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 .

Senior Frontend Engineer

Zipcolimited · Melbourne

  • Lead the development of internal tools, component libraries and robust SDKs, leveraging React, Typescript and Node.js.
  • Take full responsibility for Zip's internal web apps and oversee their entire lifecycle, ensuring quick production releases in a dynamic setting.
  • Hybrid working arrangement with two team connect days in the office.

Write your story with Zip

Join Zip’s Technology function, responsible for building and maintaining seamless, secure and sustainable platforms that enable customers to shop with confidence and merchant partners to grow their brands.

As part of the Internal Tooling squad, you will own the ecosystem of web applications, component libraries, and SDKs that empower Zipsters to work efficiently. You'll work on high impact tools that quickly go live, keeping our internal systems polished and high performing.

What you’ll own

  • Lead the design and maintenance of high-performing internal applications using React, TypeScript, and Node.js.
  • Develop and evolve Zip’s design system and reusable component libraries (e.g., ShadCN, Material UI).
  • Modernise and improve build pipelines, bundling, and dependency management tooling.
  • Optimise application performance, focusing on bundle size, rendering patterns, and runtime behaviour.
  • Mentor and elevate other engineers, championing engineering best practices and a culture of quality.

What you’ll bring to the team

  • 8+ years of frontend engineering experience with React and Typescript.
  • Experience with modern UI frameworks and component libraries such as ShadCN, Radix UI, Material UI, or equivalent.
  • Strong Node.js fundamentals and a deep understanding of modern CSS patterns like Tailwind or CSS Modules.
  • Exposure to GraphQL and API integration patterns.
  • Exposure to React Native.
  • Proven experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing (Jest, Cypress), and production monitoring tools.
  • A mindset that embraces AI and new tools to adapt, learn and grow.
  • An aptitude for identifying and managing risks, acting as a leader regardless of your formal title.
  • Our values in your DNA: Customer First, Own It, Stronger Together and Change the Game.

What you’ll get in return

As we write this next exciting chapter in our story, we will continue to move at pace and embrace change. For you, this might mean opportunities to learn new skills with hands on experience, broader responsibilities, or the buzz of seeing your work impact customers faster.

Zip is a place where you’ll get out exactly what you put in. When you join the team, we'll do our best to make sure you can be yourself and surround yourself with smart, friendly colleagues and leaders who have your back, so that you can make the big things happen.

Zipsters tell us these are just some of the best things about working here. You’ll also receive:

  • 25 days paid leave annually, including birthday leave and quarterly wellbeing days.
  • 16 weeks paid parental leave for primary carers, and 4 weeks for supporting carers.
  • Family support policies including miscarriage bereavement leave and domestic violence leave.
  • Mental health and wellness initiatives, including $299 annual wellbeing allowance, free access to Sonder, and discounted health insurance.
  • 2 days paid volunteering leave, 2 days study leave and 2 days religious or cultural leave per year.
  • Fee-free Zip products and discounts with Zip merchant partners.
  • Team social events, epic offices, free breakfast daily, and weekly free lunches in Sydney.

Be a part of a team that reflects the diversity of our customers

We pride ourselves on being a workplace that provides equal opportunities to people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, veteran status, and everything else that makes you unique.

Equally, we’re committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive. Please let us know if there are any adjustments that need to be made to ensure you have a fair and equitable experience.

And finally…get to know us

Zip Co Limited (ASX: ZIP) is a digital financial services company, offering innovative, people-centred products. Operating in two core markets - Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) and the US, Zip offers access to point-of-sale credit and digital payment services, connecting millions of customers with its global network of tens of thousands of merchants.

We’re proud to be a values-led business and our values - Customer First, Own it, Stronger Together and Change the Game - guide us in everything we do.

#LI-Hybrid

 

View full listing