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

Cognism · Boston

WHO ARE WE

Cognism is the leading provider of European B2B data and sales intelligence. Ambitious businesses of every size use our platform to discover, connect, and engage with qualified decision-makers faster and close more deals. Headquartered in London with global offices, Cognism’s contact data and contextual signals are trusted by thousands of revenue teams to eliminate the guesswork from prospecting.

OUR WORK MODEL:

Hybrid: This is a hybrid role, requiring you to work from our Boston office 3 days per week, with flexibility to work remotely on other days.  

YOUR ROLE:

As an Account Executive, you will lead the charge in acquiring SMB customers across the US. This role is pivotal in accelerating Cognism’s growth in the region - delivering value to commercial prospects, collaborating cross-functionally, and exceeding revenue targets in a high-growth SaaS environment. 

YOUR CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES: 

  • Own Your Territory - Develop and execute a go-to-market strategy for your SMB territory, working closely with Sales Development to identify, engage, and convert high-potential prospects into new business revenue. 
  • Own the Sales Cycle - Lead end to end sales, from outbound prospecting & strategy to tailored demos and contract negotiation, consistently surpassing mid-market quotas by showcasing Cognism’s value. 
  • Strengthen Cross-Functional Impact - Partner with Sales Development, Marketing, RevOps, Customer Success, and Product teams to create a seamless customer journey and deliver commercial impact. 
  • Champion US GTM Strategy - Shape and iterate our go-to-market approach for the US SMB territory, ensuring relevance, competitiveness, and resonance with prospects. 
  • Coachability & Growth Mindset - Regularly shadow peers, seek feedback, and contribute to a learning-focused culture that continuously raises the bar. 
  • Own Forecasting - Deliver accurate pipeline insights to sales leadership, enabling effective planning and target achievement. 

OUR EXPECTATIONS: 

  • Proven SaaS Sales Performance - Minimum 1 years as a quota-carrying AE in a high-performing SaaS sales environment, with a track record of exceeding targets. 
  • Gravitas & Presentation Skills - Confident communicator who can inspire and influence stakeholders at all levels.
  • Agile in a Scale-Up - Adaptable, resourceful, and excited by change - ready to contribute in a fast-moving, high-growth environment.
  • Active Listener - Skilled in uncovering pain points and tailoring your message for maximum resonance.
  • Collaborative Partner - Comfortable operating cross-functionally and contributing to a broader team mission.
  • Organised & Accountable - Strong pipeline management and forecasting discipline.
  • Fluent in English - Outstanding verbal and written communication skills. 

Base salary: $70,000 – $80,000 / year 
Commission: Variable, with on-target earnings (OTE) of $140,000 – $160,000 (based on quota achievement) 

 

WHY COGNISM

At Cognism, we’re not just building a company - we’re building an inclusive community of brilliant, diverse people who support, challenge, and inspire each other every day. If you’re looking for a place where your work truly makes an impact, you’re in the right spot!

Our values aren’t just words on a page—they guide how we work, how we treat each other, and how we grow together. They shape our culture, drive our success, and ensure that everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to do their best work.

Here’s what we stand for:

🤝 We Own the Outcome Together.
🤓 We Deeply Understand our Customers. 
🏆 We Celebrate Impact Wherever It Comes From.

At Cognism, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and supportive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals typically underrepresented in tech, so if this role excites you but you’re unsure if you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply!

 

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