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 .

Electrical Technician

United Rentals · Portland, OR, USA

Great company. Great people. Great opportunities.

If you’d like the chance to make your mark with the world’s largest equipment rental provider, come build your future with United Rentals!

As an Electrical Technician, you will use your skills to perform maintenance and preventative maintenance tasks, as well as minor repairs on equipment, in a safe and professional manner. Every day, you can improve and challenge yourself, and if you have the desire and ambition, you’ll have the potential to work towards higher level Tech roles in our Service Department. Like every member of our team, we will rely on you to provide exceptional customer service to our customers.

What you'll do:

  • Perform maintenance checks on rental equipment before and after use for damage, operational condition, ohm check, amp check, safety decals, and safety compliance

  • Report the machine condition to the counter person or Service Manager for appropriate billing to the customer

  • Load and unload equipment while complying with DOT regulations for height, width, and weight

  • Clean all equipment, and prepare equipment for new rental contracts or for sale

  • Check the equipment, demonstrate the proper use of it, and familiarize the customer with each piece of equipment

  • Perform minor repairs on rental equipment and tools in a safe manner including contactor/relay cleaning, small component replacement, and tag equipment for rental ready status

  • Assist higher-level technicians as needed

  • Assist in the pickup and delivery of equipment and parts to and from outside vendors and other United Rentals, Inc. locations for purchases or repairs

  • Other duties assigned as needed

Requirements:

  • High School diploma or equivalent

  • Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record

  • Ability to frequently lift items up to 45 lbs.

  • Basic verbal and written skills

  • Basic electrical aptitude

  • Must own tools applicable to this position and have a working knowledge of tools

  • Strong teamwork and customer service skills

  • Ability to understand the rental cycle

This position is deemed Safety Sensitive for purposes of United Rentals’ policies and procedures.

Why join us?

We don’t just “talk the talk!” We’re an award-winning company (recently named a Glassdoor Best Place to Work in 2026) that truly cares about our people - That’s why we offer best-in-class benefits and perks that will support you and your family. In addition to our health and financial plans, we also offer:

  • Paid Parental Leave

  • United Compassion Fund

  • Employee Discount Program

  • Career Development & Promotional Opportunities

  • Additional Vacation Buy Up Program (US Only)

  • Early Wage Access through Payactiv (US Hourly Only)

  • Paid Sick Leave

  • An inclusive and welcoming culture

Explore our comprehensive U.S. benefit offerings

For Canadian benefits, click here

United Rentals, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes employment decisions regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other status protected by law. If you need a reasonable accommodation at any point of the application process, please email [email protected] for assistance.

At United Rentals, we proudly hire active duty members, veterans, reservists, and their families. The values that define your service—leadership, discipline, integrity, and teamwork—are the same values that drive our success. With many veterans already part of our team, we’re ready to help you transition into a rewarding career.

United Rentals consists of a wide variety of roles with different duties and responsibilities. The actual pay rate offered to candidates varies depending upon a wide range of factors including specific position, location, education, training, experience, skills, and ability.