How Scoring Works

Written By Nick F

Last updated Over 1 year ago

Match Score Formula Overview

The Match Score Formula is a proprietary scoring system developed through extensive research and analysis of how Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) score resumes. This algorithm is designed to closely emulate the way ATS platforms evaluate resumes, considering various factors such as hard skills, soft skills, job title relevance, degree match, and years of experience.

Key Components of the Match Score Formula

  1. Hard Skills:
    Hard skills, such as technical abilities (e.g., "Project Management"), have the most significant impact on the match score. These are considered critical by ATS systems to determine whether a candidate has the necessary qualifications for a role.

  2. Soft Skills:
    Soft skills, including interpersonal abilities (e.g., "Communication" or "Interviews"), have a moderate impact on the match score. ATS systems assess these to gauge a candidate's fit for a role beyond technical qualifications.

  3. Other Skills:
    Other skills, such as “Customization” or “Policy,” contribute to the score but carry a lower weight compared to hard and soft skills. These skills can help differentiate a resume but are not the primary focus for most ATS.

  4. Job Title Match:
    ATS systems give significant importance to the job title. Including the exact job title from the job description in your resume is essential for ATS to assess the relevance of your application for the specific role.

  5. Degree and Experience Match:
    ATS systems prioritize aligning the degree and experience listed in your resume with the job description requirements. A match between the required degree and years of experience with what’s provided in the resume improves the score.

Scoring Methodology

This proprietary formula is based on extensive research into how ATS algorithms work, ensuring that each component accurately reflects what an ATS system would prioritize when scanning a resume. The formula accounts for:

  • Keyword matching: How well the skills and job titles from the job description are reflected in the resume.

  • Frequency alignment: The frequency of skills and job titles in both the resume and job description.

  • Contextual relevance: The overall context and relevance of each section in the resume, from hard skills to job experience.

How the Match Score Formula Works

  1. Skill Alignment: The algorithm scans for missing hard, soft, and other skills and compares their frequency in the resume against the job description. Missing skills reduce the score, and adding relevant skills increases it.

  2. Job Title Comparison: If the job title in your resume matches the job description, it adds to your score. The closer the match, the higher the relevance to the role.

  3. Degree & Experience Validation: The algorithm checks the degree and years of experience in the job description against what is provided in your resume. Any discrepancies result in a penalty to the score, while alignment improves it.

Real-World Application

This Match Score Formula is specifically designed to mimic real-world ATS systems, which are the first hurdle most job seekers face. Understanding the weight of each component helps candidates tailor their resumes to pass ATS scans more effectively, increasing their chances of getting noticed by recruiters.

By prioritizing high-impact areas such as hard skills and job titles, and ensuring that all components align closely with the job description, users can see a significant improvement in their match score, and ultimately, in their chances of landing an interview.