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 .

Executive Assistant

Signers · Manhattan NY

Signers National is a leading insurance platform that provides a range of brokerage and underwriting services to organizations of all sizes. Starting in 2008 as a small retail broker focused on nonprofit & human service organizations, Signers has since expanded its portfolio to include commercial real estate and transportation. Signers is a socially conscious organization boasting an amazing culture of relentless grit and continuous improvement. We go to work every day to positively affect people's lives, and we strive to do the same for our employees.

 

Executive Support

  • Manage and maintain the executive’s calendar, including scheduling meetings, appointments, and travel arrangements.
  • Screen and prioritize emails, calls, and correspondence on behalf of the executive.
  • Prepare reports, presentations, and meeting materials.
  • Attend meetings, take notes, and follow up on action items.
  • Handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Office Administration

  • Assist in office operations, ensuring a well-organized and efficient workspace.
  • Coordinate with office services for office supplies, equipment, and vendor relationships.
  • Coordinate company events, meetings, and team gatherings.
  • Assist with expense tracking, budgeting, and invoice processing.

Personal Assistance

  • Handle personal errands and tasks, such as scheduling personal appointments, shopping, and managing household matters.
  • Coordinate travel arrangements for both business and personal trips.
  • Assist with event planning for personal and professional gatherings.
  • Maintain an organized filing system for personal and business documents.

Signers is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Signers is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Signers will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. We believe that variety in experience makes us stronger as individuals, as communities, and as a company. Fostering an environment where all employees feel empowered to bring their authentic self to work is our priority