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 .

Logistics Clerk I

Merit · Richmond, VA

Why Merit?

At Merit Medical, our mission is to create innovative medical devices that improve lives. Our goal is to hire and develop people who want to build something special through hard work, team effort, and commitment. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of patients around the world.

WORK SHIFT

DAY

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

Responsible for picking, packing, and shipping finished goods for customer orders.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS PERFORMED

1.    Prints picking and packing slips for the shipment of customer orders.
2.    Pulls product to fill customer orders while verifying the accuracy of the picking and packaging slips.
3.    Weighs packages and puts shipping and tracking labels on packages which correspond with the shipment method of the order.
4.    Packages sample orders and prepares Marketing and Sales special orders for shipment and verifies shipment methods.
5.    Stocks various product in the warehouse while ensuring that racks are organized, the warehouse is clean, and product packages are in their proper locations.
6.    Performs various warehouse and shipping tasks, as required.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

•    Lifting -- Not to exceed 50 lbs. -- local practice may apply.
•    Writing
•    Sitting
•    Standing
•    Bending
•    Visual acuity
•    Color perception
•    Depth perception
•    Reading
•    Field of vision/peripheral
•    Fine motor skills
•    Noise

SUMMARY OF MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

•    Education equivalent to a High School Diploma.
•    Three months of work experience. 
•    Ability to be neat and organized and pay extreme attention to detail.
•    Must be able to work under strict time constraints and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
•    Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with others.
•    Effective written and verbal communication skills.
•    Demonstrated computer skills preferably spreadsheets, word processing, database and other applicable software programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

•    Three months of previous warehouse experience.

COMPETENCIES

•    Picking/packing slip printing
•    Product retrieval/order filling/picking and packing slip verification
•    Package weighing/label placement
•    Sample order packaging/shipment preparation/shipment method verification
•    Product stocking

COMMENTS

Infectious Control Risk Category III:

The risk category explains whether or not employees are likely to come into contact with blood or body fluids while performing their jobs.  Risk category III states employment and procedures that do not require exposure.
 

As an eligible Merit employee, you can expect the following:

* Multiple Shifts and Hours to choose from: Days, Swing (Eve), and Nights

* Medical/Dental & Other Insurances (eligible the first of month after 30 days)

* Low Cost Onsite Medical Clinic

* Two (2) Onsite Cafeterias

* Employee Garden | Gardening Classes

* 3 Weeks' Vacation | 1 Week Sick-Time | Paid Holidays

* 401K | Health Savings Account

To see more on our culture, go to www.merit.com/careers.

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