JobSpace AI has published research showing that 35% of UK job applications fall below the threshold needed to progress to interview. The findings are based on an analysis of 5,782 CV scans matched against UK job descriptions.

The data challenges the long-circulated claim that 75% of CVs are rejected automatically before a recruiter reads them. Instead, the figures suggest most applications in the sample reached a level classed as interview-ready, while a sizeable minority did not.

Of the 5,782 CVs analysed, 64.5% scored 75 or above, which JobSpace AI classed as interview-ready. Another 22.4% scored between 50 and 74 and were deemed at risk of rejection, while 13.1% scored below 50 and were considered likely to be filtered out before reaching a recruiter.

The research drew on CV scans submitted by UK job seekers and assessed against job descriptions supplied by the same users. The sample covered submissions made over a four-month period and was based on actual candidate documents rather than recruiter surveys or modelled estimates.

Keyword gap

A smaller subset of 248 CVs received full keyword analysis. In that group, candidates matched an average of 48% of the keywords in the job descriptions they targeted and missed 9.1 keywords per application on average.

The missing terms were most often linked to process and governance rather than technical expertise. Phrases such as continuous improvement, compliance, customer service, SLA or service levels, change management, and stakeholder management appeared regularly in job adverts but were often absent from applicants’ CVs.

That pattern suggests the issue for many applicants lies less in their underlying experience than in how they describe it. Recruiters and screening systems often look for the language used in role specifications, especially in functions where process, oversight, and service delivery feature heavily.

“The gap most candidates don’t see isn’t a skills gap – it’s a language gap,” said Nicholas Barooah, Founder, JobSpace AI.

“Job adverts are written around frameworks and processes. Most CVs describe what someone achieved without using the governance and process terminology recruiters are screening for. Candidates who bridge that gap move from the 35% to the 65% – often with relatively small changes to how they describe existing experience,” Barooah said.

Myth questioned

The findings also cast doubt on one of the most frequently repeated claims in careers advice: that three quarters of CVs are screened out automatically. According to JobSpace AI, that figure has circulated for years across careers media, social media posts, and CV-writing services, but lacks a traceable primary source.

Its analysis points to a different picture. Automated filtering remains part of recruitment practice, but the results suggest the bigger issue is not universal exclusion by software. Instead, a notable share of applicants may be weakening their prospects by failing to reflect the wording and priorities set out in job adverts.

That distinction matters because it shifts attention away from the idea of a closed system and towards one in which many applications can be improved. For candidates whose CVs fall into the middle band or lower-scoring group, the data suggests relatively modest revisions in terminology and alignment may affect whether an application progresses.

How scoring worked

The scoring model assessed keyword alignment, formatting compatibility, and role-seniority match. Each CV was measured against a real job description, and the resulting score was used to place the application into one of three categories.

The research focused on UK users and was intended to reflect real-world submissions rather than hypothetical tests. Because job seekers provided the documents voluntarily, the dataset offers a snapshot of how candidates are currently presenting themselves in live applications.

The figures also underline the competitive nature of recruitment, even when most CVs are not screened out immediately. A document that reaches a recruiter is not necessarily a strong contender, particularly when employers compare applicants on closely matched wording, evidence of process knowledge, and relevance to the stated brief.

For applicants, the results point to the importance of reading job descriptions closely and mirroring terms that accurately reflect their experience. The most commonly absent phrases in the sample were not specialist jargon, but standard language around operations, governance, and delivery.

JobSpace AI said its platform has analysed more than 5,000 real UK job applications since launch, and the latest sample adds to that picture by quantifying how many candidates may be missing interview thresholds because of wording rather than lack of experience.

Our Lady’s Abingdon, in Radley Road, was forced to close permanently for financial reasons, according to its governors, who sent letters to parents in August alerting them to the news.

The Statement of Affairs submitted to Companies House revealed Our Lady’s Abingdon Trustees Ltd racked up debts of £1,555,596 owed to 121 company creditors.

READ MORE: Closed UK private school sells off equipment

Security measures were put in place to protect the buildings and the owners, the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy. were understood to be discussing the sale of the buildings and the site.

Now it is being marketed for sale by commercial real estate company Newmark, with the sale price “subject to offer”.

Our Lady’s Abingdon (Image: Contributed)

Newmark says there is an “opportunity to acquire the freehold interest of a former school in a sought-after location with potential for redevelopment, subject to planning permission.”

Highlights, according to the sale prospectus, include the opportunity to acquire a former school and associated land (Use Class F1) with potential for redevelopment; extensive and attractive grounds and playing fields; combined total Gross Internal Area (GIA) of approximately 105,710 sq ft (9,817 sqm); ite area of c. 9.10 acres including a separate playing field and drop-off/parking of 5.6 acres; freehold offered with vacant possession.

The Newmark online sales page adds that the site is located in an affluent, sought after location with strong demand for independent schools.

It says: “Potential for alternative uses including redevelopment for residential, care, retirement or retail subject to the necessary consents.”

Our Lady’s Abingdon (Image: Contributed)

At the end of last year, a team of liquidators hired auctioneers Wyles Hardy to sell school equipment including the school’s fleet of minibuses.

A statement from Wyles Hardy said earlier: “Following sustained financial pressures and the recent introduction of VAT on school fees pupil numbers declined significantly, leading to the school’s closure in August 2025.

“Acting on behalf of the appointed insolvency practitioners we delivered specialist valuation, marketing and asset disposal services as part of the process.

“Our instruction covered a broad and diverse asset base across multiple departments, including design and technology, domestic science and music, as well as plant and machinery, grounds care equipment and the school’s fleet of minibuses.”

A spokesperson for the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy said in March: “Over the last six months, following the handover of the site from the liquidator, we have been working diligently to both clear and secure the Our Lady’s Abingdon site, as well as reflect on how best the site can be used moving forward.

“Meetings are ongoing about the site’s future, taking into account our obligations as a charity, and we are hopeful to be in a position to share more information in the early part of the summer.”  

Following the closure announcement, schools across the county rallied to find places for more than 300 pupils.

Some pupils switched to schools in Abingdon while others are now attending schools in other parts of Oxfordshire.

In November, Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran wrote to education secretary Bridget Phillipson, urging the Department for Education to do more to protect families affected by sudden school closures.

Ms Moran said at the time: “Going forwards, there must be earlier dialogue between the local authorities and schools to ensure that pupils and parents’ interests are the number one priority.

The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy has been asked for further comment.

SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

Ecommpay has been named a finalist in the 2026 eCommerce Awards for Best eCommerce Payment Solution. The shortlist recognises its Currency Choice and Try Again payment features.

The two features were selected in a category highlighting payment tools used in online retail. Launched in 2007, the awards programme focuses on initiatives and products in eCommerce.

Currency Choice allows merchants using Ecommpay’s platform to show customers a choice of currencies on the payment page. Shoppers can then complete purchases in their preferred currency rather than a merchant’s default base currency.

Try Again is designed for transactions where an initial payment attempt fails. It allows customers to retry the payment or choose another payment method within the same transaction instead of restarting the checkout process.

The shortlisting reflects a continued focus among payment providers on reducing friction at checkout, particularly for merchants selling across borders. Failed transactions and currency mismatch remain common causes of basket abandonment in online retail, especially when consumers are presented with unfamiliar payment options or unexpected conversion choices.

Ecommpay says its platform offers more than 100 alternative payment methods through a single integration. It positions that model as a way for merchants to support international expansion without adding multiple payment partners.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in London, the payments company provides acquiring, payment processing and orchestration services. It also offers open banking, recurring billing and direct debits through the same platform.

Checkout focus

For merchants operating in several markets, the payment page has become an increasingly important point of conversion. Providers have added tools to address local preferences, repeat failed authorisations and create a clearer path through checkout in an effort to reduce lost sales.

Currency display is one of those areas. Consumers are often more likely to complete a purchase when they can see the amount they will be charged in a familiar denomination, while merchants seek to avoid confusion when settlement currency and display currency differ.

Retry tools have also grown in importance as online businesses try to recover sales that might otherwise be lost after a declined attempt. In practice, that can mean allowing a shopper to switch from one payment method to another without leaving the transaction flow.

Max Ryzhov, Chief Product Officer at Ecommpay, commented on the recognition and the role of the shortlisted tools. “These seemingly simple changes to the payment journey have helped reduce declines and prevented customers from abandoning checkout. We are delighted these innovations have been recognised in the eCommerce Awards programme. The shortlisting is testament to the expertise and dedication of our entire team, and confirms the importance of these developments in the journey to make payments inclusive and frictionless for every customer,” Ryzhov said.

Platform reach

Ecommpay describes itself as a global payments platform that aims to support merchants needing both local and cross-border payment acceptance. Its offering combines local and global acquiring with a range of payment methods accessed through a single application programming interface.

That approach reflects a broader trend in the payments sector, where merchants have sought to consolidate services previously handled by separate providers. Bringing payment processing, orchestration and additional payment options into one setup can reduce operational complexity for retailers, particularly those entering new markets.

Ecommpay also holds regulatory authorisation in the UK for payment services and is a principal member of both Mastercard and Visa. Its platform is certified to PCI DSS Level 1, a standard commonly used in the payments industry for card data security.

The Best eCommerce Payment Solution category places Ecommpay among providers competing on the customer checkout experience rather than back-end processing alone. In online retail, where small changes to payment flow can affect conversion rates, features that address failed payments and local currency choice have become central to how providers differentiate their services.

Ryzhov said the shortlisted developments had “helped reduce declines and prevented customers from abandoning checkout.”