| Input | Example value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Required skills | SQL, Excel, Power BI, Statistics | ATS checks skill coverage before deeper review. |
| Required keywords | ETL, KPI, Forecasting | Exact phrasing improves parsing and ranking. |
| Experience | Required 3 years, you have 4 | Years influence shortlist thresholds for many roles. |
| Education | Required Bachelor, you have Master | Minimum degree rules can filter candidates early. |
| Weights | Skills 35, Keywords 20, Experience 15 | Different companies emphasize different signals. |
Each component produces a score from 0 to 100. Your chosen weights are normalized to total 100%.
- Skills Coverage = matched required skills ÷ required skills × 100.
- Keyword Alignment = matched keywords ÷ required keywords × 100.
- Experience Fit = (your years ÷ required years) × 100, softly capped.
- Education Match = 100 if your level meets requirement, else proportional.
- Final Score = Σ(component score × normalized weight) − penalties.
- Paste skills and keywords from the job post.
- List only skills and terms present in your resume.
- Set experience, education, location, and salary details.
- Adjust weights to mimic your target company’s priorities.
- Submit to view score, gaps, and a metric breakdown.
Why ATS match scores matter
Applicant tracking systems rank profiles using structured signals. A match score translates your alignment into a repeatable number, helping you decide which roles deserve customization. Higher scores usually mean stronger skill coverage, clearer role keywords, and fewer screening conflicts. Recruiters often review only the top portion of a shortlist, so a small improvement can change whether your resume is opened or ignored.
Inputs that influence screening
This calculator separates skills, keywords, experience, education, certifications, title similarity, location, and salary alignment. Skills and keywords typically drive early filters because they are easy to parse and compare. Experience and education often behave as minimum gates, especially for regulated or senior roles. Location, remote status, and relocation willingness affect eligibility. Salary alignment matters when ranges are tight or budgets are fixed.
Interpreting the breakdown
The metric table shows each component’s score, weight, and weighted points. A high final score with a large penalty means you look good overall but missed must-have items. Use the missing lists to identify exact phrases to add where truthful, then re-run the calculation to confirm impact. If Skills Coverage falls below the gate you set, the penalty increases, reflecting common knockout rules. Keep weights realistic so one metric cannot hide major gaps.
Improving alignment responsibly
Focus on rewriting, not stuffing. Move relevant skills into a dedicated skills section, mirror job-post terms in your bullet points, and quantify outcomes with numbers. Replace vague phrases with specific tools, methods, and deliverables. Add context: datasets, stakeholders, volumes, and time saved. Consolidate synonyms to the employer’s preferred term. Only claim certifications, years, and technologies you can explain in an interview, and avoid copying confidential text from employers.
Using the tool for a job search
Run one baseline score per job posting, then create a tailored resume version. Adjust weights if a role is technical, leadership-focused, sales-driven, or compliance-heavy. Save CSV reports to compare roles, track improvements over time, and spot recurring gaps that indicate training priorities. When you apply widely, score trends help you choose a niche: for example, analytics roles may reward SQL and dashboarding, while operations roles reward process improvement and cross-functional communication. Treat the score as guidance, then validate with interviews, portfolio pieces, and referrals when possible.
FAQs
1) What is a “good” ATS match score?
A score above 70 is often competitive for many roles. For strict requirements, aim for 80+ by matching must-have skills and the exact job terminology.
2) Should I copy the job description into my resume?
No. Rewrite using your own evidence and achievements. Mirror relevant terms, but keep content truthful, specific, and aligned with what you actually did.
3) Why do I see penalties even with a decent score?
Penalties simulate knockout checks. If required skills are below your gate or keyword coverage is very low, the score drops to reflect higher rejection risk.
4) How should I choose weights?
Increase skills and keywords for technical roles, raise experience for senior roles, and raise education or certifications when the posting emphasizes formal requirements.
5) Do different spellings or synonyms count?
ATS tools vary. This calculator matches exact terms. If a job uses “Power BI,” include that exact phrase, even if you also mention “BI dashboards.”
6) How can I improve my score quickly?
Add missing skills you genuinely have, align your title, and rewrite bullets to include role keywords plus measurable outcomes. Then re-run and export a report.