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 .

Consultant, Sales Engineering

Ciena · London

As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a flexible work environment that empowers individual growth, well-being, and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact.

The Opportunity

Join Ciena as a Consultant, Sales Engineering, where you will play a key role in supporting Ciena’s service provider customer in the UK. In this role, you will act as a critical bridge between Ciena’s innovative networking solutions and customer needs, partnering closely with sales teams to deliver differentiated technical value.

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of sales and technology, leading technical engagements across the sales cycle. You will represent Ciena’s portfolio to customers through high-impact presentations, technical discussions, and solution designs, while building long-term, trusted customer relationships.

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a trusted technical advisor service provider customers, developing strong, long-term relationships.

  • Partner closely with the sales team to understand customer requirements and translate them into effective technical solutions using Ciena’s portfolio.

  • Lead customer solution discussions, technical deep dives, and the technical components of RFQ/RFP responses and proposals.

  • Prepare and deliver compelling technical presentations and demonstrations that clearly articulate product capabilities and business value.

  • Engage in detailed technical discussions to address customer challenges and position Ciena’s solutions effectively.

  • Proactively identify and resolve complex technical challenges for customers.

  • Facilitate knowledge transfer sessions for customers and internal teams.

  • Maintain a strong understanding of Ciena’s product portfolio and relevant market trends to clearly communicate value propositions.

The Must Haves:

  • Proven experience in a technical sales or sales engineering role within the telecommunications or networking industry.

  • Strong optical networking knowledge and experience.

  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and business audiences.

  • Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong interpersonal relationships with customers and internal stakeholders.

  • Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively.

  • Strong problem-solving capabilities and a proactive approach to addressing technical challenges.

  • Proven experience supporting negotiations and deal execution.

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

Assets:

  • Knowledge of RSP technologies

  • Experience delivering technical demonstrations and proof-of-concepts for enterprise or service provider customers.

  • Ability to conduct effective knowledge transfer and enablement sessions for diverse technical audiences.

#LI-VS1

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At Ciena, we are committed to building and fostering an environment in which our employees feel respected, valued, and heard.  Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.

Ciena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.

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