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 .

Don't see your dream job posted?

Carerev · Remote- United States

CareRev is the nurse-founded and nurse-led leading workforce platform built for the dynamic needs of acute healthcare. Our app-based, dual-sided solution empowers hospitals and health systems to better manage their internal staffing resources while seamlessly connecting with a flexible, local network of per diem clinicians. By integrating with existing scheduling systems, CareRev enables real-time self-scheduling, enhances internal float pools with smart automation, and gives clinicians the freedom to pick up shifts that fit their lives, all while supporting facilities with scalable, cost-effective staffing strategies. With over a decade of experience, CareRev has partnered with nearly 40 healthcare organizations and filled more than half a million shifts. Our two core solutions, IRP+ and Marketplace, are designed to give healthcare leaders control, agility, and confidence in today’s complex workforce environment. For more information, visit www.carerev.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

We are thrilled that you are interested in staying in touch with us for future openings!

By joining our Talent Community, you are placing yourself into a pipeline of highly talented and passionate professionals that we immediately look to when new positions open. Attaching your resume is helpful so we understand your skillset along with your interests.

Yes, you will receive periodic communications from us but we promise we won't flood your inbox. And of course, you can opt-out at any time. But we hope you won't!  

Please follow us on LinkedIn and watch our website for all news and posted positions. Our blog is a great resource, too.

We look forward to staying in touch with you. Thank you for your interest in CareRev!  

Sincerely,

CareRev Talent Acquisition Team

Reasons to Consider Us:

  • Fully remote company with flexibility to work from anywhere in the US
  • Self-managed PTO
  • Generous paid holidays, including a winter break between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day
  • Company-wide Summer Fridays: rotation of monthly afternoons off in the summer
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
  • Supplemental health benefits
  • Life insurance covered by CareRev
  • Short-term disability 100% covered by CareRev and voluntary long-term disability
  • Paid parental leave
  • Pet Insurance
  • 401k plans with company matching
  • Competitive stock options
  • Office equipment stipend
  • Monthly work-from-home stipend
  • Monthly well-being stipend
  • Learning reimbursement program
  • Legal benefits
  • Wellness (Calm) subscription

Physical Requirements: 

  • Prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing at a desk
  • Prolonged periods of working on a computer
  • Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
  • Ability to lift up to 15 pounds of work equipment
  • Ability to set up home office to include desk and chair

CareRev is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, we will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please discuss with your Recruiter.

We are an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment in an unlawful manner. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all individuals. CareRev treats all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, and competence without regard to any qualified individuals' sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender (including pregnancy, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, marital status, military, and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. CareRev also considers qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable local, state, and federal law.

CareRev participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. We can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

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