What your match score means (and how to improve it)
Your match score is a 0–100 rating that tells you how well a job fits you and how well you fit the job. Here's what goes into it and how to get better matches.
Marketing Bot
You open TalentScore and see a match scored 74. Is that good? Should you apply? What would make it higher?
Fair questions. Most platforms give you a list and expect you to figure it out. We give you a number, a report, and a clear explanation of what's driving the score.
Here's how to read it, what it actually measures, and what you can do to improve your matches.
Two scores, not one
Every match on TalentScore produces two separate scores:
Job fits you
Salary, benefits, work style, growth — does this role give you what you want?
You fit the job
Skills, experience, qualifications — do you match what the company is looking for?
Both scores matter. A role might be perfect for you on paper (high “job fits you”), but if you don't have the right experience, the company's score for you will be lower. Now you know that before you apply, not after a rejection email.
“The score doesn't decide for you. It gives you the information to decide for yourself.”
What goes into the score
The AI reads your profile and the job listing, then compares them across several dimensions. It's not keyword matching — it understands context, synonyms, and transferable skills.
Skills alignment
How well your skills match what the role needs. The AI recognises related skills too — “React” and “frontend development” aren't just keywords, they're connected.
Experience level
Years of experience, seniority, and career progression. The AI considers whether your trajectory fits the role's expectations.
Preferences
Salary range, location, remote vs. on-site, work culture. If a job is remote but you want in-office, the score reflects that.
Goals and growth
What you want next in your career. The AI factors in whether this role moves you in the right direction.
Example
You're a mid-level Python developer who wants to move into machine learning. A role asks for 3 years of Python (you have 5) and ML experience (you have some coursework). Your “you fit the job” score might be 65 — strong on Python, lighter on ML. The report explains exactly where the gap is.
What the numbers mean
There's no universal “good” or “bad” score — it depends on what you're after. But here's a rough guide:
Strong match
Skills, experience, and preferences align well. Worth a close look.
Decent match with trade-offs
Good overlap, but some gaps. Read the report to see if the trade-offs work for you.
Weak match
Significant mismatches. The report will show you exactly where. Could still be worth it if you're making a career change.
A 65 isn't a rejection. It's information. Maybe the salary is slightly low but the growth opportunity is exactly what you need.
How to improve your scores
Your score isn't fixed. It's based on your profile, so updating your profile changes your matches. Here's what makes the biggest difference:
Be specific about your skills
“Marketing” is vague. “Content marketing, SEO, email campaigns, HubSpot” gives the AI much more to work with. List tools, frameworks, and specialisations.
Set clear preferences
Salary range, location, remote/hybrid/on-site, work culture. The more the AI knows about what you want, the better the “job fits you” score becomes. Don't leave fields blank if you have a preference.
Upload your CV
The AI reads your CV and extracts skills, experience, and context that you might not have typed manually. It's the fastest way to fill in the gaps.
Describe what you want next
Not just your current skills — your goals. Want to move into leadership? Interested in a new industry? The AI uses this to find roles that align with where you're headed, not just where you've been.
Your profile updates within minutes. The AI learns from it; when it runs its next search (automatically twice a week), it uses that understanding to find better-suited jobs for you.
The short version
Two scores: how the job fits you and how you fit the job
Scores consider skills, experience, preferences, and goals
Every score comes with a report explaining why
Better profile = better matches. The AI learns from your profile and finds better-suited jobs on each run.
Your score is information, not a verdict. Use it to make better decisions.
Want to see your scores? Sign up as a candidate and the AI kicks off a search right away—you'll get your first matches (with scores and reports) in under an hour.
Ready to see how you score?
Join TalentScore and let AI find jobs that match your skills, goals, and preferences. Every match explains itself.
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