Nova Documentation
Features

AI Candidate Scoring & Ranking

High-level overview of Nova's ranking pipeline.

🎯 How Nova Works

1. Ingest → Nova collects resume, cover letter, and application data
2. Evaluate → Criteria are assessed with resume citations
3. Rank → Scores and insights are pushed to your ATS

Nova's AI-powered scoring system objectively evaluates candidates against your specific criteria, providing transparent rankings you can trust.

The Nova Pipeline

Data Ingestion

Nova collects all candidate information the moment an application lands:

  • Resume/CV and cover letters
  • ATS form answers and responses
  • Job description and requirements
  • Your configured criteria

Criterion Evaluation

Each criterion is evaluated objectively with transparent methodology:

  • Resume citations show evidence for scores
  • Holistic assessment considers full candidate profile
  • No hidden weightings or undisclosed factors

Ranking & Display

Results are immediately available in your workflow:

  • Scores and tags written back to your ATS
  • Auto-sort by "Nova Score" for best-fit-first review
  • Detailed assessments for hiring team review

Objective by Design

No Hidden Signals:

  • Only uses data you provided explicitly
  • No undisclosed weightings or black-box factors
  • Clear methodology for every score
  • Human-readable reasoning for all assessments

Audit Trail:

  • Every LLM call logged and versioned
  • Complete audit trails for compliance
  • Meets EU AI Act and NY 144 requirements

Resume Citations:

  • Direct quotes from resumes supporting scores
  • Specific evidence for each criterion evaluation
  • Clear reasoning chain from data to score
  • Verification path for hiring team review

Comprehensive Analysis:

  • Considers entire candidate profile holistically
  • Balances multiple criteria appropriately
  • Accounts for context and nuance in experience

Built-in Safeguards:

  • Regular bias auditing across demographic groups
  • Criteria-driven assessment prevents pattern bias
  • Human override capabilities maintained
  • Transparent reasoning enables bias detection

Quality Assurance:

  • Quarterly disparate impact analysis
  • Continuous monitoring for fairness
  • External auditing and validation

Behind the Scenes

Key Features

Consistent Evaluation:

  • Same criteria applied to every candidate
  • No fatigue, mood, or bias affecting scores
  • Standardized assessment methodology
  • Repeatable and reliable results

Evidence-Based Scoring:

  • Every score backed by resume citations
  • Clear reasoning for hiring team review
  • Transparent methodology for all assessments

Hiring Team Control:

  • Scores inform but don't replace human judgment
  • Easy override and annotation capabilities
  • Team can adjust rankings based on context
  • Final decisions always remain with humans

Contextual Flexibility:

  • Consider factors beyond resume data
  • Account for interview performance
  • Integrate cultural fit assessments
  • Balance multiple stakeholder perspectives

Seamless Workflow:

  • Scores appear directly in your ATS
  • Auto-sorting by Nova Score available
  • No additional tools or interfaces required
  • Works with existing hiring processes

Real-Time Updates:

  • Scores available within minutes of application
  • Immediate ranking updates as candidates apply
  • Live analytics and reporting dashboards

Getting Started

Next Steps: Ready to start scoring candidates? Check out these essential guides to get the most out of Nova's ranking system.

Essential Reading

Frequently Asked Questions


Ready to get started? Begin with Configuring Criteria to set up your first Nova-powered role.