cv-forge
MCP server that generates ATS-friendly CVs, cover letters, and email templates tailored to any job description
Documentation
CV Forge
Forge powerful, ATS-friendly CVs tailored to any job requirement.
An intelligent MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that analyzes job postings and crafts perfectly-matched CVs.
Features
- Parse Job Requirements: Extract key skills, qualifications, email addresses, and hiring manager names from job postings
- Generate Tailored CVs: Create customized CV content based on user profile and job requirements
- Cover Letter Generation: Generate personalized cover letters tailored to specific job applications
- Email Template Creation: Create professional email templates with automatic email address detection
- Complete Application Packages: Generate CV, cover letter, and email template in one command
- PDF by Default: Automatically generates professional PDF documents when no format is specified
- Multiple Output Formats: Generate documents in PDF (default), HTML, Markdown, and text formats
- Professional PDF Generation: Create publication-ready PDF documents with professional styling
- ATS-Friendly: Optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems with proper keyword placement
- Smart Contact Extraction: Automatically extracts email addresses and hiring manager names from job descriptions
Star History
Installation
Via npm (Recommended)
Install globally:
npm install -g cv-forgeOr install locally in your project:
npm install cv-forgeFrom Source
1. Clone this repository
2. Install dependencies:
npm install3. Build the project:
npm run buildUsage
Connecting to Claude Desktop
To use this MCP server with Claude Desktop, you need to add it to your Claude configuration file.
Step 1: Install cv-forge
npm install -g cv-forgeStep 2: Find your Claude Desktop config file
- Windows: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
- macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
- Linux: `~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
Step 3: Add the MCP server to your config
For global installation, add this to your `claude_desktop_config.json` file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"cv-forge": {
"command": "cv-forge"
}
}
}Or if installed locally, specify the full path:
{
"mcpServers": {
"cv-forge": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["d:/TopSecret/cv-forge/build/index.js"],
"cwd": "d:/TopSecret/cv-forge"
}
}
}Step 4: (Optional) Add environment configuration
You can customize the server with environment variables:
{
"mcpServers": {
"cv-forge": {
"command": "cv-forge",
"env": {
"DEFAULT_OUTPUT_PATH": "D:/CV",
"PDF_BASE_FONT_SIZE": "12px",
"PDF_LINE_HEIGHT": "1.4"
}
}
}
}Step 5: Restart Claude Desktop
After adding the configuration, restart Claude Desktop application.
Step 6: Verify Connection
In Claude Desktop, you should see the CV Forge tools available. You can ask Claude to use tools like:
- "Parse this job posting for me"
- "Generate a tailored CV based on my profile and this job"
- "Save my CV as a PDF file"
Running the MCP Server Standalone (for testing)
You can also run the server directly for testing:
npm startThe server runs on stdio and communicates via the Model Context Protocol.
Available Tools
1. `parse_job_requirements`
Parses job requirements and extracts key information for CV tailoring.
Parameters:
- `jobTitle` (string, required): The job title/position
- `company` (string, required): Company name
- `jobDescription` (string, required): Full job description text
- `requirements` (array, optional): Specific requirements if separated
- `preferredSkills` (array, optional): Preferred skills if separated
- `location` (string, optional): Job location
- `salaryRange` (string, optional): Salary range if provided
2. `generate_cv_data`
Generates tailored CV content based on user profile and job requirements.
Parameters:
- `userProfile` (object, required): Complete user profile information
- `jobRequirements` (object, required): Job requirements object
User Profile Structure:
{
"personalInfo": {
"fullName": "John Doe",
"email": "john@example.com",
"phone": "+1-555-0123",
"location": "City, State",
"linkedIn": "linkedin.com/in/johndoe",
"github": "github.com/johndoe",
"website": "johndoe.com"
},
"summary": "Professional summary text...",
"experience": [
{
"jobTitle": "Software Engineer",
"company": "Tech Corp",
"location": "City, State",
"startDate": "2020-01",
"endDate": "2023-12",
"description": "Job description...",
"achievements": [
"Achievement 1",
"Achievement 2"
]
}
],
"education": [
{
"degree": "Bachelor of Science in Computer Science",
"institution": "University Name",
"location": "City, State",
"graduationYear": "2020",
"gpa": "3.8",
"honors": ["Magna Cum Laude"]
}
],
"skills": {
"technical": ["JavaScript", "Python", "React"],
"soft": ["Leadership", "Communication"],
"languages": ["English", "Spanish"],
"certifications": ["AWS Certified"]
},
"projects": [
{
"name": "Project Name",
"description": "Project description...",
"technologies": ["React", "Node.js"],
"url": "github.com/johndoe/project"
}
]
}3. `save_cv_text`
Saves CV content as a formatted text file.
Parameters:
- `cvData` (object, required): Tailored CV data object (from generate_cv_data)
- `outputPath` (string, required): Directory path where the CV should be saved
- `fileName` (string, optional): Custom filename (without extension), defaults to "generated_cv"
4. `generate_cv` (Recommended - Main CV Generation Tool)
Generate tailored CV and save to specified location or default folder. Defaults to PDF format if no format is specified.
Parameters:
- `userProfile` (object, required): Complete user profile information
- `jobRequirements` (object, required): Job requirements object
- `outputPath` (string, optional): Directory path where the CV should be saved (uses DEFAULT_OUTPUT_PATH if not provided)
- `fileName` (string, optional): Custom filename (without extension), defaults to "professional_cv"
- `format` (string, optional): Output format - "pdf" (default), "html", or "markdown"
- `pageSize` (string, optional): PDF page size (e.g., 'A4', 'Letter', 'Legal') - uses PDF_PAGE_SIZE env var if not provided
- `margins` (object, optional): PDF margins with top, right, bottom, left properties (e.g., '10mm', '0.8in') - uses PDF_MARGIN_* env vars if not provided
5. `generate_and_save_cv_pdf` (Legacy - Use generate_cv instead)
Generate tailored CV and save directly as professional PDF (combines CV generation and PDF creation in one step).
Parameters:
- `userProfile` (object, required): Complete user profile information
- `jobRequirements` (object, required): Job requirements object
- `outputPath` (string, optional): Directory path where the CV should be saved (uses DEFAULT_OUTPUT_PATH if not provided)
- `fileName` (string, optional): Custom filename (without extension), defaults to "professional_cv"
6. `generate_and_save_cv_markdown` (Recommended)
Generate tailored CV and save directly as Markdown (combines CV generation and Markdown creation in one step).
Parameters:
- `userProfile` (object, required): Complete user profile information
- `jobRequirements` (object, required): Job requirements object
- `outputPath` (string, required): Directory path where the CV should be saved
- `fileName` (string, optional): Custom filename (without extension), defaults to "cv_markdown"
7. `generate_and_save_cv_html` (Recommended)
Generate tailored CV and save directly as HTML (combines CV generation and HTML creation in one step).
Parameters:
- `userProfile` (object, required): Complete user profile information
- `jobRequirements` (object, required): Job requirements object
- `outputPath` (string, required): Directory path where the CV should be saved
- `fileName` (string, optional): Custom filename (without extension), defaults to "cv_html"
8. `generate_cv_pdf` (Advanced)
Generate and save CV as a professional PDF document from pre-generated CV data.
Parameters:
- `cvData` (object, required): Tailored CV data object (from generate_cv_data)
- `outputPath` (string, required): Directory path where the CV should be saved
- `fileName` (string, optional): Custom filename (without extension), defaults to "professional_cv"
9. `generate_cv_markdown` (Advanced)
Generate CV as Markdown format from pre-generated CV data.
Parameters:
- `cvData` (object, required): Tailored CV data object (from generate_cv_data)
- `outputPath` (string, required): Directory path where the CV should be saved
- `fileName` (string, optional): Custom filename (without extension), defaults to "cv_markdown"
10. `generate_cv_html` (Advanced)
Generate CV as styled HTML document from pre-generated CV data.
Parameters:
- `cvData` (object, required): Tailored CV data object (from generate_cv_data)
- `outputPath` (string, required): Directory path where the CV should be saved
- `fileName` (string, optional): Custom filename (without extension), defaults to "cv_web"
Cover Letter and Email Template Tools
11. `generate_cover_letter` (Recommended)
Generate a tailored cover letter for a specific job application. Returns formatted text that can be displayed on screen or saved as PDF.
Parameters:
- `userProfile` (object, required): Complete user profile information
- `jobRequirements` (object, required): Job requirements object
- `hiringManagerName` (string, optional): Name of the hiring manager if known
- `format` (string, optional): Output format - "text" (default) for on-screen display, "html" for styled viewing
12. `save_cover_letter_pdf`
Generate and save a cover letter as PDF to specified location. Automatically extracts email addresses and hiring manager names from job descriptions.
Parameters:
- `userProfile` (object, required): Complete user profile information
- `jobRequirements` (object, required): Job requirements object
- `outputPath` (string, optional): Directory path where the cover letter should be saved
- `fileName` (string, optional): Custom filename (without extension), defaults to "cover_letter"
- `hiringManagerName` (string, optional): Name of the hiring manager if known
- `pageSize` (string, optional): PDF page size (e.g., 'A4', 'Letter', 'Legal')
- `margins` (object, optional): PDF margins with top, right, bottom, left properties
13. `generate_email_template`
Generate a professional email template for job application. Automatically detects email addresses from job description.
Parameters:
- `userProfile` (object, required): Complete user profile information
- `jobRequirements` (object, required): Job requirements object
- `templateType` (string, optional): Type of email template - "application" (default), "follow_up", "inquiry", "thank_you"
- `recipientEmail` (string, optional): Recipient email address (optional, will use extracted email from job description if available)
- `hiringManagerName` (string, optional): Name of the hiring manager if known
14. `draft_complete_application` (Recommended - One-Stop Solution)
Draft a complete job application package: CV, cover letter, and email template. Automatically generates PDF CV and cover letter, plus email template if email address is found in the job description.
Parameters:
- `userProfile` (object, required): Complete user profile information
- `jobRequirements` (object, required): Job requirements object
- `outputPath` (string, optional): Directory path where files should be saved
- `baseFileName` (string, optional): Base filename for generated files (without extension), defaults to "job_application"
- `hiringManagerName` (string, optional): Name of the hiring manager if known
Configuration
Environment Variables
The MCP server supports various configuration options via environment variables in the Claude Desktop config:
{
"mcpServers": {
"cv-forge": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["path/to/cv-forge/build/index.js"],
"cwd": "path/to/cv-forge",
"env": {
"DEFAULT_OUTPUT_PATH": "D:/CV",
"TEMP_DIR": "C:/Users/YourName/AppData/Local/Temp/cv-maker",
"PDF_TIMEOUT": "300000",
"PDF_PAGE_SIZE": "A4",
"PDF_MARGIN_TOP": "10mm",
"PDF_MARGIN_RIGHT": "10mm",
"PDF_MARGIN_BOTTOM": "10mm",
"PDF_MARGIN_LEFT": "10mm",
"PDF_BASE_FONT_SIZE": "12px",
"PDF_LINE_HEIGHT": "1.4",
"PDF_H1_FONT_SIZE": "20px",
"PDF_H2_FONT_SIZE": "15px",
"PDF_H3_FONT_SIZE": "13px",
"PDF_PARAGRAPH_SPACING": "8px",
"PDF_SECTION_SPACING": "12px"
}
}
}
}Configuration Options:
- `DEFAULT_OUTPUT_PATH`: Default directory for saving CV files (when outputPath is not provided or is "./")
- `TEMP_DIR`: Directory for temporary files during PDF generation
- `PDF_TIMEOUT`: Timeout for PDF generation in milliseconds
- `PDF_PAGE_SIZE`: Default PDF page size - defaults to 'A4'
- Common sizes: 'A4' (210×297mm), 'Letter' (8.5×11in), 'Legal' (8.5×14in)
- `PDF_MARGIN_*`: PDF page margins (top, right, bottom, left) - defaults to '10mm'
- `PDF_BASE_FONT_SIZE`: Base font size for CV body text (12px ≈ MS Word 9pt, 13px ≈ 10pt)
- `PDF_LINE_HEIGHT`: Line height for text (1.4 recommended for compact layout)
- `PDF_H1_FONT_SIZE`: Font size for name/title heading
- `PDF_H2_FONT_SIZE`: Font size for section headings
- `PDF_H3_FONT_SIZE`: Font size for job titles and subsections
- `PDF_PARAGRAPH_SPACING`: Spacing between paragraphs
- `PDF_SECTION_SPACING`: Spacing between major sections
Example Usage with Claude Desktop
Once connected to Claude Desktop, you can use natural language to interact with the CV maker:
1. Parse Job Requirements
"Can you parse this job posting for me:
Job Title: Senior Software Engineer
Company: TechCorp Inc
Description: We are looking for a Senior Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience in JavaScript, React, and Node.js. Must have experience with cloud platforms and agile methodologies. Strong communication skills required."2. Generate Tailored CV (Simple One-Step Process - PDF by Default)
"Generate a tailored CV for me based on this job posting:
Job Title: Senior Software Engineer
Company: TechCorp Inc
Job Description: We are looking for a Senior Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience in JavaScript, React, and Node.js. Must have experience with cloud platforms and agile methodologies.
My Profile:
- Full Name: John Doe
- Email: john@example.com
- Phone: +1-555-0123
- Experience: 6 years as Software Engineer at various companies
- Skills: JavaScript, Python, React, Node.js, AWS, Docker
- Education: BS Computer Science from State University
Please save it to C:\Users\John\Documents\CVs with filename 'john_doe_senior_engineer_techcorp'"Note: This will automatically generate a PDF file (default format) unless you specify a different format.
3. Generate Different Formats
"Can you generate my CV in multiple formats? I need:
1. A professional PDF for applications (default format)
2. A Markdown version for my GitHub
3. An HTML version for my website
Save them all to C:\Users\John\Documents\CVs with the base filename 'john_doe_cv'"Or specify format explicitly:
"Generate my CV in HTML format and save it to C:\Users\John\Documents\CVs"Or specify custom page size and margins for PDF:
"Generate my CV as a PDF with Letter page size and 1 inch margins on all sides, save it to C:\Users\John\Documents\CVs"3. Generate Cover Letters
"Generate a cover letter for the Senior Software Engineer position at TechCorp Inc. The job description mentions the hiring manager is Sarah Johnson and applications should be sent to careers@techcorp.com."4. Generate Email Templates
"Create an email template for applying to the Senior Software Engineer position at TechCorp Inc. The job posting includes the email careers@techcorp.com and mentions Sarah Johnson as the hiring manager."5. Draft Complete Application Package (Recommended)
"Draft a complete job application package for the Senior Software Engineer position at TechCorp Inc. Include CV, cover letter, and email template. Save everything to C:\Users\John\Documents\Applications with the base filename 'techcorp_application'."This will generate:
- `techcorp_application_CV.pdf` - Tailored CV
- `techcorp_application_Cover_Letter.pdf` - Professional cover letter
- `techcorp_application_Email_Template.txt` - Email template (if email address found in job description)
6. Generate Follow-up Email Template
"Generate a follow-up email template for the Senior Software Engineer position I applied to at TechCorp Inc last week."7. Direct Tool Usage Examples
If you want to use the tools directly (advanced usage):
1. Parse a job posting:
{
"tool": "parse_job_requirements",
"args": {
"jobTitle": "Senior Software Engineer",
"company": "TechCorp Inc",
"jobDescription": "We are looking for a Senior Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience in JavaScript, React, and Node.js. Must have experience with cloud platforms and agile methodologies."
}
}2. Generate tailored CV:
{
"tool": "generate_cv_data",
"args": {
"userProfile": { /* user profile object */ },
"jobRequirements": { /* job requirements object */ }
}
}3. Generate PDF CV:
{
"tool": "generate_cv_pdf",
"args": {
"cvData": { /* tailored CV data */ },
"outputPath": "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Documents\\CVs",
"fileName": "senior_engineer_techcorp_cv"
}
}4. Generate Markdown CV:
{
"tool": "generate_cv_markdown",
"args": {
"cvData": { /* tailored CV data */ },
"outputPath": "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Documents\\CVs",
"fileName": "cv_for_github"
}
}5. Generate HTML CV:
{
"tool": "generate_cv_html",
"args": {
"cvData": { /* tailored CV data */ },
"outputPath": "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Documents\\CVs",
"fileName": "web_resume"
}
}6. Save CV as text file:
{
"tool": "save_cv_text",
"args": {
"cvData": { /* tailored CV data */ },
"outputPath": "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Documents\\CVs",
"fileName": "senior_engineer_techcorp_cv"
}
}How It Works
1. Job Analysis: The server parses job descriptions to extract:
2. CV Tailoring: Based on the analysis, it:
3. Output Generation: Creates a well-formatted text CV that:
File Structure
cv-forge/
├── src/
│ ├── index.ts # Main MCP server
│ └── lib/
│ ├── job-parser.ts # Job requirement parsing logic
│ ├── cv-generator.ts # CV tailoring algorithms
│ ├── document-generator.ts # Multi-format document generation
│ └── word-generator.ts # Word document generation (future)
├── build/ # Compiled JavaScript files
├── package.json # Project configuration
├── tsconfig.json # TypeScript configuration
├── claude_desktop_config.example.json # Example configuration
└── README.md # This fileDevelopment
Building
npm run buildStarting Development Server
npm run devProject Structure
- `src/index.ts`: Main MCP server with tool registration
- `src/lib/job-parser.ts`: Parses job requirements, extracts key information, emails, and hiring manager names
- `src/lib/cv-generator.ts`: Generates tailored CV content based on job requirements
- `src/lib/cover-letter-generator.ts`: Generates personalized cover letters for job applications
- `src/lib/email-template-generator.ts`: Creates professional email templates for various application scenarios
- `src/lib/document-generator.ts`: Multi-format document generation (PDF, HTML, Markdown)
- `src/lib/word-generator.ts`: (Future) Word document generation functionality
Troubleshooting
PDF not saving to configured location
- Ensure `DEFAULT_OUTPUT_PATH` is set in your Claude Desktop config
- Restart Claude Desktop after changing configuration
- Check that the path exists or the application has permission to create it
Font size too large or small
- Adjust `PDF_BASE_FONT_SIZE` in environment variables (12px ≈ 9pt, 13px ≈ 10pt MS Word)
- Modify `PDF_LINE_HEIGHT` for tighter/looser spacing
- Restart Claude Desktop after changes
PDF generation fails
- Check that output directory exists and is writable
- Verify `TEMP_DIR` path is valid
- Ensure sufficient disk space
Custom page size not working
- Ensure page size is a valid format (A4, Letter, Legal, A3, A5, etc.)
- Check that the page size is supported by the PDF generator
- Use standard page size names (case-sensitive)
Custom margins not applied
- Use proper units: 'mm', 'cm', 'in', 'px', 'pt'
- Example: '10mm', '0.8in', '72pt'
- Restart Claude Desktop after changing environment variables
Future Enhancements
- Enhanced Word document generation with advanced formatting
- Multiple CV and cover letter templates (modern, classic, minimal)
- Advanced keyword optimization algorithms
- Integration with job boards for automatic job parsing
- LinkedIn profile integration for automatic profile data
- Interview preparation questions based on job requirements
- Salary negotiation guidance based on market data
- Multi-language support for international applications
- AI-powered writing suggestions and improvements
Dependencies
- `@modelcontextprotocol/sdk`: Core MCP functionality
- `zod`: Schema validation and type safety
- `typescript`: TypeScript compiler
- `md-to-pdf`: PDF generation from Markdown
- `markdown-it`: Markdown parsing and HTML conversion
- `docx`: Word document generation (for future Word output)
License
This project is available under the MIT License.
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit pull requests or open issues for bugs and feature requests.
Frequently asked questions
What is cv-forge?
cv-forge is MCP server that generates ATS-friendly CVs, cover letters, and email templates tailored to any job description
How do I install cv-forge?
Open the GitHub repository and follow its README. Most MCP servers are added to your client's MCP config, then called by your agent.
Is cv-forge open source?
Yes — it is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/thechandanbhagat/cv-forge and has 29 stars.
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