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 .

Associate, Investment Banking

Financial Technology Partners · London

Position: Investment Banking Associate

Location: London (Hybrid, 3 days in office)

 

Company Overview:
Financial Technology Partners (FT Partners) is a premier investment banking firm dedicated exclusively to the financial technology sector. We define this sector as the dynamic intersection of technology-driven solutions and financial services. FT Partners has recently been honored with the "Dealmaker of the Year" and "Investment Banking Firm of the Year" awards by The M&A Advisor.

Founded by Steve McLaughlin, our Managing Partner and a former senior investment banker at Goldman Sachs & Co., FT Partners comprises a team of highly experienced professionals with backgrounds in the financial technology, M&A, and investment banking divisions of Goldman Sachs in New York, San Francisco, London, and Los Angeles.

FT Partners operates on a hybrid work model, with three days in the office and two days remote. 

Role Overview:
As an Investment Banking Associate, you will play a pivotal role in originating and executing live transactions. Your responsibilities will encompass extensive financial modeling and analysis, company valuation, corporate and industry research, strategic analysis and recommendations, identification of business development opportunities, due diligence, preparation of client presentation materials, and the identification of potential corporate and financial sponsors, buyers, and investors. Associates will work closely with senior investment bankers, managing day-to-day deal activities and overseeing and mentoring analysts.

In this role, you will gain significant exposure to industry leaders, top private equity and venture capital investors, and cutting-edge technology companies. You will provide leadership and mentorship to Analysts, actively participating in their recruitment, training, and professional development.

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 2 years of full-time investment banking experience in M&A sell-side advisory.
  • Undergraduate degree, minimum 2.1
  • Proven capability to lead and manage projects effectively.
  • Exceptional organizational, execution, and time management skills, with keen attention to detail.
  • Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to interact at all organizational levels.
  • Excellent presentation skills, adaptable to both large and small group settings.
  • Strategic thinker with robust analytical capabilities.
  • Proven quantitative and technical expertise, proficient in Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Entrepreneurial mindset, ready to tackle complex tasks and challenges.
  • Strong work ethic, self-discipline, and motivation.
  • U.K. work authorization required; FT Partners does not sponsor work visas.

Communication Skills:

  • Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-impact materials.
  • Effective participation in both internal and external meetings.
  • Maturity and professionalism in interactions with client executives.

Team Player Attributes:

  • Collaborative team player who fosters a positive team environment, keeps commitments, inspires trust, and upholds ethical standards and firm values.
  • Ability to thrive under pressure and meet tight deadlines, with effective prioritization and planning skills.
  • Committed to the long-term development of self and others through coaching.

Why Choose FT Partners?

  • Leadership from Managing Partners and Managing Directors with backgrounds at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan.
  • Award-winning execution, recognized as Investment Bank of the Year and Boutique of the Year, among other accolades.
  • Involvement in both billion-dollar transactions and early-stage, high-growth VC deals.
  • Clear career progression and competitive compensation packages.
  • Access to an unparalleled deal flow with a distinguished client base.
  • Opportunities to engage with world-class executives in a high-growth sector.
  • Established relationships with top financial sponsors.
  • A close-knit, rapidly growing team environment.

Selected Transactions Include Advising

  • Divvy's $2.5 billion Sale to Bill.com
  • GreenSky’s $2.2 billion Sale to Goldman Sachs
  • Forge’s $2 billion Merger with Motive Capital Corp.
  • Truebill’s $1.3 billion Sale to Rocket Companies
  • Revolut's $800 million Financing at a $33 billion Valuation
  • SpotOn’s $300 million Series F Financing at a $3.6 billion Valuation
  • Upgrade’s $280 million Series F Financing at a $6 billion Valuation
  • CAIS’ $225 million Series C Financing at a $1 billion+ Valuation
  • Bilt’s $200 million Financing at a $3.1 billion valuation
  • Newfront’s $200 million Financing at a $2.2 billion Valuation
  • DailyPay’s $75 million Financing at a $1.8 billion Valuation
  • Cart.com’s $60 million Series C Financing at $1.2 billion Valuation
  • Acorn’s Acquisition of GoHenry

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment: Financial Technology Partners is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veterans status, Aboriginal/Native American status or any other legally-protected factors. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact [email protected]