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 .

Office Engineer

Lusternational · Los Angeles, California, United States

About the Positions 

We’re seeking Office Engineers at various levels to support large, heavy-civil infrastructure programs, including highways, roads, bridges, transit (both rail and bus), international airports, and water/wastewater projects delivered through both traditional and alternative methods. Your primary focus will be supporting day-to-day project operations by managing documentation, tracking submittals and RFIs, and coordinating with contractors, design teams, and client representatives. You will also assist with cost tracking, change order documentation, and other key project controls tasks to help ensure the project stays on schedule and within budget.     

This posting is for future roles and not for a specific opportunity that is available right now. We accept applications and conduct interviews in advance of upcoming hiring needs. When a candidate is selected, their profile is activated in our talent pool for this specialty area. We notify our talent pool candidates first whenever we have a project need. This posting targets Los Angeles, CA. 

Responsibilities 

  • Support daily project operations by tracking and managing submittals, RFIs, meeting minutes, and other project documentation. 
  • Coordinate with contractors, designers, consultants, and client representatives to ensure timely responses and document flow. 
  • Assist with reviewing and processing change orders, tracking cost impacts, and maintaining accurate logs. 
  • Monitor construction schedules and support the integration of schedule updates with project records and reporting tools. 
  • Maintain and organize project files, drawing sets, and document control systems in accordance with project standards. 
  • Prepare status reports, log summaries, and other supporting documentation for project meetings and stakeholder updates. 
  • Assist in the preparation and review of pay applications, invoice packages, and procurement-related documentation. 
  • Participate in site visits, progress meetings, and coordination sessions as needed. 
  • Help ensure compliance with contract requirements, safety protocols, and applicable agency standards. 
  • Maintain project office, supplies, etc., and provide administrative support as needed.  

Attributes 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills. 
  • Excellent multi-tasking and organizational skills. 
  • Collaborative mindset that fosters teamwork, trust, and positive relationships. 
  • Natural curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and a passion for continuous improvement. 

Minimum Qualifications 

  • Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
  • 5+ years of relevant Office Engineer or similar experience working on heavy civil infrastructure projects.  
  • Familiarity with construction estimates, review and approval processes, construction compliance requirements, and common construction materials, methods, and procedures. 
  • Experience working with contract documents, technical specifications, and construction drawings. 
  • Proficiency with industry standard document control software (e.g., SharePoint, E-Builder, Aconex, Procore, etc.).    
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Project Management Professional (PMP) and/or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). 
  • Experience with large (>$500M), complex, heavy-civil infrastructure projects that include highways, roads, bridges, transit (including rail and bus), and/or airport projects. 
  • Experience delivering projects through both traditional and alternative methods (e.g., DB, CM/GC, P3). 
  • Experience in Office Engineer roles supporting owners. 
  • Understanding of public agency procedures and contract compliance requirements (