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 .

Create Your Own

Interworks · USCA

Do you find that your initiative and collaborative energy often set you apart? Are you a problem-solving enthusiast? Are you someone who can’t help but ask, “How can I help?” even when it’s not in your job description? Let us introduce ourselves.

We’re InterWorks—a one-of-a-kind IT consultancy that believes people come first. We work with the best clients in the world, and we’re always on the lookout for curious, creative, and thoughtful folks who want to make an impact.

That brings us to you. You might not see your perfect role posted, but if you’re the kind of person who blends curiosity with skill, autonomy with collaboration, and hustle with humility—there just might be room for you to build your own path here.

We’re looking for friendly, sharp, and focused achievers who value meaningful work and meaningful relationships. You might love diving into data, designing efficient systems, solving business puzzles, creating content, streamlining processes—or all of the above. Whatever your passion, we’d love to explore where your interests and our needs intersect.

What You’ll Do (Depending on Your Strengths)

  • Build and grow relationships with clients, teammates, or both.
  • Bring structure to chaos—whether through project management, process improvement, or solving a tech mystery.
  • Work with smart, kind people who love what they do.
  • Take initiative and run with ideas that bring value.
  • Stay flexible and curious—you might wear a few hats, and that’s part of the fun!
  • Pitch in wherever needed and celebrate others along the way.

What You’ll Need

Must-Have

  • A strong desire to do meaningful work in a collaborative environment.
  • A track record of delivering results, even when the path wasn’t clearly marked.
  • An ability to communicate clearly and kindly—both internally and externally.

What We’d Like You to Have

  • Experience in a relevant field (tech, consulting, data, design, operations, project management, or a surprise we didn’t know we needed).
  • A proactive mindset—you don’t wait for someone to hand you a to-do list.
  • The ability to manage your time and responsibilities like a pro.
  • A good sense of humor and a team-first attitude.

 

So, if you’ve ever looked at a job board and thought, “None of these are quite me…”—maybe that’s because the role doesn’t exist yet. Let’s talk and see what we can build together.

Apply now and tell us what you're great at—we're excited to meet you.

 

Why InterWorks

InterWorks is a people-focused tech consultancy that empowers clients with customized, collaborative solutions, and we love pursuing innovation alongside people who inspire us. Our approach to work and community is unique and unconventional—just like us—and that’s the way we want it. The only thing missing is you.  At InterWorks, we value unique contributions, our people are the glue that holds our business together.  We’re always looking for the right people, and we could be your perfect fit.

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