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 .

ULA Cell Operator

Crane · Los Angeles, California

Key Responsibilities

  • Assemble Product by referring to the Engineering Drawings The assembler will refer to  Bill of Material’s, sales / assembly drawings, and master comments from the QAD system and correctly interpret them. Assembler will evaluate product for correct performance and visual characteristics.
  • Correctly interpret production documentation which includes work instructions, assembly processes and test procedures. Input test results into the First Pass Yield database and accurately complete First Article Inspection.
  • Work as part of a team to achieve departmental goals. Should be able to meet the hourly targets set for the assigned area. Must attend daily morning huddles and All Hands Meetings, Update work station KPI
  • Maintain work area in accordance with Safety policies and 5S principles. Apply continuous improvement techniques to the work area. Should adhere to PPE policies.
  • Follow quality control checks to ensure products meets standards and report safety incidents and quality issues on the floor.

Professional Experience/ Qualifications

  • Must pass a basic Math and English test with 75% accuracy and dexterity test
  • Must be a high school graduate or equivalent/GED, and ability to read and write English.
  • Ability to read blueprints, use pneumatic and basic hand tools
  • Ability to meet consistent attendance
  • Must be a quick learner and be able to follow procedures and written documentation to build product
  • Willing to learn and complete audits on 5S, kanban, and participate in continuous improvement activities
  • Must be able to sit or stand for long periods of time. Position demands some repetitive motion tasks (pushing/pulling and gripping)
  • Ability to lift up to 35 lbs. 
  • Computer usage to the point of data input. 

$20.80-$25.47

This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Crane Company. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, general identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

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