--- title: "Set Resume Scoring Criteria" url: "https://knowledge-base.discovered.ai/en/article/set-resume-scoring-criteria" language: "en" last_updated: "2026-11-03T15:29:59.422Z" --- # Set Resume Scoring Criteria Tell Kingsley exactly what matters on a resume so every candidate gets a more accurate star rating. ### **Overview** Kingsley rates every candidate who applies to a job by comparing their resume with that job's **Resume Scoring Criteria**. The better your criteria, the more accurate the star ratings. **Resume Scoring Criteria** replaces the card that used to be called **Internal Job Description**. It now has two sections that you save together: - **Scoring instructions** (optional): your own rules for Kingsley to follow when it scores resumes for this job, such as must-have licenses, preferred experience or red flags. - **Job description** (required): a plain summary of the role's responsibilities and requirements that Kingsley scores resumes against. Discovered writes it for you when you create the job, and you can edit or regenerate it at any time. With Resume Scoring Criteria you can: - Add your own scoring rules without mixing them into the job description - Reuse the same scoring instructions across jobs with templates - Rebuild the job description from the job's current title and ad in one click - Jump straight to the criteria from Kingsley's note on a candidate when you disagree with a rating Resume Scoring Criteria is internal only. Candidates never see your scoring instructions or this job description. ## **Before You Start** - You need **Admin** or **Editor** permissions to change the criteria. Users with **Viewer** permissions can open the criteria and download the job description, but they can't edit anything. - Your existing jobs keep their current text in the **Job description** section, and their **Scoring instructions** start empty until you add some. ## **How to Set Resume Scoring Criteria:** [Embedded content](https://www.loom.com/embed/82e1e20f2c6f44f584d6fbc964c884b5) **1\. Open Resume Scoring Criteria** - Go to the job post and click the **Find and Evaluate Talent** tab. - In the **Evaluate candidates** section, click the **Resume Scoring Criteria** card. - The **Edit Resume Scoring Criteria** window opens with both sections. **2\. Write Your Scoring Instructions (Optional)** - In **Scoring instructions**, write the rules you want Kingsley to follow for this job. - Be specific: "Requires an active RN license" or "Strongly prefer 3+ years of B2B SaaS sales; candidates without it should rarely receive 4 or 5 stars." - To reuse instructions you've saved before, pick one from **Select template**. The template's text replaces what's in **Scoring instructions** and doesn't change the job description. - Scoring instructions can be up to 10,000 characters. **Tip:** To reuse these instructions on other jobs, click **Save as template**, enter a **Template name** and click **Save**. See [**Resume Scoring Criteria Templates**](https://knowledge-base.discovered.ai/en/article/resume-scoring-criteria-templates). **3\. Review the Job Description** - Read the **Job description** and edit it so it matches the role: responsibilities, requirements and expectations. - To rebuild it from the job's current title and ad, click **Regenerate**. You'll see *Regenerating job description…* while Kingsley writes the new version, which can take a little while. - Your scoring instructions aren't changed when you regenerate. **Note:** If regenerating doesn't work, you'll see a message and your current job description stays as it was. Try again in a moment. **4\. Submit Your Changes** - Click **Submit** to save both sections. You'll see *Resume Scoring Criteria saved*. - Nothing is saved until you click **Submit**. That includes a regenerated job description and an applied template. - Click **Cancel** to close the window and discard every unsaved change. **5\. (Optional) Download the Job Description** - Click **Download PDF** in the **Job description** section. - Your browser's print window opens. Choose to save as PDF, or print it. - The PDF includes the job description only. Your scoring instructions stay internal. ## **Update Criteria from a Candidate's Kingsley Note** When you disagree with a Kingsley rating, you can go straight to the job's criteria from the candidate: - Open the candidate's profile, or the candidate preview from the candidates table, and go to the **Communication** tab. - On the **Note from Kingsley**, click the icon next to the time (*Open the job posting to edit Resume Scoring Criteria*). - Discovered opens the job's **Find and Evaluate Talent** tab with **Resume Scoring Criteria** open. ## **How Changes Affect Ratings** - Saving new criteria doesn't change any rating a candidate already has, whether Kingsley set it or a person did. - Candidates who apply after you save are rated with the new criteria. - To re-rate an existing candidate with the new criteria, click **Appraise** next to the candidate's rating. See [**Rate Candidates**](https://knowledge-base.discovered.ai/en/article/rate-candidates). ## **Copies and Job Posting Templates** - When you duplicate a job, the copy keeps both sections. - When you save a job as a job posting template, the template keeps both sections. - When you create a job from a job posting template, the new job starts with the template's scoring instructions. Discovered writes a fresh job description for the new job. ## **Why This Matters** Kingsley can only rate candidates as well as it understands what you're looking for. Resume Scoring Criteria gives you a clear place to say it. - **More accurate ratings:** Kingsley follows your rules, not just a generic description. - **Consistency:** Apply the same standards across similar jobs with templates. - **Faster fixes:** Adjust the rules the moment a rating looks off, right from the candidate. ## **Use Cases** - **Licensed roles:** Require an RN, CPA or CDL license so unlicensed applicants score lower. - **High-volume hiring:** Use one template of scoring instructions across every location of the same role. - **Calibration:** A hiring manager disagrees with a rating, opens the criteria from Kingsley's note and adds a rule. ## **Best Practices** - Keep the job description about the role and put your rating rules in **Scoring instructions**. - If you used to type rating rules into the old Internal Job Description, consider moving them into **Scoring instructions**. - Say what's required, what's preferred and what should lower a score. - After changing the criteria, click **Appraise** on a few candidates to check the new ratings. - Review the job description after you change the job's title or ad, and click **Regenerate** if it no longer fits. ## **What Happens Next** - New candidates are rated with your saved criteria. - Ratings and Kingsley's reasoning appear on the candidate's profile. See [**Evaluating Resumes with AI Insights**](https://knowledge-base.discovered.ai/en/article/evaluating-resumes-with-ai-insights). - To reuse your instructions on other jobs, see [**Resume Scoring Criteria Templates**](https://knowledge-base.discovered.ai/en/article/resume-scoring-criteria-templates). With Resume Scoring Criteria, you can teach Kingsley how your team rates resumes and get star ratings you can trust.