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 .

Staff Scientist

Quantumsi25 · San Diego, CA

We are seeking a Staff Scientist in Applications Development team with a focus on proteomics to play a pivotal role in advancing QSI technology. In this position, you will be responsible for developing innovative methods aimed at the preparation of peptides and proteins from a diverse range of biological sample inputs. These methods will be optimized for sequencing on QSI’s single molecule protein sequencing platform. 

This is an individual contributor role requiring expertise in sample preparation, protocol optimization and application development. Your work will further enhance the capabilities and impact of our sequencing platform, supporting its continued growth and adoption within the field of proteomics. 

As a team member, your main duties include: 

  • Developing kits, protocols, and applications to the market to support next-generation protein sequencing adoption and usage. 
  • Creating and implementing sample preparation methods for preparing peptide libraries from digested proteins across various mammalian tissues (such as liver, brain, kidney), cells and body fluids. 
  • Establishing a sample preparation workflow for analyzing various post-translational modification to assess signaling pathways in disease contexts, with the goal of optimizing protocols suitable for next generation protein sequencing. 
  • Employing techniques such as quantitative luminescence-based assays (including single and dual-luciferase reporter assays), chemical synthesis, spectroscopy, and molecular biology to prepare proteins and peptides from various samples for sequencing. 
  • Improving current and developing new protein library preparation procedures to ensure reproducibility, reliability, and scalability. 
  • Analyzing scientific data using statistical approaches and software tools to inform decisions and continually improve protocols and system performance. 
  • Keeping detailed records of experiments, methods, and results in compliance with company standards to ensure traceability and accuracy. 

Qualifications 

Baseline skills/experiences/attributes: 

  • Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Proteomics, or related discipline. Postdoctoral experience in proteomics research is preferred. 
  • 6+ years working in sample preparation, protein extraction, purification and sample preparation for bottom-up proteomics application. 
  • Experience with protein purification, immunoprecipitation (IP) for exploration of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, separation, and analysis using techniques such as liquid chromatography, electrophoresis, and gel free approaches from various biological samples including cancer cell lines, human/mouse tissues and body fluids such as plasma, saliva, urine and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). 
  • Extensive experience of handling (maintaining) different cell lines, tissues and biofluids. Experience in extraction of proteins from cell lysates, tissue and biofluids. 
  • Expertise in executing quantitative luciferase reporter assays. 
  • Solid understanding of standard protein quantification methods (e.g., BCA, Bradford). 
  • Familiarity with standard lab equipment such as luminometers, plate readers, and homogenizers. 
  • Experience with cell culture techniques, including transfection and maintenance of different cancer cell lines 
  • Designing and implementing experimental strategies to enrich proteins, characterize proteins biochemically, with focus on PTMs (phosphorylation/glycosylation), and protein-protein interactions. 
  • Proven expertise in chemical synthesis, molecular biology, and bioanalytical techniques. 
  • Strong analytical aptitude with expertise in data interpretation and statistical analysis. 
  • Effective communication skills ( both written and verbal). 
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to be flexible and move to different projects. 

 

Ideally, you also have these skills/experiences/attributes (but it’s ok if you don’t!): 

  • Experience with mass spectrometry instrumentation and techniques used in bottom-up proteomics. 
  • Developing protocols and assays for single molecule detection. 
  • Experience using statistical analysis software. 

 

The estimated base salary range for this role based in the United States of America is: $150,000 - $180,000. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, level of the position,  an individual’s skills, knowledge and abilities, location where the role is to be performed, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Additionally, all full-time employees are eligible for our discretionary bonus program and equity as part of the compensation package.  

 

 

Quantum-Si does not accept agency resumes. 

 

Quantum-Si is an E-Verify and equal opportunity employer regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or Veteran status. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.