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 .

Manager, Deal Desk, Americas

Qualys · Raleigh

Come work at a place where innovation and teamwork come together to support the most exciting missions in the world!

Job Title: Americas Deal Desk Manager
Department: Revenue Operations
Reports To: Sr. Global Deal Desk Manager

We are looking for a motivated Deal Desk Manager to join our team and support the execution of deals across various customer segments.

Job Summary:

Lead our deal desk function in the Americas as the go-to partner for complex SaaS deals. As the Americas Deal Desk Manager, you’ll drive efficient approvals, assist with commercial structuring, and ensure deals align with both customer needs and company goals.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Partner with Sales leadership to drive deal velocity while validating adherence to pricing, finance, and compliance policies.
  • Train and enable Sales teams on Deal Desk policies, quoting tools, and best practices.
  • Contribute to system enhancements and process automation to improve efficiency and scalability.
  • Manage the quote approval queue to ensure timely turnaround while maintaining in adherence to company guidelines.
  • Serve as the primary escalation point for quoting issues in the Americas.
  • Implement, document, and enforce deal desk processes, approval matrices, and escalation paths.
  • Bridge gaps between Sales, Finance, Legal, Product, and Customer Success to streamline deal execution.
  • Act as a strategic advisor to Sales leadership, helping craft deal strategies that maximize profitability and long-term customer value.
  • Balance customer requirements with company policies to achieve win-win outcomes.
  • Coordinate Deal Desk operations to provide consistent support during Americas business hours.
  • Lead, develop, and support Deal Desk team members based in the U.S. and outside of the US.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • 5+ years of experience in Deal Desk, Sales, Sales Operations, or Revenue Operations within a SaaS or other technology-based business.
  • Robust understanding of SaaS pricing, SaaS contracts, and ASC 606 revenue recognition principles.
  • Strong skills within CRM and CPQ.
  • Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive alignment in a fast-paced environment.
  • Detail-oriented, with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex deal structures and navigate tradeoffs between business goals and customer needs.

Qualys is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy.

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