cv-forge

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 and qualifications from job postings
• Generate Tailored CVs: Create customized CV content based on user profile and job requirements
• PDF by Default: Automatically generates professional PDF documents when no format is specified
• Multiple Output Formats: Generate CVs 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
• Markdown Support: Generate CVs in Markdown for easy editing and version control

Installation

Via npm (Recommended)

Install globally:

npm install -g cv-forge

Or install locally in your project:

npm install cv-forge

From Source

• Clone this repository
• Install dependencies:

  npm install
  

• Build the project:

  npm run build
  

Usage

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-forge

Step 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 start

The 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": "[e-mail]",
    "phone": "[phone]",
    "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"

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: [e-mail]
- Phone: [phone]
- 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. Direct Tool Usage Examples

If you want to use the tools directly (advanced usage):

• 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."
    }
  }
  

• Generate tailored CV:

  {
    "tool": "generate_cv_data", 
    "args": {
      "userProfile": { /* user profile object */ },
      "jobRequirements": { /* job requirements object */ }
    }
  }
  

• Generate PDF CV:

  {
    "tool": "generate_cv_pdf",
    "args": {
      "cvData": { /* tailored CV data */ },
      "outputPath": "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Documents\\CVs",
      "fileName": "senior_engineer_techcorp_cv"
    }
  }
  

• Generate Markdown CV:

  {
    "tool": "generate_cv_markdown",
    "args": {
      "cvData": { /* tailored CV data */ },
      "outputPath": "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Documents\\CVs",
      "fileName": "cv_for_github"
    }
  }
  

• Generate HTML CV:

  {
    "tool": "generate_cv_html",
    "args": {
      "cvData": { /* tailored CV data */ },
      "outputPath": "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Documents\\CVs",
      "fileName": "web_resume"
    }
  }
  

• 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

• Job Analysis: The server parses job descriptions to extract:

  • Required technical skills
  • Preferred qualifications
  • Company industry and size
  • Experience level requirements

• CV Tailoring: Based on the analysis, it:

  • Prioritizes relevant skills and experience
  • Adjusts the professional summary
  • Reorders and emphasizes matching achievements
  • Incorporates job-specific keywords for ATS optimization

• Output Generation: Creates a well-formatted text CV that:

  • Uses ATS-friendly formatting
  • Includes relevant keywords
  • Maintains professional structure
  • Highlights the most relevant qualifications

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 file

Development

Building

npm run build

Starting Development Server

npm run dev

Project Structure

• src/index.ts: Main MCP server with tool registration
• src/lib/job-parser.ts: Parses job requirements and extracts key information
• src/lib/cv-generator.ts: Generates tailored CV content based on job requirements
• 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 templates (modern, classic, minimal)
• Advanced keyword optimization algorithms
• Integration with job boards for automatic job parsing
• Template customization options
• Cover letter generation
• Multi-language support

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.