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 .

Designer II, Civil Engineering

Landdesign · Denver, Colorado, United States

LandDesign is a collection of visionaries and problem solvers who believe in the power of balance, combining creativity and practicality to design what we know will thrive. We leverage our diverse expertise and relentless curiosity to deliver innovative, attainable big ideas — aligning our clients’ vision with the culture of the community to delight those who will enjoy the space. We are driven by a boundless desire for better, because we believe that learning is lifelong and growth is infinite. This curiosity and uncommon collaboration fuel our culture and drive ideas that continuously improve our practice and the people who are part of it.

As our firm continues to grow, we continue to be on the lookout for the next great designer; you. We are currently seeking Civil Engineers to provide design, technical, and production support to design studios in our Denver office.

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Responsible for performing most aspects of civil site design which include site layout, sedimentation control analyses, development of grading & storm drainage, domestic water, and sanitary sewer system design.
  • Accomplish most tasks associated with a larger project with limited input.
  • Complete civil engineering work for assigned phases of large site developments.
  • Complete design work and calculations using computer-aided software.
  • Make design adaptations and modifications.
  • Assist with relevant jurisdictional/regulatory research and project requirements.
  • Assist with the development of plans, specifications and reports,
  • Assist with construction related submittals/RFI responses.
  • Participate in internal Quality Control review of plans.
  • Project coordination and communication with regulatory agencies to resolve permitting.
  • Participate in client and regulatory review meetings.
  • Collaborate with internal design team including landscape architects and planners, and client’s consultant teams.
  • Provide excellent customer service to clients.
  • Receives general instructions on routine tasks, and detailed instructions on new projects or assignments.
  • Actively participate in training of Designer I and interns.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering or related field of study.
  • Proficiency with reading construction plans.
  • Data analysis and interpretation skills.
  • Proficiency in AutoCAD and Civil 3D/Civil Design Software, Microsoft Office Suite and VantagePoint.
  • E.I.T. certification obtained or in-progress strongly encouraged
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Don’t ask us if you’re the right fit for the position, tell us about it in your cover letter (we do actually read them!)  All interested candidates can submit their cover letter and resume directly through our website.  

Employees are offered a competitive compensation package and robust benefits package that includes access to wellness programming, 401k retirement plan, paid holidays, paid time off, paid parental leave, paid volunteer hours, health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances. 

LandDesign is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workplace.

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