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 .

Lead Building Controls Technician (Chicago)

Runwise · Chicago, Illinois

Runwise (www.runwise.com) is a fast-paced, customer-focused climate-tech company that controls and runs the key energy systems (heating, water, etc…) in 10,000+ buildings throughout the US. Runwise’s unique hardware and software service significantly reduces energy usage, substantially lowering costs and carbon output. As of today, Runwise’s technology takes the equivalent of 80,000 cars worth of carbon emissions off the road each year.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Lead Boiler Controls Technician installs Runwise control and sensor networks in residential and commercial buildings and provides service calls.

  • Install Runwise control and setup internet connection
  • Install wired and wireless network sensors throughout buildings
  • Test control and wireless network systems
  • Navigate the anatomy of a boiler room and identify components in both steam and hydronic systems
  • Coordinate installations with team scheduler
  • Update and maintain various tracking systems to manage customer installation information that is critical for technology, monitoring and finance teams across the company
  • Maintain necessary parts inventory in technicians' service van


REQUIRED WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Experience in the electrical, heating, and/or HVAC field
  • Must also have knowledge and understanding of computers and circuits
  • Must have a clean and valid driver's license

Ideal candidates should also come with:

  • Effective multi-tasking and efficient time management capabilities
  • Natural initiative and problem solving skills
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Strong sense of ownership in work
  • Positive attitude
  • Computer literacy with experience in Microsoft Office and Google Docs/Sheets
  • Conversational Spanish is a plus

Hourly Wage: $35.00-$50.00 per hour (Based on experience)

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast-growing company and create a career path beyond this initial role. You will be surrounded by talented people where you will learn about real estate and software/managed services sales at a very fast growing tech company, whilst having a tangible impact on reducing carbon emissions across the country.

Runwise is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We celebrate and support diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences within our company.

What you believe: 

  • No job is too small.
  • Sincerity builds trust.
  • Setbacks fuel progress.
  • Efficiency is vital.

Benefits:

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • HSA & FSA options
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Access to Talkspace & Health Advocate
  • Flexible PTO
  • 401K
  • Company paid life insurance
  • Voluntary supplemental life insurance
  • Summer Fridays
  • Employee Resource Groups

 

 

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