Bullhorn Search & Match Best Practices

Bullhorn Search & Match helps recruiters identify the best-fit candidates for open roles by using AI to surface relevant matches from the database. The more structured, enriched, and current your data, the more effective Search & Match becomes. This guide provides best practices to optimize Search & Match's performance.

Need inspiration? Check out our Bullhorn Search & Match Use Cases for ideas on sourcing top candidates.

Preparing for Success: Search & Match Readiness Checklist

To get meaningful results from Bullhorn Search & Match, it’s important to establish a strong data foundation before enabling AI-driven matching. The following steps will help ensure the tool performs effectively from day one.

Data Alignment

  • Ensure candidate records are complete, current, and consistently formatted.

  • Use tools like the AI Assistant and Enrich Step to populate and improve key fields such as summaries and job titles.

For more ways to optimize your database for Search & Match, see Database Hygiene Strategies for Amplify

Structured Fields

  • Create custom fields to store AI-generated summaries or other structured insights.

  • Make sure those fields are easily accessible and consistently maintained across records.

Readiness Questions

Ask these questions before rolling out Search & Match:

  • Is candidate data up to date?

  • Are candidates reachable and recently engaged?

  • Is your submission workflow fast and consistent enough to capitalize on good matches?

Best Practices for Reliable Matching

  • Keep Candidate Statuses Current: Automate status changes based on activity (e.g., submissions, notes) to reflect true availability.

  • Enrich Key Fields with Structured Content: Use AI tools to add consistent summaries, job titles, and skills to make profiles easier to match.

  • Archive or Flag Low-Value Records: Regularly clean up old or incomplete profiles to reduce clutter and improve result quality.

  • Monitor Match Quality: Track success metrics and adjust enrichment or filtering logic to keep matches sharp.

  • Focus on High-Impact Roles First: Apply Search & Match where it drives the most revenue: high-margin or high-volume roles.

  • Refresh Candidate Engagement Regularly: Re-engage inactive candidates with screeners, emails, or update requests to keep them match-ready.