowing your work directly impacts the businesses we serve, this role is for you.
What to Expect in Our Recruitment Process:
  • 30-minute prescreen with a recruiter – a friendly chat to get to know you, your experience, and what excites you about the role
  • Test assignment – a practical task to show off your skills and how you approach real challenges
  • Interview with our SDR Enablement Manager – a deeper conversation about your experience and style, plus a role-play to see you in action
  • Final interview with our Managing Director and Account Director – a chance to meet the leadership and project team, ask your questions, and see the bigger picture
 
If this all sounds exciting to you, go ahead and submit your application!

If you’re ready to take on a high-impact challenge, lead a transformation, and be rewarded for aggressive growth, we want to hear from you. At Belkins, we care deeply about our team members, and we prove it through:

Competitive Pay: Your dedication deserves more than recognition; it deserves compensation that matches your expertise.

Remote-First Flexibility: We’ve transitioned to a fully remote environment so you can work where you're most productive. Our flexible hours help you stay agile and focused.

Professional Growth: We’re a launchpad for your career. Through regular feedback, 1:1s, internal mobility, and knowledge-sharing, your growth is enabled and celebrated. We also maintain an internal wiki for insights and a library of the latest business books to keep you sharp.

Well-being focus: Your mental health is a priority. We offer mental health lectures and support for your overall well-being.

Recharge Time: We prioritize your rest with 20 paid vacation days, parental leave, fully covered sick days, and unlimited days off for unexpected needs.

Global Sync: We align with U.S. holidays to keep our global teams in sync.

Memorable Team Experiences: Work hard, play hard — even from a distance. Our online team-building events and all-hands gatherings bring humor, memes, and a lively atmosphere that makes teamwork genuinely fun.

Things You’ll Be Doing:

  • Running outbound cold calling campaigns and reaching out via email and LinkedIn on behalf of clients across various industries;
  • Managing outreach across 3–6 client projects simultaneously, representing different companies and fueling their sales pipelines through proactive, targeted outreach;
  • Crafting personalized messages and adapting your communication style to different audiences and markets;
  • Building strong prospect relationships through consistent follow-ups and smart objection handling;
  • Leveraging automation tools to handle high-volume outreach efficiently — because at our scale, smart systems are just as important as great conversations;
  • Tracking your results and contributing ideas that make campaigns sharper and more effective;
  • Using tools like HubSpot, Reply.io, Expandi, Nooks, and Calendly to stay organized and on top of every pipeline;
  • Collaborating closely with US and European clients, sharing insights that directly shape campaign strategy.
  • What’s Special About Working at Belkins:

  • You’ll work in a fast-paced lead generation agency, not just a single-product company;
  • Each SDR manages multiple client projects, giving you exposure to different industries and challenges;
  • For every project, we form a dedicated team including Researchers, SDRs, Account Managers, and Content Specialists - so you’ll always collaborate closely and learn from others;
  • You’ll explore new industries, switch between projects, and quickly grow your outbound and communication skills;
  • You’ll get ongoing support, training, and feedback from experienced colleagues to help you succeed and advance in your career.
  • You’re Our Kind of Person If You:

  • Communicate with clarity and confidence - and know how to build relationships that actually last;
  • Are fluent in English, both written and spoken;
  • Have at least 2 years of experience in any role where outbound outreach, prospecting, or pipeline generation was your bread and butter;
  • Are comfortable switching gears - adapting your voice and approach across different industries, clients, and markets;
  • Are available during US business hours at least a few days per week (approx. 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM EST) to connect with prospects across European and US markets;
  • Are proactive, reliable, and always looking for smarter ways to get things done;
  • Believe in learning constantly, growing your skills, and raising your own bar.