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 .

Breast Pathologist - PRN

Shusa · Rye Brook, NY

Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities and Position Qualifications:

We're not just a workplace - we're a Great Place to Work certified employer!

Proudly certified as a Great Place to Work, we are dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive environment. At Sonic Healthcare USA, we emphasize teamwork and innovation. Check out our job openings and advance your career with a company that values its team members!

You put the pro in medical laboratory professional. You’ve got problem-solving instincts, a passion for patient care, and the technical training to deliver quality results. You’re also looking for great benefits, the support of an all-star team, and an opportunity to grow your career.

Join our front line of #HealthcareHeroes! Our mission is to advance the health and wellbeing of our communities as a leader in clinical laboratory solutions.

LOCATION:  760 Westchester Ave, Rye Brook, NY 10573

HOURS: per diem

PART TIME:  per diem

PAY RANGE: $300K to $400K

New graduates welcome to apply!

In this role, you will:

  • Perform a vital part of the patient care process through preparation, gross description, and dissection of human tissue surgical specimens

  • Recognize when corrective action is needed and implement effective solutions

  • Work in a fast-paced laboratory environment with biological and chemical hazards

  • Champion safety, compliance, and quality control

All you need is:

  • Bachelor of Science or Masters Pathologist Assistant program from a NCCLS accredited institution

  • 1 year of laboratory experience grossing all tissue types from simple to complex

  • Certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists BOC

  • Strong reading, writing, and analytical skills

  • Ability to operate general laboratory equipment, including but not limited to: telephones, computers, automated analyzers, centrifuges, microscopes, manual and automated pipettes, and audible alarms.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

1

Work Shift:

Job Category:

Pathology

Company:

CBL Path, Inc.

We’ll give you:

  • Appreciation for your work

  • A feeling of satisfaction that you’ve helped people

  • Opportunity to grow in your profession

  • Free lab services for you and your dependents

  • Work-life balance, including Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays

  • Competitive benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance

  • Help saving for retirement, with a 401(k) plus a company match

  • A sense of belonging – we’re a community!

We also want you to know:

This role will have routine access to Protected Health Information (PHI). Employees will be trained on reasonable safeguards and are expected to maintain strict confidentiality, as well as abide by all applicable privacy and security standards.  Employees are expected only to access PHI when it is required to fulfill job duties.

Sonic Healthcare USA is an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and is committed to an inclusive workplace for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

View full listing