Home/Keyword Matcher
Match your CV to any job description in seconds
Paste your CV and the job posting below. We'll score how well your CV's wording lines up with what the employer's ATS is scanning for — and show you exactly which keywords are missing.
Your CV text
Job description
Your match score, matched keywords and missing keywords will appear here once you paste both your CV and the job description above.
Why keyword matching matters more than you think
Most mid-size and large companies run every applicant's CV through an Applicant Tracking System before a recruiter ever opens it. These systems commonly rank or filter candidates by how closely the CV's wording overlaps with the job description — meaning two equally qualified people can get very different outcomes purely based on phrasing. If the posting says "stakeholder management" and your CV only says "worked with clients," a keyword search may not connect the two, even though you did the work.
How this tool scores your match
The matcher pulls the most frequent, meaningful words and phrases out of the job description — skipping filler words like "the," "and," or "responsible" — and checks how many of them appear anywhere in your CV text. The result is a percentage: the share of the employer's likely keywords that your CV already contains. You also get two clear lists: keywords you've already matched, and the ones still missing.
What to do with your missing keywords
- Only add what's honestly true. If a missing keyword reflects real experience you described differently, rewrite that bullet using the employer's exact term.
- Don't force irrelevant terms in. If a missing keyword doesn't apply to you at all, skip it — a keyword score should never come before honesty.
- Prioritise repeated keywords. Terms that appear several times in the job description are usually the employer's top priorities — match those first.
- Update your skills section too. A keyword that fits as a one-word skill (like "SQL" or "Figma") is often best placed in a dedicated skills line, not just buried in a sentence.
A realistic target score
Don't chase 100%. A CV stuffed with every keyword from the posting usually reads unnaturally to the human who reviews it after the ATS ranks you, and some systems even flag obvious keyword stuffing. A natural, honestly-written CV that reflects real experience typically lands somewhere between 60% and 85% — that's a strong result. Treat anything below 40% as a signal to check whether you're describing your experience in the employer's language at all.
Common questions
How is the match score calculated?
The tool extracts the most frequent meaningful words and phrases from the job description, then checks how many appear in your CV text. The percentage found is your match score.
Should I aim for a 100% match?
No — a 100% score usually means keyword stuffing, which reads unnaturally. Aim for an honest 60-85% that reflects real experience.
Does this tool store my CV or the job description?
No. Everything runs inside your browser and nothing is uploaded or saved anywhere.
Next step
Once you've closed the keyword gap, run your updated CV through the full CV Checker for a complete score across structure, formatting and ATS-safety, or start fresh with the CV Builder.