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 Estimator (Asbestos)

Nycsca · Queens

Build your career while building NYC schools!

The Construction Management Department administers all Capital projects performed in existing public school buildings and the construction of new schools. Construction Management will do so in a safe and efficient manner, working with the school and community to work efficiently, minimize the impact on the educational process while maintaining the highest standards of quality. 

Job Description Summary

The Senior Estimator is responsible for providing detailed cost estimates on new construction, rehabilitation, alterations, replacement systems, Capital Improvement projects (GIP), change orders and participate in cost negotiations in all disciplines in Change Orders. Some Senior Estimators are mostly responsible for CIP and Line Project estimates, while other Senior Estimators are responsible for Change Order estimates for all project types.

THIS POSITION REQUIRES ASBESTOS SPECIALTY

Job Description

Responsibilities include:

  • Prepares detailed cost estimates for construction projects.

  • Reviews and reports on contract estimates prepared by consultants and recommends if estimate is appropriate for Authority implementation.

  • Reviews contractor proposals and compares them to scope of work. Determines fair and reasonable value of work based on the proposal submitted. Delineates cost by trade and discipline.

  • Communicates with contractors and sub-contractors to explain the SCA point of view on reasonable cost of work.

  • Performs related duties, as assigned.

Change Order Unit Specialty Areas:

  • Environmental/Asbestos

Minimum Qualification:

  • High school diploma or its educational equivalent
  • Eight years of full time, technical experience; five years must have been in one of the estimating areas that you are applying for: environmental/asbestos; the remaining three years may have been in any combination of technical construction related areas or a satisfactory combination of education and experience.

POSTING CLOSING DATE: Until Filled

Civil Service Classification: Competitive

Salary:

  • Appointment Rate:$79,996.00 - $115,770.00
  • Incumbent Rate: $91,995.00 - $133,136.00

Subject to the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the appointment rate for any newly hired employee, or employees with less than two years of active City or SCA service, shall be 15% less than the applicable incumbent rate or step.

Education

High school diploma or its educational equivalent

Certifications (if required)

Work Experience

Eight years of full time, technical experience; five years must have been in one of the estimating areas that you are applying for: architecture/general construction, electrical, mechanical/HVAC/plumbing, environmental/asbestos; the remaining three years may have been in any combination of technical construction related areas or a satisfactory combination of education and experience. An undergraduate degree in construction/project management or related technical area, plus four years of full time experience performing estimation work in the specialty for which you are applying. A graduate degree in construction/project management or related technical area, plus two years of full time experience performing estimation work in the specialty for which you are applying.Selective Certification for Special Experience. Specialty areas are listed as follows: Architecture and Engineering.(1) General Construction,(2) Mechanical (Includes Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning [HVAC] and Plumbing and Drainage [P & D]),(3) Electrical. Change Order.(1) General Construction,(2) Mechanical/HVAC,(3) Mechanical/P & D(4) Electrical,(5) Environmental/Asbestos.

It is the policy of the New York City School Construction Authority (NYCSCA) to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, the NYCSCA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals.

 

We offer exceptional benefits including:

* Medical (100% employer paid for basic coverage available)

* Prescription Drug Options

* Dental & Vision Coverage

* NYC Qualified Pension Plan (QPP)

* Optional Retirement Savings Plans including 401K, 457 and IRA options

* Transit Check Program

* Public Loan Forgiveness Program

* Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) Benefits

 

As part of our ongoing commitment to employee growth and development, the SCA’s Learning and Development (L&D) program offers a variety of valuable benefits. These include tuition reimbursement for continued education that is directly related to your current role, as well as access to a broad range of individual and organizational training opportunities. Trainings on leadership development, technical skill-building, compliance, personal and professional growth. These programs are designed to strengthen performance, boost engagement, and ensure our workforce is fully equipped to meet both current and future organizational goals.

 

The SCA is interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. The SCA is not able to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.  We participate in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: https://www.e-verify.gov/employees