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 .

Administrative Assistant/Paralegal Clerk

Wilsonelser · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Wilson Elser is a leading defense litigation law firm with more than 1400 attorneys in 46 offices throughout the United States. Founded in 1978, we rank among the top 100 law firms identified by The American Lawyer and 36 in the National Law Journal’s survey of the nation’s largest law firms. 

Our firm is committed to attracting and retaining professionals who value each other and the service we provide by embracing Teamwork, Collaboration, Client Service, and Innovation.  If you are a motivated professional looking for a long-term fit where you can grow in a role, and will be valued and empowered, then we invite you to apply to our Administrative Assistant/Paralegal Clerk position in our Milwaukee Office.  

The Position

Wilson Elser's Milwaukee office is looking for a full time Administrative Assistant/Paralegal Clerk. This is a great opportunity for a recent college graduate who is interested in the legal industry.

This position is on-site in our Milwaukee office. 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Administrative support to paralegals and director of paralegal services.
  • Data entry in workflow management software.
  • Processing vendor invoices and following up on payment status.
  • Paralegal tasks such as processing authorizations for medical records, tracking those requests and following up with medical providers on outstanding records.
  • Manage documents and organize electronic case files.
  • Serve as liaison between IT department and local office for technology needs.

Qualifications

  • Must have a bachelor's degree
  • Strong computer and keyboarding skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite and document management systems
  • Attention to detail and organizational skills are critical
  • Clear and effective communication skills both orally and in writing
  • Must be able to multitask and successfully manage a variety of demands daily
  • Must be able to work independently and be proactive
  • Good problem solving, planning, confidentiality, and time management skills are important
  • Ability to work well in a team environment

Why Should You Apply? 

  • Benefits: Outstanding benefits package, including 401k match and generous PTO plan
  • Career Growth: Ample opportunities for professional development and advancement
  • Employee Perks: Access to corporate discount plans and other benefits
Wilson Elser welcomes submissions of candidates for our open positions exclusively from recruitment agencies with an active, signed fee agreement who have been granted access to a position through our dedicated Recruitment Agency Portal. We are unable to consider submissions from recruitment agencies without a current (dated as of 7/1/2024) agreement in place. We appreciate your understanding. For collaboration inquiries or to establish an agreement, please contact us at [email protected].
Wilson Elser is committed to a collegial work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.  It is the Firm's policy that employment will be based on merit, qualifications, and competence. Further, employment decisions will be made without regard to an applicants race, color, age, sex, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, physical or mental disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offenses, or stalking, past or present service in the uniformed services or application or obligation to serve in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected by law. 
Wilson Elser endeavors to make the Wilson Elser website accessible to any and all users.  You may review our Accessibility Policy here.
California Residents may review our CCPA notice for applicants and employees here.
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