Score Scale
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 9-10 | Exceptional fit across all criteria |
| 8 | Strong match, meets core requirements with clear evidence |
| 7 | Good match, meets most requirements |
| 5-6 | Partial fit, gaps in some areas |
| 3-4 | Poor match, significant gaps |
| 0-2 | Very poor fit, minimal qualifications |
What the Assessment Includes
- Verdict: Overall summary
- Strengths: What the candidate does well, with resume citations
- Concerns: Gaps or missing qualifications, with evidence notation
- Interview focus areas: Topics to explore during interviews
Evidence Notation
- (not evidenced): Not mentioned in the resume
- (contradicted by: [evidence]): Resume shows the opposite
- (unverified: [what to check]): Needs confirmation during interview
Per-Criterion Analysis
- ATS feedback: Overall score, verdict, strengths, and concerns
- Nova dashboard: Per-criterion Pass/Partial/Fail status when available
Per-criterion breakdowns may not show in all ATS views. Check the Nova dashboard for the most detailed view.
Diagnosing Score Issues
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Most candidates score 9-10 | Criteria too loose | Add specific requirements, tighten experience ranges |
| Almost no one scores above 5 | Criteria too strict | Convert less-critical requirements to “Nice to have” |
| Good candidate scored low | Resume doesn’t reflect strengths | Check if their resume mentions what criteria require |
| Inconsistent across similar candidates | Criteria are vague | Make criteria more specific and measurable |
| Everyone clusters around 4-6 | Too many “Must have” criteria | Move secondary requirements to “Preferred” or “Nice to have” |
Can I weight criteria differently?
Can I weight criteria differently?
No manual weighting. Use importance levels (Must have, Preferred, Nice to have) instead. Nova factors importance into the overall score automatically.
Why doesn't a score match my gut feeling?
Why doesn't a score match my gut feeling?
Nova evaluates strictly against your written criteria. Review the assessment’s strengths and concerns to find the gap, then adjust criteria.
What if a candidate has no resume?
What if a candidate has no resume?
Nova can use a LinkedIn profile URL as a fallback. If neither is available, the candidate is skipped and not charged.
How does Nova prevent bias?
How does Nova prevent bias?
Criteria-driven assessment, not pattern matching against historical hires. Every score traces to specific criteria and resume evidence. Regular bias audits. See the Bias Evaluation for methodology.
Configure Criteria
Set up the rules Nova scores against
AI Candidate Scoring
How the scoring pipeline works end to end