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 .

Planning Associate

Modera Wealth Management · Charlotte, NC

Why work at Modera Wealth?

Modera Wealth Management is an independent, fee-only firm that strives to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of our clients through comprehensive financial planning and intelligent investment management. Modera is fast-growing and has a track record of providing career development opportunities from entry level to ownership.

Since 1983, Modera has been committed to being an advisor firm, and not a firm of advisors. Our growth has been driven by a desire to give clients a personalized service experience with our distinct combination of professional excellence and a friendly, relatable work style. Through this vision, we have grown to more than 200 employees in 19 offices along the East Coast, managing more than $15B in assets for more than 6,000 individuals, families, and businesses.

Job Overview:

We are looking for a Planning Associate that will be responsible supporting our lead advisors in our Charlotte, NC office.

Responsibilities:

  • Supporting Lead Advisors in all aspects of delivering excellent client service in a wide range of client activities, including onboarding of new assets
  • Completing work that is accurate on a timely basis, juggling multiple projects while documenting progress so that other team members are informed
  • Assisting with preparation for client meetings
  • Preparing client Investment Policy Statements and asset allocation reports
  • Communicating with clients, as well as their accountants and attorneys, verbally and in writing
  • Attending client meetings and assisting with documentation and follow up actions
  • Maintain a willingness to pitch in when needed with visitors, answering phones, and scheduling meetings

Duties and responsibilities over time:

  • Conducting in-depth client interviews to gather personal financial data and to formulate planning goals
  • Developing comprehensive financial plans focusing on investment strategy, tax, retirement and estate planning, executive compensation, risk management, cash flow and education funding
  • Assisting clients with the implementation of their financial plans
  • Participating in client meetings to support the primary relationship manager
  • Reviewing and interpreting investment allocation trading reports
  • Collaborating with the client service team to facilitate and monitor client service activities
  • Occasional travel may be required

 

What are we looking for?

We want a team player who can leverage the strength of the firm to deliver outstanding results and solutions. We are looking for people who embody Modera’s core values:

  • Confident Humility – a quintessential team player, willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, with pragmatic optimism
  • Contagious Growth Mindset – a continuous learner with intellectual curiosity who strives for excellence and inspires others
  • Trusted Relationships – supportive and authentic with mutual respect for colleagues

Qualifications:

  • Minimum: Bachelor’s Degree
  • 0-3 years of financial planning experience desirable or equivalent financial planning coursework
  • Obtainment of FINRA Series 65 required during first twelve months; registration handled by Modera’s compliance department
  • Team player, able to work well with all levels of the firm, and pitch in wherever needed

 

Skills and Competencies:

  • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Working knowledge of planning strategies and solutions
  • Highly proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Team player, able to work well with all levels of the firm, and pitch in wherever needed

Benefits:

  • Performance-based bonus
  • Safe Harbor 401(k) plan
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Flex-Spending Account, Long-Term and Short-Term Disability and Life insurance
  • Paid vacation
  • Opportunities for professional growth and continuing education
  • Partial remote work
  • Salary range: $60,000-85,000 annually, non-exempt
  • Pay ranges are job specific and are provided as a point of market reference for compensation decisions. Other factors which directly impact pay for individual associates include: experience, skills, knowledge, contribution, job location, and most importantly, performance in the job role

Modera Wealth Management, LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We value your privacy. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information throughout the application process.

No phone calls.  All inquiries will be held in the strictest confidence.  For more information about the firm, please visit www.ModeraWealth.com.

Modera Wealth Management., LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser with places of business in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Florida. SEC registration does not imply any level of skill or training. Modera may only transact business in those states in which it is registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements.

For additional information about Modera, including its registration status, fees, and services and/or a copy of our Form ADV Disclosure Brochure, please contact us or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure web site (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov). A full description of the firm’s business operations and service offerings is contained in our Disclosure Brochure which appears as Part 2A of Form ADV. Please read the Disclosure Brochure carefully before you invest or send money.