Testing and Troubleshooting List Criteria

Overview

Building a new list can be tricky, especially when using a new custom field or when you're not sure which field value will give you the best results. This article covers testing and troubleshooting your list.

Testing List Criteria

In Bullhorn Automation, there are several ways you can start building a list. The most common are within the automation Edit Enrollment area or on the main Lists page with the Add New button.

When you're unfamiliar with the criteria you're planning to use, or you want to spot check your logic, your best option is to head to the Contacts page and use the Advanced Search area.

The Advanced Search window works just like the List Builder, allowing you to select your entity record type (Candidates, Jobs, Leads, Placements, Sales Contact, Submission) and then select your criteria logic to see the total number of records that match this criterion. When you select Search, this area provides an overview of the matched entity records so you can review the results and make changes before saving your list.

Once you have your logic and fields confirmed and your Advanced Search criterion matches up with your expectations, you have the options to Save as List, select whether it should be a "One Time" or "Always Updated" list, and give it a name to use in your automations.

Saving a list in the Contacts area after an advanced search will save a list with the same record type you searched. For example, Searching for Candidate record types and saving in this area will produce a Candidate-based list.

Examples for Troubleshooting Field Values

  • You're building an automation that focuses on candidates in active placements and you'd like to see candidates associated with these specific placements...or do you want to see placements individually? Try both out and compare your results!
  • Has Note vs Last Note Date are examples of very similar fields that can give different results. Using Advanced Search lets you determine which of these field values will give you a more accurate reading for your unique use case.
  • You need to segment an existing list to identify possible discrepancies. Start with the criteria, In List, then continue with "AND/OR" statements to identify particular groups within the list.
  • Using date values can be a little tricky, but testing it in the Advanced Search section will give you a brief explanation of the data being used and if the records included in the list match before or after that date.