What goes into the score
- Skills overlap — the tools, systems, licences and competencies the ad names, against what your CV evidences.
- Role similarity — how close the advertised function is to what you have actually done.
- Seniority — years, scope and leadership expected versus demonstrated.
- Location — state and city fit, including remote and hybrid arrangements.
- Freshness — how recently the ad was posted, because old listings are often already filled.
Every strong candidate ad is then re-read by AI against the advertisement's own stated criteria, so the score reflects what that employer asked for rather than a generic template.
How to read your number
- 85%+ — apply now, and tailor the top third of your CV to the ad's language.
- 70–84% — strong. Usually one or two named gaps stand between you and the shortlist.
- 50–69% — a stretch. Worth applying if the gap is a tool you can learn or a claim you simply never wrote down.
- Below 50% — different discipline or seniority. Look at the adjacent roles suggested instead.
Lifting a 60% match to 85%
- Fix the omissions first — most gaps are things you have done but never stated.
- Adopt the ad's vocabulary for the same work.
- Add a short achievements block with numbers under your two most recent roles.
- Put licences, tickets and registrations in their own visible line.
- Re-upload and re-run the search; the same roles are scored again against the new CV.
Read next: how Australian employers screen CVs with an ATS.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good CV match score?
Anything at or above 80% is a strong application worth tailoring and sending. Between 60% and 80% is worth applying to if you can close one named gap. Below 50% usually means the role is a different discipline or seniority.
How is a job match percentage calculated?
The Next Role Finder scores skills overlap, role similarity, seniority, location and how recently the ad was posted, then re-reads the advertisement with AI against its own stated criteria to adjust the result and explain it.
Will my match score go up if I update my CV?
Yes. If you make the changes listed under gaps to close, re-upload the CV and run the search again, the same roles are re-scored against the new document and typically come back higher.
