Help Center · AI Tailoring & Match Score
Understanding Your ATS Match Scorecard
How match percentages, matched keywords, and missing qualifications are calculated for every application.
Where the Scorecard Lives
Tailoring is free on every plan. The ATS Match Scorecard, which shows your match percentage plus the matched and missing keyword lists, is a Pro feature (also included with the 7-day pass). On the Free plan you will see a locked scorecard card with an upgrade prompt after each tailored resume.
How Match Score is Calculated
The score is deterministic, not an AI guess. ResumeSkip extracts the concrete skills, tools, and terms from the job posting, then checks your tailored resume text for each one. The percentage is weighted by how the posting and your resume use each keyword:
- Keywords the posting repeats or lists as core requirements count for more than ones it mentions once.
- Terms under 'nice to have' or 'preferred' headings in the posting count for less, so missing them does not tank your score.
- A keyword you demonstrate inside an Experience or Projects bullet counts for more than the same word sitting only in a skills list.
- A keyword that shows up in more than one part of your resume (summary, skills, and a bullet) gets a small extra boost.
Interpreting Matched vs Missing Keywords
The scorecard shows a green list of matched keywords and an amber list of missing ones, each with a short suggestion.
A keyword in the missing list means the posting asked for it but your resume shows no evidence of it. If you genuinely have that skill, answer a History Quiz question about it or add it to your base resume, then re-tailor. If you do not have it, leave it. A truthful 75 to 90 beats a padded 100 you cannot defend in an interview.