ATS & Resume Glossary
Definitions linked to guides and the free ATS resume checker. Browse resume resources and blog for deeper workflows.
- Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
- Software employers use to collect applications, parse resumes into fields, and search candidates by keywords.
- Read guide →
- Parse rate / parse health
- How cleanly a resume extracts into text fields—broken order or missing sections lower effective keyword match.
- Read guide →
- Keyword match
- Overlap between resume text and job posting terms recruiters or filters search for.
- Read guide →
- ATS score
- Estimated compatibility based on parse health, keywords, and structure—not a universal employer grade.
- Read guide →
- Boolean search
- Recruiter queries combining AND/OR/NOT on skills and titles inside ATS talent pools.
- Read guide →
- Knockout question
- Application screening question that auto-rejects candidates who answer incorrectly.
- Read guide →
- Plain-text resume
- Minimal formatting for legacy portals—headings must still be obvious without styling.
- Read guide →
Glossary FAQ
Does every company use the same ATS?
No. Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, Lever, and others behave differently—but parse-safe formatting and posting keywords help across systems.
Where should I learn scoring details?
Read how we score resumes and our algorithm pages for transparent methodology.