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 .

PMV Athlete 1

Nike · Toronto, Ontario

Shift:

Monday - Friday 7AM - 3:30PM

Overview

 This role will require a driver certification

Core Accountabilities

·       Operate Order Picker, Dock Stocker, Single/Double Walkie

·       Follow all safety guidelines

·       Maintain average locations counted per hour as required

·       Provide consistent high level of customer service and quality of work following existing SOP’s

·       Maintain durability of lift trucks; inspect daily, reporting any equipment problems to immediate supervisor

·       Strict adherence to all Nike safety policies, rules, and procedures

·       Report any unsafe conditions. Take appropriate measures to protect your own safety and that of your colleagues

·       Offer recommendations for improvement in process to support improvements in service, productivity, health and safety or work environment.

·       Keep area tidy

·       Must be able to interact effectively and work successfully with a diverse group of people on all levels to reach common goals

·       Participate in team meetings, present MDI numbers, embrace and champion lean principles

·       Ability to multitask and support different business functions as required

Other Duties:

·       Must be willing to work in other areas as required as well as weekends and overtime as needed

·       Lifting between 10lbs – 50lbs

·       Standing for long periods of time

·       Operation of Pump Truck

Competencies:

·       Flexibility

·       Attention to detail

·       Analytical/problem solving skills

·       Team player

·       Work well independently as well as with a team

·       Time management

·       Strong verbal and written communication skills

·       Ability to multi-task, prioritize work and meet deadlines

·       Ability to do repetitive tasks for extended periods of time

·       Familiar with WM / RF functionality

·       MS Office / Outlook

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.

Nous offrons plusieurs mesures d’adaptation pour faciliter notre processus d’entrevue, notamment des lecteurs d’écran, des interprètes en langue des signes, un lieu accessible et unique pour les entrevues en personne, le sous-titrage, ainsi que d’autres ajustements raisonnables au besoin. Si, au cours de votre navigation dans notre processus de candidature, vous constatez que vous avez besoin d’aide ou d’une mesure d’adaptation en raison d’un handicap, veuillez remplir le formulaire de demande d’adaptation pour les candidats.

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