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 .

DePelchin Children’s Center

IT Data Analyst

Position:                IT Data Analyst 
Classification:       Full-time, Exempt
Reports to:            Director, Information Systems
Company:              DePelchin Family Services
Location:               Houston, TX (Must reside in the Houston area)

Position Description:
The IT Data Analyst is responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive data dictionary, documenting data flow processes, and assisting with the ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) process to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and reliability. The position requires strong interpersonal and verbal skills, and the ability to appropriately obtain and handle requests for sensitive information.

Primary Responsibilities: 

  • Develop, maintain, and continuously update a data dictionary to ensure clear definitions of data elements.
  • Document data lineage and data flow processes across systems, ensuring traceability and transparency.
  • Identify data quality issues and work with stakeholders to improve data consistency and integrity.
  • Oversee and manage ETL pipelines, ensuring smooth data extraction, transformation, and loading processes.
  • Analyze datasets to identify trends, patterns, and inconsistencies.
  • Work with business stakeholders to understand data requirements and provide insights.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to align on data needs.
  • Provide training and documentation to ensure stakeholders understand data sources and definitions.
  • Demonstrates an interest in personal and professional growth.

Required Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or related field. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of formal education. 
  • Proficiency in SQL and experience working with databases (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc.).
  • Two (2) years of experience and/or coursework in data analysis, data governance, or ETL management
Preferred Qualifications: 
  • Experience in social services or healthcare.
  • Familiarity with data modeling and metadata management.
  • Experience with data visualization tools (e.g. Tableau, Power BI, Looker) is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Advanced computer software and hardware knowledge and skills
  • Ability to troubleshoot a variety of computer problems.
  • Ability to interact with staff with a service orientation.
  • Ability to stay organized while executing multiple projects. 
  • Ability to maintain professional, confidential work environment. 

Work Conditions: 

  • Environment: Office-based
  • Range of Schedule: Mon - Fri, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p. m.
  • Travel: None 

 

DePelchin is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace.

DePelchin is committed to selecting and employing the best and most qualified person available for each job opening without unlawful discrimination of any kind. Additionally, DePelchin is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), marital or parental status, veteran status, religion, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, genetic information, or political affiliation.

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