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 .

Manager, Smithfield

Edelman · Singapore

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. 

At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

About the job
Edelman has an exciting opportunity for a strategic, collaborative communicator to take the next step in their career within a dynamic cross-border team spanning Singapore and Hong Kong. The team supports financial services clients across investor relations and strategic situations, helping organisations build their brands and achieve business goals in an evolving media and market landscape.
We are seeking an Account Manager specializing in financial services and financial communications to join Edelman Smithfield, Edelman’s specialist financial communications advisory practice, in Singapore. This role offers the opportunity to work within a highly integrated team, collaborate closely with senior leaders, and contribute to best-in-class programs for leading organizations across Singapore, Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region.
Edelman is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects the world we live in, grounded in trust, collaboration, and a strong sense of belonging.


What your responsibilities and capabilities should cover:

  • Develop a strong understanding of clients’ businesses, priorities, and stakeholder landscapes — including investors, regulators, media, employees, partners, and industry peers.
  • Drive proactive day-to-day client relationship management, ensuring high-quality delivery and strategic counsel.
  • Lead research, planning, creative ideation, and execution of integrated communications campaigns.
  • Manage multiple projects and teams across accounts, ensuring deadlines, quality standards, and outcomes are met.
  • Demonstrate writing excellence across client correspondence, communications plans, press materials, and new business proposals.
  • Track and manage account financials (e.g., budget vs. actuals) and support delivery against revenue targets.
  • Identify opportunities for organic account growth by introducing relevant Edelman capabilities and cross-functional expertise.
  • Build and sustain a strong network of industry contacts, actively engaging in professional organizations and networking opportunities to enhance the profiles of Edelman and Edelman Smithfield.
  • Support and help lead new business efforts, including opportunity identification, proposal development, and RFP responses.
  • Deliver strong presentations to clients and internal stakeholders.
  • Mentor, coach, and support junior team members, and contribute to their development through on-the-job guidance and formal training opportunities.

What is required of you:

  • At least 5 years of relevant experience in financial communications and/or related fields, including research or media.
  • Excellent writing and verbal communication skills, with a strong ability to write persuasively and clearly.
  • Strong media relationships across local, regional, and international outlets.
  • Demonstrated ability to multitask, delegate effectively, and manage assignments while upholding high standards of quality in a fast-paced, integrated team environment. Strong understanding of current affairs and global trends, particularly across Asia/Southeast Asia, with the ability to translate insights into strategic client counsel.
  • Awareness of emerging technologies and trends, and an understanding of how they can be integrated into communications and marketing programmes.
  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Business, Economics, Finance, Communications) from an accredited institution.

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.