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 .

Sales Development Representative

Liberate · Los Angeles, CA

About Us:

Liberate Innovations Inc. is a Series-B funded AI company focused on revolutionizing the insurance industry through advanced technology solutions. 

As a Sales Development Representative (SDR), you will have the opportunity to impact the bottom line and create new business opportunities for Liberate Inc. This is a high-impact role that directly influences the company’s growth and success, responsible for prospecting and qualifying high-potential leads to accelerate the sales pipeline and drive overall business growth.

*Location: Los Angeles based hybrid role (2 day/week in-office) 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Research target accounts, identify key decision-makers, and initiate outbound prospecting activities such as cold calls, emails, and social media outreach to generate new business opportunities.
  • Engage with prospects to understand their needs and challenges, qualifying them as potential clients through discovery conversations and assessing their fit with our solutions.
  • Work closely with Account Executives to move prospects through the sales funnel and ensure smooth handoffs for qualified leads.
  • Maintain accurate records of lead activity, follow-ups, and communications in our CRM system, ensuring data integrity and accurate reporting.
  • Partner with the marketing team to refine lead generation strategies and create targeted outreach campaigns that align with Liberate Inc.'s go-to-market initiatives.
  • Continuously learn about our product, industry trends, and competitor landscape to effectively engage prospects with relevant information.

Qualifications:

  • 1-2 years of professional experience in outbound sales or lead generation at a SaaS or technology startup.
  • Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field required.
  • Experience using CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot), LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Gong, and other sales tools is a plus.
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey value and quickly build rapport with key decision-makers.
  • Highly self-motivated with a strong work ethic and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
  • Ability to work independently and take initiative to drive outbound efforts with little direction from leadership.
  •  A strong desire to hit and exceed performance goals, with a track record of success in outbound prospecting.

Benefits:

  • Competitive salary with performance-based commissions and equity options
  • Unlimited PTO
  • 401(k) plan
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Flexible work environment with remote work options
  • Collaborative and innovative company culture
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