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 .

Cedar OpCo Senior Accountant

Cedarsolutionsgroup · Hybrid - Denver

Overview:  

Cedar Solutions Group is seeking a highly skilled Senior Accountant to take ownership of our key accounting functions, financial reporting, and KPI dashboard management at one of our operating companies. The ideal candidate will possess strong financial acumen, mastery in Excel modeling, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. This individual will thrive in a dynamic environment, effectively balancing strategic responsibilities with day-to-day accounting tasks. Reporting to the founders, this role is crucial for driving accuracy, improving processes, and supporting company growth. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Financial Reporting & Close: 

  • Manage accounting activities to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting. 
  • Lead month-end close processes, including financial reporting preparation. 
  • Collaborate on variance analysis to drive insightful financial reporting. 
  • Take responsibility for the KPI dashboard, ensuring over 95% accuracy in formulas and data across sheets. 

Payroll & Time Keeping Management: 

  • Oversee payroll processing, addressing timekeeping challenges to ensure smooth payroll cycles. 
  • Manage time entries in prime contractor portals for specific contracts. 
  • Reconcile billable hours between company hours and prime contractors, ensuring accurate tracking and invoicing. 
  • Handle quarterly 401(k) and profit-sharing deposits. 

Budgeting & Forecasting: 

  • Develop and maintain the budget infrastructure, collaborating on high-level assumptions and reforecasts. 
  • Oversee cash flow management, banking operations, and working capital to ensure financial stability. 

Invoicing & Payables 

  • Ensure timely and accurate preparation of invoices and resolve any discrepancies or issues.  
  • Manage accounts payable processes, vendor relationships, and internal controls to maintain compliance and financial integrity. 
  • Review employee expense reports, reconcile with credit card logs, and process reimbursements via payroll. 
  • Create and submit invoices for reimbursement through the prime contractor portal. 

Process Improvement & Audit: 

  • Implement and refine internal controls to mitigate financial risks and enhance efficiency. 
View full listing