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 .

Students & Graduates

Jefferies · United States

Students & Graduates

Find your future at Jefferies

Our student and graduate employees are a foundation of our success and are heavily involved in the day-to-day workflow at Jefferies.

What you can expect

  • Each of our employee-partners can expect a hands-on approach to their development, with an opportunity to solve challenging and complex tasks alongside some of the best and brightest minds in the industry.
  • Jefferies offers a wide range of opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to gain experience in our Investment Banking, Fixed Income, Equities, Research, Wealth Management and Corporate divisions.
  • If you enjoy working in an entrepreneurial environment where creativity and performance is rewarded, then we invite you to explore opportunities with Jefferies and learn more about our winning team.

Summer internships for Analysts & Associates

Our Analyst and Associate Summer Interns participate in a 10-week summer program designed for students interested in pursuing a career in finance. Through training, seminars, social events and mentoring programs, our interns gain valuable industry experience as well as a unique look into our core businesses.

Summer program highlights

Following an enriching orientation and training program, interns work on their day-to-day responsibilities with support from colleagues serving as both instructors and mentors. You’ll engage with senior leaders, meet industry experts and participate in educational and social events with colleagues. We strongly encourage all our interns to make connections and grow their professional network. To help maximize your experience, interns receive formal performance reviews.

While each experience differs by division, you can expect: 

  • Experience and exposure across a variety of groups and individuals
  • Mentoring from senior professionals
  • Deep understanding of market data and technical skills across a range of products
  • Case study analysis and formal presentation training
  • Consideration for a full-time offer based on demonstrated performance and potential

What we look for in candidates 

We look for energetic and enthusiastic individuals with a strong academic background, an interest in pursuing a career in finance and the ability to work independently and in teams. We hire summer interns who have studied a variety of disciplines including finance, accounting, economics, computer science, engineering, applied mathematics and liberal arts.

  • Successful interns can multitask and manage a variety of projects in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
  • Candidates must demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, along with strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

Full-time Analyst & Associate program

Our Analyst and Associate Program provides a valuable, global platform for undergraduate, Masters and MBA students to develop skills and apply them in real-world situations. The program begins with comprehensive formal training, offering a unique opportunity to gain experience across an array of products and industries.

Full-time program highlights

  • You’ll learn corporate valuation methodologies, accounting and financial modeling, as well as the importance of relationship building through interaction with Jefferies’ clients and senior leaders.
  • Afterwards, you’ll apply your learnings through formal case study presentations and preparation for your regulatory exams (specific to Investment Banking, Equities and Fixed Income).
  • You’ll experience how businesses operate on a global scale and work on providing innovative solutions and thoughtful advice to our clients.  

What we look for in candidates

You should have a strong academic background: a four-year Bachelor’s degree (Analyst), or a two-year Master’s and or MBA degree (Associate), or equivalent. We hire graduates who have studied a variety of disciplines including finance, accounting, economics, computer science, engineering, applied mathematics, data science, and liberal arts. Additionally, you should be able to:

  • Demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, ethics and client management skills.
  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously, under pressure and with adherence to tight deadlines.
  • Possess strong technical, written and verbal communication skills.
  • Work independently and as a member of a team.

We encourage you to apply to summer intern and entry-level opportunities roles for which you may be eligible.

Explore a career with Jefferies

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