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 .

Sales Development Representative

Reflex · Austin, Texas, United States

Austin, TX (Hybrid)

Early-stage, venture-backed

About Reflex

Reflex is building the infrastructure that powers modern retail labor. By 2030, Reflex will look like the largest retail workforce in the world without owning a single store.

More than sixteen million Americans work in retail stores today, yet staffing remains reactive, inefficient, and costly for both retailers and workers. Retailers struggle with unreliable coverage and limited visibility into labor performance, while workers face unpredictable schedules and inconsistent income.

Reflex addresses this problem through a real-time, on-demand retail labor marketplace that connects national retail brands with trained, high-performing workers. The platform enables stores to flex staffing dynamically as demand changes, while creating performance-driven opportunities for workers. We're scaling fast with some of the most notable brands in retail and are live in over 1,200+ active stores in the US.

Who You Are

You're a proactive, ambitious, and hungry sales professional who thrives on creating opportunities out of nothing. You're an outbound hunter at heart — but this isn't just about dialing a list. You want to build something. You're excited by the idea of coming in early, establishing the outbound playbook, and leaving your fingerprints on how Reflex scales its sales motion. You're a clear communicator who can simplify a complex value proposition, stay organized, and quickly build urgency with prospects. You never quit — and you see this role for what it is: the foundation of a long-term sales career with a clear path to Account Executive.

What You’ll Work On

As Reflex's first SDR, you'll own the top of the funnel and play a critical role in scaling Reflex's B2B pipeline with national and regional retail brands.

  • Own and build the outbound motion — sequences, messaging, cadences, and targeting from scratch
  • Create and execute strategic outbound campaigns via cold calling, email, and social media to connect with key retail decision-makers (VP of Ops, Store Directors, HR/Workforce leaders)
  • Drive top-of-funnel pipeline by initiating conversations and qualifying opportunities for Account Executives
  • Use Salesforce and other sales tools to build prospect lists, craft messaging, execute outreach, and track results
  • Conduct value-driven conversations with prospects, focused on their labor challenges and how Reflex solves them
  • Become a retail labor market expert — understanding industry trends, competitive dynamics, and the pain points of both retailers and workers

Your Success Profile

You'll thrive here if you:

  • Bring Grit — You're committed to the mission and have the courage to grind through the early innings of building something new. You don't wait to be told what to do.
  • Are Results-Driven — You're an overachiever who consistently hits goals and perseveres under pressure.You keep score.
  • Communicate Clearly — You simplify complex topics and articulate value in a way that builds urgency and excitement. You can go off-script and still land the message.
  • Show Good Judgment — You're a critical thinker who identifies the right targets, the right message, and the right moment.
  • Stay Adaptable — Early-stage means things change fast. You adjust quickly and keep moving.
  • Think Like a Builder — You're here to execute the outbound system and help to design it.

About You

  • Ability to research and identify target prospects using a variety of tools
  • Comfortable with high-volume outbound outreach via phone, email, and social media
  • Strong communication skills; ability to break down complex topics into simple, compelling terms
  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • CRM proficiency (Salesforce a plus)
  • Prior sales or customer-facing experience preferred but not required — we care more about drive than resume

What We Offer

  • Competitive base salary + incentive compensation
  • A path to Account Executive
  • Meaningful equity at a stage where ownership matters
  • Direct access to founders and leadership
  • Full health benefits and flexible, trust-based unlimited vacation policy
  • Hybrid work environment in our Austin, TX office

For the right person, this is the ground-floor opportunity to build something iconic in the retail labor space — and grow your career alongside it.

Our customers and workers come from every background, and our team does too. Reflex is proud to be an inclusive employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration.