> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.clarvo.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How search works

> The journey from a plain-language description to a reviewed list of matching candidates.

Search in Clarvo is designed so you describe who you want in plain language, **review how
Clarvo interpreted it**, and only then look at results. That review step is what keeps your
results on target.

## The search flow

<Steps>
  <Step title="You describe the role">
    Start a **New Search** and write who you're looking for in everyday language: titles,
    skills, experience, location, and anything else that matters.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clarvo translates your description">
    Clarvo reads your description and turns it into a set of structured **filters**: the
    concrete criteria it will search against. You'll see a short "translating" step while it
    works.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You review the interpreted filters">
    Clarvo shows you the filters it understood as a row of badges above your results. This
    is your chance to confirm it got things right **before** you rely on the results.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You adjust if needed">
    Tweak the wording with **Edit Search**, or open **Edit Filters** to fine-tune the
    criteria directly. See [Search filters](/search/filters) for every available filter and
    whether it narrows or just ranks your results.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You set your evaluation criteria">
    Before you see candidates, you define the **criteria** Clarvo should judge them on. The
    criteria editor appears first. Confirm or refine it to continue.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clarvo runs an AI-powered evaluation">
    Clarvo assesses every candidate against your criteria. This evaluation is a built-in
    part of search: it's how candidates are scored, not an optional extra.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You view your evaluated results">
    Clarvo returns the matching candidates, each scored and ordered by how well they fit your
    criteria.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Reviewing before you trust the results

The interpreted-filter badges are the heart of the review step. Each badge is something
Clarvo decided to search for based on your description. Reviewing them means you can:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Catch misreadings early">
    If a badge doesn't match what you meant, fix it before judging the results.
  </Step>

  <Step title="See what's driving the match">
    Understand why a candidate showed up, and what's narrowing vs. simply ranking the list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the right filter in one click">
    Click a badge to jump straight to that filter in **Edit Filters**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Some filters narrow your results (hard filters) and others only rank them (soft
  filters). Knowing which is which is the key to widening or tightening a search. See
  [Search filters](/search/filters).
</Note>

## Widening or narrowing

* **Too few results?** Loosen or remove hard filters, or switch skills to **Loose** matching.
  Turn on [deep search](/search/deep-search) to widen the candidate pool.
* **Too many results?** Add hard filters (specific titles, seniority, location, or required
  skills) to tighten the list.