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 .

Lab Assistant - Histology

Labcorp · Nashville TN

LabCorp is seeking a Lab Assistant to join our team at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, TN.

Work Schedule: 2nd shift; Monday-Friday, 11am- 7:30pm. No weekends

Job Responsibilities:

  • Receive and sort clinical lab specimens
  • Prepare specimens for testing and analysis
  • Scan and/or data entry of specimen and patient information
  • Ensure all lab equipment is working properly and perform minor instrumentation maintenance
  • Troubleshoot any specimen related issues
  • Replenish test bench supplies as needed
  • Maintain a clean and safe work environment
  • Complete record logs and other administrative duties as requested
  • Follow all Standard Operating Procedures to ensure safety and quality standards

Minimum Qualifications:

  • High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred Qualifications:

  • 1 year or more histology lab experience
  • 1 year or more experience with clinical laboratory accessioning
  • 1 year or more of experience working with medical terminology

Additional Job Standards:

  • Comfortability with handling biological specimens 
  • Ability to accurately identify specimens 
  • Basic computer knowledge and data entry skills
  • High level of attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and multitask
  • Ability to work in a fast paced production environment and meet established turn-around times
  • Strong communication skills; both written and verbal
  • Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time
  • Able to pass a standardized color blindness test.
  • Flexibility to work overtime as needed

At Labcorp we have a passion in helping people live happy and healthy lives. Every day we provide vital information that helps our clients and patients understand their health. If you are passionate about helping people and have a drive for service, then Labcorp could be a great next career step! This role works in a high volume, production based environment performing a vital component of clinical lab science.

Benefits: Employees regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week are eligible for comprehensive benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, STD/LTD, 401(k), Paid Time Off (PTO) or Flexible Time Off (FTO), Tuition Reimbursement and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Employees regularly scheduled to work less than 20 hours, Casual, Intern, and Temporary employees are only eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Employees who are regularly scheduled to work a 7 on/7 off schedule are eligible to receive all the foregoing benefits except PTO or FTO. For more detailed information, please click here. 

If you're looking for a career that offers opportunities for growth, continual development, professional challenge and the chance to make a real difference, apply today!

Labcorp is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer:

Labcorp strives for inclusion and belonging in the workforce and does not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind. We make employment decisions based on the needs of our business and the qualifications and merit of the individual. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), family or parental status, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, personal appearance, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic. Additionally, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law. 

We encourage all to apply

If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance using our online tools to search and apply for jobs, or needs an accommodation, please visit our accessibility site or contact us at Labcorp Accessibility. For more information about how we collect and store your personal data, please see our Privacy Statement.