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 .

Senior Project Manager - Greenways

Mcadams · Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

McAdams is a full-service land planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, transportation, and geomatics firm located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. We seek to partner with our clients to create meaningful experiences through inspired design. Our employees are what make McAdams different. We bring experiences to the forefront of everything we do, and to do that takes special people.

Position Overview 

McAdams is expanding our industry-leading Active Transportation and Greenways practice and is seeking a Senior Project Manager to help lead our team. The selected candidate will possess strong analytical, communication, and production skills and experience. Suppose you are looking to build a career in the transportation field and want to make a difference in creating sustainable communities with safe modes of transportation for users of all ages and abilities. In that case, McAdams is the right team for you.  Our Active Transportation and Greenways practice provides a full spectrum of planning and design services to our clients, and we are looking to further expand our capabilities nationally. 

The ideal candidate will have a passion for advancing Active Transportation infrastructure, including greenways, multi-use paths, sidewalks, and on-street bicycle facilities. The Project Manager leads and oversees all phases of active transportation design projects, ensuring successful delivery from design through construction. This role is responsible for managing project teams, maintaining client relationships, and ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest technical standards. The Project Manager coordinates design efforts, manages resources, handles permitting and regulatory compliance, and ensures quality control across all deliverables. Additionally, the role involves business development, risk management, and mentoring junior staff, contributing to the growth and success of the firm. 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Lead and manage all aspects of active transportation projects, ensuring successful delivery from concept through construction administration. Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, stakeholders, and internal teams, driving alignment on project goals, timelines, and budgets 
  • Develop and maintain strong client relationships by providing exceptional service, managing client expectations, and ensuring project satisfaction. Identify and pursue opportunities for repeat business and referrals 
  • Oversee and mentor project teams, providing guidance, support, and direction. Foster a collaborative environment, ensuring clear communication and smooth coordination between design staff, subconsultants, and other project team members 
  • Develop, manage, and track project budgets and schedules to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. Allocate resources effectively to meet project deadlines and address any potential issues proactively. 
  • Lead permitting efforts, working with local agencies and municipalities to ensure timely approvals and compliance with applicable regulations. Address agency comments and facilitate site permitting processes 
  • Identify and mitigate project risks and resolve any technical or design challenges promptly. Proactively address issues that may impact project timelines, budgets, or client relationships 
  • Ensure the quality of all project deliverables, conducting regular reviews of design documents, construction drawings, reports, and specifications to maintain accuracy and compliance with company standards 
  • Manage relationships with external subconsultants, contractors, and vendors to ensure their deliverables meet project requirements and timelines. Collaborate with these parties to ensure seamless project execution 
  • Actively contribute to business development efforts by identifying potential project opportunities, drafting proposals, and participating in client presentations. Develop strategies to expand the firm’s presence in the market. 
  • Carries out supervisory responsibilities for staff in accordance with the Firm’s policies and applicable laws (plans, assigns, and directs work; performance appraisals; rewarding of employees; addresses complaints and resolves problems) 
  • Provide mentorship to junior project managers, engineers, and staff, helping to develop their technical and project management skills. Share knowledge and promote continuous learning across the team. 
  • Prepare and present project updates to stakeholders, including progress reports, budget status, and risk assessments. Maintain accurate project documentation for internal and client reference. 
  • Perform other duties as assigned 

Skills + Experience 

  • Four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in Civil Engineering or related field required 
  • PE registration with the  ability to be licensed within multiple states through comity  
  • Minimum of 8 years of experience in transportation design in the public or private sector 
  • Demonstrated corridor modeling expertise in Civil 3D is essential. Experience with Microstation / Open Roads Designer a plus. 
  • Strong understanding of local, state, and federal regulations related to permitting processes, particularly NACTO and AASHTO standards related to greenway and active transportation design 
  • Excellent ability to manage budgets, schedules, and resources. Experience with risk management and problem-solving. 
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead meetings, present information, and interact with clients and stakeholders. 
  • Ability to lead teams, mentor junior staff, and foster a collaborative work environment. 
  • Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong client relationships with a focus on delivering high-quality service 

McAdams is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard for race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran's status, or any other legally protected status.

If you need assistance with our online application system process, please contact the Human Resources Team at 919.361.5000 or [email protected]

Please read these notices for important information regarding applying for work with McAdams.