Amplify Matching FAQ

Get quick answers to common questions about Bullhorn Matching Engine, the AI technology behind Amplify’s candidate matching capabilities.

If your automations aren’t matching candidates as expected, head over to Amplify Matching Troubleshooting for quick solutions and setup tips.

What is Bullhorn Matching Engine?

Bullhorn Matching Engine is the AI model that powers Amplify’s candidate matching. It helps identify the most relevant candidates for each job by learning from real hiring patterns, not just keywords.

When used in the Match Candidates automation step, the Matching Engine automatically finds candidates who are a strong fit for the job based on title, experience, and other meaningful similarities.

For customers who use Bullhorn Search & Match, Bullhorn Matching Engine is also used to power these features.

Do I need Bullhorn Search & Match to use Bullhorn Matching Engine?

No. As long as you have Amplify, you can use the Bullhorn Matching Engine as part of the Match Candidates automation step without purchasing the Search & Match add-on.

However, we recommend Search & Match in addition to Amplify for enhanced recruiter-driven searches to get the full benefit of Bullhorn’s premium matching capabilities.

How does Bullhorn Matching Engine work?

Instead of relying only on keywords, Bullhorn Matching Engine uses AI to understand the relationships between jobs and candidates. It analyzes patterns from real hiring outcomes, like successful placements and submissions, to predict which candidates are most likely to succeed in a role.

It’s powered by Bullhorn’s S.E.A. of data — Specific, Enormous, and Actionable — drawn from anonymized information across thousands of customers, including:

  • Job titles and descriptions

  • Resume content

  • Placement outcomes

  • Submission results

This helps the model recognize what a successful match looks like in real-world recruiting.

See Bullhorn Matching Engine for more information.

How can I use Bullhorn Matching Engine in Automation?

You can include the Match Candidates step in any job-based automation. When the automation runs, Bullhorn Matching Engine finds candidates who are a great fit for that specific job and returns them as matches.

For setup instructions, see our guide: Match Candidates Step.

Can I see why a candidate received a specific match rank?

At this time, Bullhorn doesn’t display the specific reasons why a candidate receives a particular rank. The ranking is determined by the Matching Engine’s AI model, which evaluates multiple factors based on its training data.

We’re actively exploring ways to provide more insight into how rankings are calculated in future updates to the model.

Why should I create a candidate list for the Match Candidates step?

The Match Candidates step requires a candidate list as well as a job list. This lets you pre-filter applicants to focus on your ideal candidate pool.

For example, by targeting candidates who've engaged with your organization in the past year, you can connect with those more likely to respond to job opportunities. This helps you identify better matches and makes your outreach more effective.

While a list is mandatory, you have complete flexibility. You can customize it however you like and choose exactly which candidate pool the Match step should search within.