How the candidate match score works
Updated 30 October 2026
Every applicant gets a match score for the job they applied to: a percentage from 0 to 100 that shows how well they fit. It is a transparent, rule-based calculation, not AI, and it's shown only to your team. Candidates never see it.
Where you'll see it
- The job's Candidates tab, sorted by best match by default.
- The candidate list (the Match column) and each candidate's profile, which shows the full breakdown.
- Cards on the Hiring Board and in Speed Review.
- The candidate pool, when you choose a job in Match against job.
What the score is made of
| Factor | What it compares |
|---|---|
| Skills | The job's key skills (or skills found in the description) against the candidate's skills, CV and work history |
| Experience | The candidate's total years against the job's experience range |
| Relevance | How much the candidate's CV and job titles overlap with the job title and description |
| Location | The candidate's city or preferred locations against the job's locations (remote jobs always match) |
| Salary | The candidate's expected CTC against the job's maximum CTC |
| Notice period | How soon the candidate can join |
| Screening | Answers to the job's screening questions |
Each factor is weighted by a role profile. Sales roles weigh location more; technical roles weigh skills more. OneATS picks the profile from the job automatically, or you can choose it under Candidate Match Profile when you edit the job.
What the bands mean
- Strong match: 80% and above
- Good match: 60–79%
- Partial match: 40–59%
- Low match: under 40%
Not enough data and limited data
If too few factors are known, the score shows Not enough data instead of a number, with a list of what's missing. Add the candidate's expected CTC, notice period or CV, or add key skills to the job, and the score updates automatically. A score built from only a few factors carries a limited data tag, so treat it as a rough guide.
Troubleshooting
- A score looks out of date: open the candidate's profile and select Recalculate on the match card.
- Many candidates show Not enough data: add key skills to the job; skills are the most important factor.
- A knocked-out tag appears: the candidate gave an answer you marked as a deal-breaker in the screening questions.
Was this article helpful?
Didn’t find what you needed?
Contact support and we’ll help you out.