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 .

Account Executive

Cariina · Boston, MA, US

About Cariina

Cariina is a leading software platform designed to streamline operations within school districts. We believe that in order for schools to achieve academic success they need to first reach organizational excellence. We help schools achieve the state of organizational excellence by streamlining processes and procedures. We’re well funded and growing quickly, and now we want to expand our team to support our implementation function.

About This Job

Cariina is seeking a passionate and driven Account Executive to join our fast-growing venture-backed startup focused on revolutionizing education. This is your chance to make a significant impact while being part of a company that is poised to reshape the future of schools.

This is an in-person role in our Boston, MA office. You must be located in Boston or be willing to relocate for the role.

What You'll Do

  • Take ownership of the end-to-end sales process, from lead generation to closing deals, within the education sector, primarily targeting public charter schools.
  • Identify key decision-makers and stakeholders within schools and build strong relationships with them.
  • Conduct thorough needs analysis and demonstrate a deep understanding of Cariina's value propositions to tailor the sales approach for each stakeholder.
  • Manage a diverse buying group, understanding their unique needs and challenges, and providing solutions that align with their priorities.
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, product development, and customer success, to ensure alignment and provide customer feedback.
  • Stay up to date with industry trends, competitive landscape, and educational policies to position Cariina as a thought leader and trusted advisor.
  • Utilize CRM systems and tools to track leads, manage customer relationships, and forecast sales accurately.

What You Bring

  • Proven track record of success in B2B software sales, with a focus on enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions.
  • Previous experience selling into the education sector, particularly to schools, is preferred but not required.
  • Strong ability to build relationships and engage with diverse stakeholders, including administrators, teachers, and IT personnel.
  • Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts in a clear and compelling manner.
  • Results-oriented mindset with a proven ability to meet and exceed sales targets.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to navigate complex sales cycles.
  • Proficiency in using CRM systems and sales productivity tools such as Hubspot.

What You'll Get

  • Base Cash compensation range: $80,000 - $110,000, commensurate with experience and performance. OTE range: $160,000-$190,000.
  • Comprehensive health plans for you and your family.
  • Ownership in the company (stock options), aligning your success with the company's.
  • Any technology that you need to succeed (hardware, software, reading materials, etc).
  • Flexible vacation and sick days.

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume. If we are interested in moving forward with your application we will reach out to you to discuss next steps. You will hear from us regardless of whether we decide to move forward or not.

Cariina is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.