# Candidate match and evaluations

> How OpenATS scores candidates against a role’s criteria, what the match column means, and why it’s advisory only.

An evaluation reads a candidate’s resume, application, scorecards and transcripts against the role’s **Match criteria**, and gives a 1–4 recommendation, strengths, concerns and a score for each criterion. It’s advice, never a decision: nothing moves, archives or emails anyone because of it.

*Search & AI · Last updated 2026-11-11*

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## Match criteria

A role’s **Match criteria** are what every candidate for it is scored on. Mark each **Must-have** or **Nice to have**; must-haves count double. **Suggest from the job description** drafts them for you, and if a role has none, its first evaluation drafts them from the job description. Choose **Save criteria** when they’re right.

A criterion about who someone is, rather than the work, is left out, and only you are told.

## Running an evaluation

On a candidate’s profile, **Candidate match** has **Run evaluation**, and **Re-run** once there is one. On a role, the **Review** view has **Evaluate this role with Scout**, which evaluates up to 25 candidates who don’t have one yet each time you choose it. From search results, **Evaluate selected** scores the people you tick.

Evaluations read everyone’s scorecards, so they stay hidden from you until you’ve submitted yours.

## The Match column

| You see | It means |
| --- | --- |
| A percentage | How well their recorded evidence meets the criteria. Must-haves count twice. |
| **Unscored** | Not enough recorded evidence for a percentage. It isn’t a zero or a rejection. |
| **Pending** | It shows once you’ve submitted your scorecard. |
| **—** | No evaluation yet. |

Missing evidence counts as unknown, not as a zero. When a role’s criteria change, the people already scored on it are re-evaluated; nobody’s stage changes and nobody is emailed.

> **Important:** Scores are advisory, not hiring decisions. Review the evidence before advancing or archiving anyone. OpenATS never rejects anyone from a score.

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Still need help? Write to the OpenATS team at https://openats.ai/support (or support@b150.ai). We reply by email.

Source: https://openats.ai/docs/search-and-ai/candidate-match
OpenATS help center: https://openats.ai/docs