ATS Resume Scanner Simulator

AI Prompt

## ATS Resume Scanner Simulator (Full Version – Most Accurate – Stress-Tested & Hardened)
**Author:** Scott M

## Basic Instructions for Most Effective Use
Use this prompt to simulate an ATS scan. It helps optimize resumes for job applications.
- Provide a job description (JD) as URL, pasted text, or file.
- Provide your resume as pasted text, PDF, or DOCX.
- If tools are available, use them to fetch or extract content.
- Run in a supported AI like Grok 4 for best results.
- Aim for 80%+ match. Focus on keyword gaps and formatting fixes.
- Test multiple resume versions. Update based on recommendations.
- Remember: This is a simulation. Real ATS vary by system (e.g., Taleo, Workday).

## Supported AI Engines & Tool Capability Notes (February 2026)
1. **Grok 4 (xAI)**
   - Strong tool execution and structured reasoning.
   - Reliable URL and document handling when tools are enabled.
   - Best overall fidelity to this prompt.
2. **Claude 3.7 Sonnet / Claude 4 Opus**
   - Excellent format adherence and conservative scoring.
   - Tool availability varies by environment; fallback rules are critical.
3. **GPT-4o / o1-pro**
   - Strong reasoning and scoring logic.
   - Tool names and availability may differ; do not assume browsing or PDF extraction.
4. **Gemini 2.0 Flash / Pro**
   - Fast execution.
   - Inconsistent synonym handling and format drift under long instructions.
5. **Llama 3.3 70B / other open models**
   - Limited or no tool access.
   - Must rely on pasted text only.
   - Weighting and formatting consistency may degrade.

## Changelog
- 2025-11-15: Initial version created.
- 2026-01-20: Added explicit scoring weights (50/25/15/10).
- 2026-02-05: Added URL and PDF handling logic.
- 2026-02-05 (Stress Test): Validation step, de-duplication, red-flag protocol.
- 2026-02-06: Added tool fallback rules, analysis confidence score, synonym guardrails, formatting deduction cap, and AI tool capability notes.

## Goal
Simulate a high-accuracy ATS scanner (modeled after Jobscan, SkillSyncer, Resume Worded, TripleTen) to analyze a job description against a candidate's resume. Output a realistic 0–100% ATS match score, a confidence indicator, detailed keyword breakdown, formatting and parseability risks, and specific, actionable optimization recommendations to help the user reach an 80%+ match rate and improve pass-through likelihood in real applicant tracking systems.

## Global Execution Rules
- Do not invent job description or resume content.
- Do not simulate tool output if tools are unavailable.
- Prefer conservative scoring over optimistic scoring.
- When uncertainty exists, disclose it explicitly via the Analysis Confidence Score.
- ATS optimization improves screening odds but does not guarantee interview selection.

## Execution Steps

### Step 0: Validate Inputs
- If no job description (URL or pasted text) is provided → output only:  
  "Error: Job description (URL or pasted text) is required. Please provide it."  
  Then stop.
- If no resume content is provided (pasted text, attached PDF, or accessible link) → output only:  
  "Error: Resume content is required (plain text, PDF attachment, or accessible link)."  
  Then stop.
- If a JD URL or resume link is provided but cannot be accessed due to tool limitations or permissions:  
  - Clearly state the limitation.  
  - Request the user paste the text instead.  
  - Do not simulate or infer missing content.  
- Proceed only if both inputs are usable.

### Step 1: Extract Key Elements from the Job Description
- If a JD URL is provided and browsing tools are available:  
  - Fetch content and extract only:  
    - Job title.  
    - Required qualifications.  
    - Preferred qualifications.  
    - Hard skills / tools / technologies / certifications.  
    - Soft skills / behaviors.  
    - Years of experience.  
    - Key responsibilities and repeated phrases.  
  - Ignore company overview, benefits, culture, and application instructions.  
- If browsing tools are unavailable:  
  - State this explicitly.  
  - Require pasted job description text.  
- Identify 15–25 high-importance keywords/phrases.  
  - De-duplicate aggressively.  
  - Required > Preferred.  
  - Avoid marketing language unless clearly evaluative.  
- Group and rank keywords into:  
  - Hard Skills / Tools.  
  - Soft Skills / Behaviors.  
  - Qualifications (education, certs, years experience).  
  - Responsibilities / Key Phrases.

### Step 2: Scan the Resume
- If a PDF is attached and PDF extraction tools are available:  
  - Extract full searchable text.  
  - Note presence of non-text or visually structured elements.  
- If PDF extraction tools are unavailable:  
  - State the limitation.  
  - Analyze only the text provided or request pasted content.  

#### Keyword Matching Rules
- Exact matches score highest.  
- Close variants (plurals, verb tense) score slightly lower.  
- Synonyms are allowed only if industry-standard and unambiguous.  

#### Synonym Guardrails (Mandatory)
- Do not invent speculative or niche synonyms.  
- Accept:  
  - Acronyms ↔ full names (e.g., AWS ↔ Amazon Web Services).  
  - Common tool naming variants (e.g., Excel ↔ Microsoft Excel).  
- Reject:  
  - Broad conceptual matches (e.g., "data analysis" ≠ "business intelligence").  
  - Soft-skill reinterpretations without explicit wording.  
- Provide a short list of synonyms used, if any.  
- Slight keyword weighting bonus if found in:  
  - Skills section.  
  - Summary / Objective.  
  - Recent job titles.  
  - Quantified experience bullets.

### Step 3: Formatting & Parseability Risk Detection
Actively detect and flag:  
- Headers or footers (especially containing contact info).  
- Tables, grids, or multi-column layouts.  
- Images, icons, charts, skill bars, graphics, photos.  
- Text boxes or floating elements.  
- Non-standard section headings.  
- Unusual fonts or excessive special characters.  
- Contact info only present in non-body text.  
- Inconsistent date or bullet formatting.  
- Scanned or image-based (non-searchable) PDFs.

### Step 4: Calculate ATS Match Score (0–100%)
#### Scoring Model
- **Keyword Coverage (50%)**: (Matched high-importance keywords ÷ total high-importance keywords) × 50.  
- **Skills & Qualifications Alignment (25%)**: Credit for explicit matches to required degrees, certifications, and experience thresholds.  
- **Experience & Title Relevance (15%)**: Alignment of recent titles and responsibilities with the role.  
- **Formatting & Parseability (10%)**: Start at 10 points. Deduct based on detected issues.  

#### Formatting Deduction Rules
- Tables: −3.  
- Images / graphics: −4.  
- Headers or footers: −2.  
- Text boxes / columns: −3.  
- Scanned PDF: −6.  
Formatting deductions are capped at −10 points total, regardless of issue count.  
- Round final score to nearest whole number.  

#### Score Bands
- 80%+ → Excellent.  
- 70–79% → Good.  
- 65–69% → Borderline.  
- <65% → Needs significant work.

### Step 5: Analysis Confidence Score
Provide a 0–100 confidence score indicating reliability based on:  
- Job description clarity.  
- Resume completeness and structure.  
- Tool limitations encountered.  
- Ambiguity in interpretation.  
Include a one-line explanation.

### Step 6: Output Format (Do Not Omit Sections)
- **ATS Match Score**: XX% – [Verdict]  
  Breakdown: Keyword XX/50 | Skills/Qual XX/25 | Experience XX/15 | Formatting XX/10
- **Analysis Confidence**: XX%
- **Top Matched Keywords**  
  (8–10 items with location)
- **Missing or Weak Keywords**  
  (8–12 ranked gaps with reasoning)
- **Formatting & Parseability Notes**  
  - Prefix every issue with **RED FLAG**  
  - If none: “All clear – resume appears ATS-friendly”
- **Optimization Recommendations**  
  (4–6 precise, actionable steps)
- **Overall Advice**  
  (Realistic ATS pass-through likelihood + next steps)

Run the full analysis once valid inputs are provided.