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 .

Roadway Drainage Design Engineer

Lochgroup · Indianapolis IN

We are looking for a talented Civil Engineer to join our growing Roadway/Highway design team in Indianapolis, IN. The ideal candidate will be an EIT with hands‑on experience in roadway design and a strong foundation in drainage design for local agency and/or DOT transportation projects. This is a great opportunity to join a growing company that is committed to creating a positive workplace culture and providing opportunities to perform meaningful work impacting the future of infrastructure in our communities.
 
Lochmueller Group is a regional engineering consulting firm with an emphasis on infrastructure.  We provide multi-disciplined services for a variety of public agencies and private entities, including transportation design; water resources design; environmental analysis & permitting; construction engineering & inspection; traffic engineering & transportation planning; surveying; and land acquisition & appraisal. Our Roadway/Highway Design team is involved in a wide variety of street, roadway, highway and multi-modal transportation design projects for local public agencies and state DOT’s.
 
For over 40 years, Lochmueller Group has helped communities reinvent their future through thoughtful, actionable planning and design. Our dedication to building a team that demonstrates our corporate values (CARDIA) is what sets us apart:
 
CARDIA: Creativity; Accountability; Respect; Dedication; Integrity; Achievement
 
Lochmueller Group provides an excellent workplace culture established by our people who share these values. We are a 100% employee-owned company, and our people are invested in the success and continued development of each other and the firm. This is a great place to build a career and grow with a company that is dedicated to quality and service as we make a difference in our communities.
We are looking for a talented Civil Engineer to join our growing Roadway/Highway design team in Indianapolis, IN. The ideal candidate will be an EIT with hands‑on experience in roadway design and a strong foundation in drainage design for local agency and/or DOT transportation projects. This is a great opportunity to join a growing company that is committed to creating a positive workplace culture and providing opportunities to perform meaningful work impacting the future of infrastructure in our communities.
 
Lochmueller Group is a regional engineering consulting firm with an emphasis on infrastructure.  We provide multi-disciplined services for a variety of public agencies and private entities, including transportation design; water resources design; environmental analysis & permitting; construction engineering & inspection; traffic engineering & transportation planning; surveying; and land acquisition & appraisal. Our Roadway/Highway Design team is involved in a wide variety of street, roadway, highway and multi-modal transportation design projects for local public agencies and state DOT’s.
 
For over 40 years, Lochmueller Group has helped communities reinvent their future through thoughtful, actionable planning and design. Our dedication to building a team that demonstrates our corporate values (CARDIA) is what sets us apart:
 
CARDIA: Creativity; Accountability; Respect; Dedication; Integrity; Achievement
 
Lochmueller Group provides an excellent workplace culture established by our people who share these values. We are a 100% employee-owned company, and our people are invested in the success and continued development of each other and the firm. This is a great place to build a career and grow with a company that is dedicated to quality and service as we make a difference in our communities.
Lochmueller Group is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Lochgroup fully supports and maintains compliance with all state, federal, and local regulations. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected by federal, state, and local laws.

In this position, the candidate will:

  • Prepare preliminary and final roadway design plans, technical documents, and specifications under the guidance of senior engineers.
  • Perform roadway geometric design, corridor modeling, and drainage design tasks, including stormwater calculations, culvert and storm sewer design, and hydraulic analysis.
  • Conduct engineering analyses and standard computations; develop drawings, exhibits, and visual aids for roadway and drainage projects.
  • Coordinate work with entry‑level engineers, technicians, and other project team members as needed.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary design teams to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal roadway and drainage design standards.
  • Conduct field reviews to gather data for roadway and drainage assessments.
  • Utilize design software and tools such as AutoCAD, MicroStation, OpenRoads, or similar platforms for drafting, modeling, and analysis.
  • Support the development of project quantities, cost estimates, and design documentation.
  • Perform quality‑control self‑checks to ensure accuracy and completeness of assigned work.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
  • Qualifications for the role:

  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field from an ABET‑accredited program.
  • Passed FE/EIT exam.
  • 3–5+ years of relevant roadway design experience, preferably with exposure to drainage design for transportation projects.
  • Proficiency  with AutoCAD and/or MicroStation; experience with HY-8, HEC-RAS, StormCAD or similar hydraulic modeling software is a plus.
  • Strong understanding of roadway design principles, drainage design fundamentals, and applicable DOT/local agency standards.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office products including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
  • What We Offer:

  • Health & Wellness (medical, dental, vision, disability, and basic life insurance w/ option for additional voluntary life insurance)
  • Work/Life Balance (vacation, holidays, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, flexible scheduling & telecommuting opportunities)
  • Wealth-Building (401k w/ company match, student loan repayment benefit, ESOP, competitive compensation package)
  • Professional Benefits (professional membership dues, career & educational development)