diff --git a/backend/job/candidate/views.py b/backend/job/candidate/views.py
index 778627d..c1a4846 100644
--- a/backend/job/candidate/views.py
+++ b/backend/job/candidate/views.py
@@ -285,6 +285,31 @@ class CandidateView:
     def __init__(self,session:AsyncSession):
         self.session=session
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _recommendation(score):
+        if score is None:
+            return None
+        # Same bands the frontend uses (Candidates.jsx / seed.js).
+        return "Strong Match" if score>=82 else "Potential Match" if score>=65 else "Weak Match"
+
+    async def _scores_by_message(self,message_ids):
+        """Completed ATS scores (candidates table) per inbox message id, newest first.
+
+        One batched query — the profile list would otherwise pay a query per row.
+        """
+        mids=[m for m in message_ids if m]
+        if not mids:
+            return {}
+        result=await self.session.execute(
+            select(Candidates)
+            .where(Candidates.inbox_message_id.in_(mids),Candidates.status=="completed")
+            .order_by(Candidates.updated_at.desc())
+        )
+        scores={}
+        for row in result.scalars().all():
+            scores.setdefault(row.inbox_message_id,[]).append(row)
+        return scores
+
     async def get_candidate(self,user_id=None,limit=10,offset=0,search=None):
         try:
             detail=bool(user_id)
@@ -357,11 +382,16 @@ class CandidateView:
         """Normalize list/single, serialize each record, attach full job_posts rows."""
         single=not isinstance(data,list)
         records=[data] if single else list(data or [])
+        scores=await self._scores_by_message([getattr(r,"message_id",None) for r in records])
         enriched=[]
         for record in records:
             payload=serialize_candidate_profile(record)
             payload["job_posts"]=[]
             payload["assigned_job_post"]=None
+            scored=scores.get(getattr(record,"message_id",None)) or []
+            if scored:
+                payload["ai_score"]=scored[0].match_score
+                payload["recommendation"]=self._recommendation(scored[0].match_score)
             assigned_id=payload.get("assigned_job_post_id")
             if assigned_id:
                 await self.get_job_post_by_id(record_id=assigned_id,data=payload,as_assigned=True)
@@ -432,6 +462,27 @@ class CandidateView:
             )
             notes=[serialize_note(r) for r in result.scalars().all()]
 
+        # ATS score: join the scoring engine's `candidates` rows onto the profile
+        # by inbox message. The serializer stubs ai_score/recommendation to None;
+        # this is where they get real values. Prefer the score against the
+        # assigned job post, else the most recent completed score.
+        scores=await self._scores_by_message([getattr(r,"message_id",None) for r in records])
+        scored_rows=[row for rows in scores.values() for row in rows]
+        if scored_rows:
+            assigned_uid=Candidates._as_uuid(base.get("assigned_job_post_id")) if base.get("assigned_job_post_id") else None
+            chosen=None
+            if assigned_uid is not None:
+                chosen=next((r for r in scored_rows if r.job_id==assigned_uid),None)
+            if chosen is None:
+                chosen=max(scored_rows,key=lambda r:r.updated_at)
+            base["ai_score"]=chosen.match_score
+            base["recommendation"]=self._recommendation(chosen.match_score)
+            base["matched_keywords"]=list(chosen.matched_keywords or [])
+            base["missing_keywords"]=list(chosen.missing_keywords or [])
+            base["summary_critique"]=chosen.summary_critique
+            base["scored_job_post_id"]=str(chosen.job_id)
+            base["scored_at"]=chosen.updated_at.isoformat() if chosen.updated_at else None
+
         activity.sort(key=lambda r:(r.get("activity_date") or ""),reverse=True)
         base["favorite"]=favorite
         base["rating"]=rating
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/CandidateProfile.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/CandidateProfile.jsx
index f99db8c..2ba242e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/CandidateProfile.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/CandidateProfile.jsx
@@ -130,6 +130,16 @@ export default function CandidateProfile({ candidate: c, onClose, onAdvance, onT
     success: (next) => (next ? `${c.name} added to favorites` : 'Removed from favorites'),
   })
 
+  // Score the candidate's inbox CV against the assigned job with the ATS engine.
+  // Needs both an assigned job (what to score against) and a message (whose
+  // attachment to score); the refetch lands the new ai_score in this modal.
+  const canScoreAts = isLive && Boolean(live?.assigned_job_post_id && live?.message_id)
+  const scoreAts = useProfileWrite({
+    userId: c.userId,
+    mutationFn: () => candidatesApi.scoreInbox(live.assigned_job_post_id, [live.message_id]),
+    success: 'CV scored against the assigned job',
+  })
+
   const title = live?.job_title || c.currentTitle
   const company = live?.currentCompany || c.currentCompany
 
@@ -171,6 +181,15 @@ export default function CandidateProfile({ candidate: c, onClose, onAdvance, onT
           >
             <Icon name="star" /> {favorite ? 'Favorited' : 'Favorite'}
           </button>
+          {canScoreAts && (
+            <button
+              className="btn btn-secondary"
+              disabled={scoreAts.isPending}
+              onClick={() => scoreAts.mutate()}
+            >
+              <Icon name="sparkles" /> {scoreAts.isPending ? 'Scoring…' : 'Score with ATS'}
+            </button>
+          )}
           <button className="btn btn-secondary" onClick={() => onAtsMatch(c)}>
             <Icon name="target" /> ATS Match
           </button>
@@ -194,7 +213,7 @@ export default function CandidateProfile({ candidate: c, onClose, onAdvance, onT
           </div>
         </div>
         <div style={{ textAlign: 'center' }}>
-          <ScoreChip score={c.aiScore} />
+          <ScoreChip score={live?.ai_score ?? c.aiScore} />
           <div className="cell-sub" style={{ marginTop: 4 }}>AI Match</div>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/TalentPool.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/TalentPool.jsx
index bae190a..32d59ed 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/TalentPool.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/TalentPool.jsx
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ function merge(row, template) {
     status: stage,
     currentTitle: title || template.currentTitle,
     jobTitle: title || template.jobTitle,
+    // Real ATS score (scoring engine, joined server-side by inbox message)
+    // wins over the seed placeholder; recommendation follows it.
+    aiScore: row.ai_score ?? template.aiScore,
+    recommendation: row.recommendation ?? template.recommendation,
   }
 }