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 .

PharmaEssentia U.S.A.

Business Systems Analyst

Location: Burlington, MA (hybrid/ 2-3 days per week in office)

The Company:
It’s not often you get the chance to make a real impact on the lives of others, while expanding your own possibilities. You’ll find that rare opportunity at PharmaEssentia USA. Join us, and let’s transform lives, together.

PharmaEssentia USA Corporation is a rapidly growing biopharmaceutical innovator. We are leveraging deep expertise and proven scientific principles to deliver effective new biologics for challenging diseases in the areas of hematology and oncology, with one product approved in Europe and a diversifying pipeline. We believe in the potential to improve both health and quality of life for patients with limited options today through the combination of rigorous research and innovative thinking.

Founded in 2003 by a team of Taiwanese-American executives and renowned scientists from U.S. biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, today we are listed on the Taipei Exchange (6446) and are expanding our global presence with operations in the U.S., Japan, and China, along with a world-class biologics production facility in Taichung.

Position Overview:
The Business Systems Analyst (BSA) serves as a critical liaison between business stakeholders, business application teams, and IT infrastructure teams. This role is responsible for analyzing business processes, eliciting and documenting requirements, and ensuring that both application solutions and underlying IT infrastructure effectively support business operations, scalability, security, and compliance.

The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, hands-on experience with enterprise business applications, and a working understanding of IT infrastructure (networks, identity, cloud services, end‑user computing). Experience in life sciences or other regulated industries is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities:
Business Analysis & Stakeholder Partnership
  • Partner with business stakeholders across Finance, Legal, HR, Commercial, R&D, and Operations to understand business processes, pain points, and system needs
  • Lead requirements elicitation through interviews, workshops, and process walkthroughs
  • Translate business needs into clear functional and non‑functional requirements, user stories, and process flows
  • Act as a trusted advisor, helping stakeholders understand system capabilities and trade‑off
Business Applications Support
  • Analyze, document, and support enhancements for enterprise business applications (e.g., ERP, procurement, contract management, HR systems)
  • Translate business requirements into functional specifications for technical teams and vendors
  • Support application configuration decisions to ensure alignment with business needs and best practices
  • Assist with UAT planning, test case creation, execution, and defect triage

IT Infrastructure Collaboration

  • Work closely with IT Infrastructure and Security team to ensure application requirements are supported by appropriate infrastructure, identity, access, and security controls
  • Contribute to requirements related to cloud services, end‑user computing, integrations, data flows, and system performance
  • Help assess infrastructure impacts of new applications, integrations, or business initiatives

Documentation & Change Management

  • Create and maintain comprehensive documentation including requirements, functional designs, workflows, and system diagrams
  • Support change management activities, including user communications, training materials, and release readiness
  • Assist with onboarding/offboarding and operational process improvements tied to systems and infrastructure
Qualifications and Experience:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Computer Science, or a related field
  • 3–5 years of progressive experience as a Business Analyst or Business Systems Analyst
  • Hands‑on experience gathering and documenting requirements for enterprise business applications
  • Working knowledge of IT infrastructure concepts (networks, identity/access, cloud services, endpoints)
  • Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills
  • Experience working with cross‑functional teams and external vendors

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in biotech, pharmaceutical, or other regulated life sciences environments
  • Exposure to ERP platforms (e.g., SAP), SaaS business applications, and system integrations
  • Familiarity with SDLC, Agile, or hybrid delivery models
  • Experience supporting UAT and production support in enterprise environments

Key Competencies

  • Business process analysis and problem solving
  • Ability to bridge business needs with technical solutions
  • Strong attention to detail and documentation discipline
  • Collaborative, proactive, and adaptable mindset
  • Comfort working in a fast‑growing, evolving IT environment
The expected salary range for this position based on greater Boston, MA location is $90,000-$100,000.  Actual salary pay will be based on multiple factors, including geographic location, experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law. 

Benefits of working with our team:
PharmaEssentia USA strives every day to improve the lives of patients as well as our employees. As a valued member of PharmaEssentia USA, you will enjoy the following benefits:
  • Comprehensive medical coverage
  • Dental and vision coverage
  • Generous paid time-off
  • 401(k) retirement plan with competitive company match
  • Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Up to $150 monthly cell phone reimbursement
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Free parking
EEO Statement
At PharmaEssentia USA, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

PharmaEssentia USA believes that diversity and inclusion among our team are critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.  PharmaEssentia does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Staffing agencies should not send resumes to our HR team or to any PharmaEssentia employees. PharmaEssentia is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

At PharmaEssentia, our goal is to treat as many people with cancer as possible. That means challenging the status quo with better science that leads to better lives. By joining our team, you will not only expand your own possibilities, but you will contribute to expanding options for people with cancer.

https://us.pharmaessentia.com/careers/