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 .

Associate Director, Formulation Development

Maplighttherapeutics · Remote

Who We Are: MapLight Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotech company that focuses on drug discovery for central nervous system disorders. We combine cutting-edge technologies including optogenetics, in vivo physiology, and spatial transcriptomics to identify novel drug targets and develop effective therapies to address psychiatric symptoms.

What You’ll Do:

We are seeking a motivated and talented Associate Director to join the formulation development group in the CMC department.  Reporting to the Director of Formulation Development, the desired candidate will lead drug product development initiatives in collaboration with external CDMOs for MapLight’s pipeline programs.  This is a great opportunity to join a small team and grow in a fast-paced environment to bring drug products from initial concept to patients.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead development of small molecule solid-oral dosage formulations from pre-IND to Phase 3 including:
    • Assess API physical and chemical properties as it relates to drug product manufacturability, performance and stability
    • Evaluate phase-appropriate formulation approaches and enabling technologies to achieve the target drug product profile
    • Design experiments to optimize the formulation and manufacturing process
  • Oversee formulation development and GMP manufacturing activities at CDMOs:
    • Lead DP endor section activities as necessary ad manage vendor relationship
    • Effectively communicate scope of work, timelines, and priorities and monitor the deliverables and performance as it relates to the project objectives
    • Drive review of batch records, protocols, reports, and other vendor documents
    • Provide technical expertise and guidance to troubleshoot development and manufacturing challenges
    • On-site presence for batch manufacturing activities at the CDMO as needed
  • Represent formulation development group in cross-functional team and effectively communicate project status and technical risks with appropriate solutions
  • Work closely with QA to ensure GMP activities are conducted in accordance with internal QMS
  • Author/review internal technical reports and drug product sections of regulatory filings
  • You can participate and work effectively with multiple cross-functional teams.
  • You have strong interpersonal skills and understand relationships are key to being successful.
  • You are a leader. Teams love working with you, and you are someone who takes pride in mentoring and supporting the careers of others.
  • You’re a team player who is willing to roll-up your sleeves and get the job done.

Qualifications:

  • Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Science, Material Science or equivalent with commensurate experience (BS 12+, MS 8+, PhD 5+)
  • Experience managing drug product activities at external CDMOs
  • Experience in solid oral drug product development from preclinical to late phase clinical development
  • Strong understanding of solid oral dosage formulation technologies, processes and equipment
  • Knowledge of chemical and physiochemical techniques used to characterize drug products
  • Knowledge of cGMP and current quality and regulatory guidelines
  • Demonstrated ability to problem solve, think strategically, and effectively communicate in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to self-motivate and work independently

Location:

  • This is a remote position. Preference given to candidates who are commutable to our office in Burlington, MA.

Travel:

  • Ability to travel up to 25% of time

 

 

 

Compensation for this role may vary within the above range based on many factors including geographic location, candidate experience, and skills. Additional compensation/benefits include annual bonus opportunity, medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D, short term and long term disability, 401(K) plan with match, stock options, flexible non-accrual paid time off, and parental leave.

Salary Range
$180,000$220,000 USD

EEOC Statement: MapLight Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.