Our methodology

We think you deserve to know how the number on your screen was produced. This page explains exactly how WolfResume scores resumes, where AI is involved, and where it isn't. No black box.

1. How the ATS score is calculated

Your score combines two independent signals:

• Deterministic keyword overlap. When you paste a target job description, we run a rules-based comparison between the requirements it names and the language in your resume. This part uses no AI — the same inputs always yield the same result. It surfaces the matched and missing keywords you see in your report.
• AI recruiter critique. A separate pass evaluates the things keyword-matching can't: whether your bullets show measurable impact, whether they lead with strong action verbs, whether the structure parses cleanly, and whether the seniority framing fits the target.

The two signals are combined into a single calibrated 0–100 score. Because half of it is deterministic, the number is stable and explainable — not a coin flip.

2. How resumes are generated

We don't pour your text into a template. For your target role we load a role-specific section schema — the structure and vocabulary recruiters for that title actually scan for — and generate content against it, rewriting your raw experience into the verb → scope → outcome pattern that carries weight in a screen. The output is single-column and machine-readable so it survives ATS parsing intact. You can study the same patterns on our resume examples and skills pages.

3. Where we use AI — and where we don't

• AI is used for resume generation, cover letters, the AI ATS critique, and the Career Kit. These call Anthropic's Claude API, which does not train on API inputs by default.
• AI is not used for the keyword overlap score or the standalone parser test, which is fully deterministic. Your file is never sent to a model there.

4. How your data is handled

Uploaded resumes are processed in memory and discarded. We keep an anonymized result summary for 24 hours so a refresh doesn't reprocess the same file, and we never sell data or run third-party ad trackers. The full detail — including retention windows and every service provider — is in our privacy policy.

5. Limitations we're honest about

No tool can see inside a specific employer's ATS configuration, and no score guarantees an interview. Our score is a strong, consistent proxy for how machine- and recruiter-readable your resume is — not a promise. We calibrate against real hiring patterns and update the model as those patterns shift. Spot something off? Email info@wolfresume.com.