Blogs by tag - Lisa Jones · Barclay Jones

Recruiter Productivity Series: Optimise Bullhorn Part 4 ~ Place Faster with Less Effort

Let’s be honest—placing top talent isn’t just about sourcing and sending CVs. It’s about building smart, fast, and proactive processes to manage both your candidates and your clients. And if you’re using Bullhorn, you already have the tools—you just need to use them!Part 4 of our "Optimise Bullhorn" webinar series is for busy recruiters who need to protect and drive their placement processes. Leaving it to candidates and clients is not a great strategy! REGISTER NOWBullhorn Tips to Drive Placement SuccessRecruitment is fast-moving, competitive, and let’s face it, a little chaotic at times. If you’re not managing your placement processes effectively, you’re likely either making life hard for yourself or losing out. The data from Bullhorn / CIPD / Linkedin tells us:📉 57% of candidates say they lose interest when communication drops off. That’s over half your shortlist potentially ghosting you.⏳ The best candidates are off the market in just 10 days—meaning delayed client feedback or disjointed processes can kill your placement before it even starts.💼 80% of placements come from just 20% of your Bullhorn database—so if you’re only looking outward and not reactivating past candidates, you’re leaving money on the table.🎯80% of candidates expect to be placed in less than 20 days.🧠 60% of clients say they want better communication from their recruiter. Not more CVs—more value.💑 Only 29% of customers are fully engaged.All of these stats have one thing in common: you need to take control of your process, and not assume that the candidate / client has your (or even their) best interest at heart!And that starts with better Bullhorn usage.🧠What You’ll Learn in the WebinarPart 4 of our "Optimise Bullhorn" webinar series is packed with tips you can use immediately to manage youe time, tasks, and targets.✅ Smarter candidate engagement: How to set tasks and workflows that make follow-up a breeze (and stop candidates slipping through the cracks).✅ Client comms that convert: Use Bullhorn to track touchpoints, get reminders, and maintain proactive communication that wins trust and repeat business.✅ Automation that actually works: We'll talk about how automation can free you up to make more placements.💪Stop Playing Catch-UpIf you and your team is spending too long on admin, or even too long placing, or struggling to manage candidate and client expectations and experience —this free Bullhorn Tips webinar is for you.Your Bullhorn CRM should be your greatest time, task, and target management tool—not a dumping ground. Let’s "work it"!📅 When? Weds 2 July 13:30 BSTREGISTER NOWPS. Want to go even further? Check out our "Optimise Bullhorn" webinar series.🔍 23 April 2025: Engage, nurture, place, and re-place. Watch the recording💬 14 May 2025: Source faster and easier. Watch the recording📈 4 June 2025: Sell faster and easier. Watch the recording💡 2 July 2025: Place faster and easier. Register nowRecruitment and Bullhorn TrainingWe deliver the best live Bullhorn ROI webinar training, and you'll find other tips and tricks in Recruitment HIIT, our online recruitment training platform.Plus, through our Bullhorn Vision service we help generate serious ROI from your Bullhorn, data, and people.TRY HIIT FREE HERECONTACT US ABOUT BULLHORN ROI
How to Make Money from Your Recruitment CRM: The Data + Systems + People Model

Recruiters and recruitment marketers—if you want to drive this year with a sales-led strategy and start monetising your recruitment CRM, read on.💡CRM used effectively = 29% more productivity. But how do you actually do that?Are You Making or Wasting Money with Your CRM?Do you want to make money from your recruitment database, or just pay for it?Do you want your marketers generating leads, not just blogs and events?Do you want your recruiters consulting, and placing more, not just sourcing and wasting time on LinkedIn and job boards?All recruitment tech has one thing in common: what you put in determines what you get out. And right now, recruitment leaders are asking:How do I boost my recruiters’ placement rates?How do I get them off LinkedIn and onto our CRM and back on the phone?How can marketing generate leads that sales actually use?How do I turn our website and automation into money-makers?How can AI and automation drive growth?The answer? A simple but powerful focus on Data, Systems, and People.1. Data = Wealth💸Yes, people are valuable assets. But your data is what clients and candidates are actually buying. It fuels your pipeline—or clogs it.Too often, recruiters have too much data. They keep sourcing more, creating a FOMO-fuelled vicious cycle that kills productivity and profit. Instead of creating more, you need to work your existing data better. (Check out my "dig up stupid" data model below.)2. Systems = Speed + Scale🏃‍♂️‍➡️For years, I’ve said “Be CRM-first" or Bullhorn 1st. Finally, recruitment leaders are getting this concept.I've often said "too many systems and not enough process". That’s changing, with automation and AI now helping recruiters get more from the data they already own.Today’s recruitment software can guide your process instead of turning recruiters into co-ordinators and admins. But that only works if you have a systemised approach and use automation strategically.3. People = Process in Action💪Here’s the harsh truth: untrained recruiters = lost fees. PEBKAC is still an issue. Often, the problem exists between and chair and the keyboard.With 2/3 of workers leaving due to lack of training, this is a red flag for your bottom line. The average 10-person recruitment agency loses $€£10k when a recruiter leaves.Too many agencies rely on a one-time “go live” for systems and then leave it. But without ongoing, embedded training, recruiters forget, systems stagnate or change, and process breaks down.💡Your Fix? Connect the DotsData, systems, and people don’t work in silos. You need a joined-up recruitment process that allows your recruiters to consult—not just click.Data: Look again at the graphic above. Have you identified and are working your green and amber data, or are your recruiters drowning in FOMO and wasting time sourcing even more data? System/Process: But do you have a system (and process) for working your green and amber? Is your green and amber ready for automation and AI?People: What training are you giving your recruiters to effectively use your data and Recruitment CRM / systems so that they can make money rather than just administrate / co-ordinate?This is exactly why we deliver money-making Bullhorn RoI projects, Automation strategies, and have created Recruitment HIIT—an on-demand platform built to weaponise Bullhorn, LinkedIn, and your systems to drive placements and productivity.💥 Stop blowing cash. Start building profit—with the recruitment data, tech, and team you already have.BOOK A CALL TO CHAT ABOUT HOW TO DO MORE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
11 Stats Every Recruiter Needs to Know Before Sending a Spec CV

Recruiters want two things: more time and a stronger pipeline. But here’s the reality...🔒 70% of jobs are never advertised. 📞 It can take up to 18 calls to reach a single prospect. 📬 And with email inboxes overflowing, your “Spec CV Send” could be lost before it’s even seen.We speak to recruiters every day who are in what we call a "JAM"—just about managing. You're doing the work, sending the CVs, following up… but placements aren’t landing the way they should. Why?Because sending a CV isn't enough anymore. You need that email to work—to stand out, get opened, and drive action. With lead lifecycles shrinking to 24 hours or less, being top of the inbox isn’t optional. It’s survival.So what’s the fix?🚀 11 Stats to Focus Your Spec CV Sends and Email MarketingThere’s no shortage of stats out there—but we’ve boiled it down to 11 stats (2 above and 9 below) to get you thinking (and transforming) your candidate marketing and boost placement success.Why Your CV Sends Are Falling Flat📩 Your clients receive 121 emails a day (and over 30 billion emails were sent last year).👀 Only 20% of emails ever get opened.🛑 And thanks to filters, 1 in 5 emails never even land in your client’s inbox.How to Get Your Emails Opened (and Actioned)🎯Be Relevant – 61% of clients open emails if your past contact was useful or timely. Build relationships, not just touchpoints.📌Nail Your Subject Line – 47% of recipients open emails based on the subject line alone. Ask yourself: What’s in it for them?💘Get Personal – Using the recipient’s name boosts action rates by 26%. Hi John beats Hello Sir/Madam every time.📱Think Mobile First – 30% higher open rates happen on phones. Short, punchy, and scannable wins.⌚Time is Everything – Most emails are opened within an hour. After 24 hours, your lead may be dead in the water.Convert Emails into Real Opportunities💪Recruiters using their CRM effectively are 34% more productive.🏃‍♂️‍➡️Our Bullhorn HIIT training helps you use your database to its full potential—so your best leads don’t slip through the cracks.🚦What These Stats Mean for YouIf your emails aren’t converting into interviews or jobs, it’s not just a marketing issue—it’s a process problem. And the fix doesn’t need to be complex. Clean data, sharp messaging, and smarter timing can put you back in the driver’s seat.So… What Do You Need to Do Now?✅ Audit your CV send process.✅ Review your CRM usage.✅ Craft better subject lines.✅ Re-engage old leads.✅ Learn what works—and automate it.This isn’t about sending more. It’s about sending smarter.Need help getting your emails working for you, not against you? Drop us a line—we’ll show you how to turn your database into a placement machine.CONTACT USThe Best Bullhorn and Recruitment TrainingWe have 100's of recruitment tips and tricks to help you effectively market to candidates and clients, whether it be Bullhorn Hacks, LinkedIn tips, automation, or recruitment marketing advice. We have a whole blog dedicated to helping recruiters source the all important 4Cs - Candidates, Clients, Colleagues and Cash!Our high intensity interval training - Recruitment HIIT - helps recruiters source, convert quicker, and develop healthy pipelines, and recruitment marketers attract, engage, and retain candidates, clients, and colleagues (3Cs).TRY RECRUITMENT HIITREAD ABOUT OUR RECRUITMENT TRAININGBOOK A CALL TO DISCUSS RECRUITMENT TRAINING
Recruiters! 10 Stats About Why Recruitment CRM Generates Easier Sales

Recruiters and leaders who want to make more placements—with less admin, cost, and time spent chasing hard-to-fill roles—need to rethink how they’re using Bullhorn.Too many recruitment sales strategies rely on LinkedIn, job boards, and Google, outsourced marketing, blood, sweat, and tears, while overlooking the most valuable asset: your CRM. That makes you less competitive, and costs you time, money, and margin.It's time to get proactive and revenue-generating!Recruitment Data Wealth💵💶💷Recruiters need clean, warm databases to see them through easy and tough times.I've seen a lot of tech and data paralysing the recruitment market, but still do not see enough of a connected approach to account management and lead generation in the recruitment sector. Lots of time and money is wasted buying more systems, and access to more data, rather than monetising what you have.If your Bullhorn CRM isn't clean, connected, and proactively used for lead generation and account management, you're sitting on a data dump—not a goldmine.What you need is:Engaged, loyal clients who refer.Candidates who come back—and bring their network.A CRM that drives leads, not just tracks them.This is what I call Data Wealth.💸 Start Monetising What You HaveRecruitment tech is booming, but also at a time where many recruiters are trying to cut back and need more sales. AI and Automation is a key goal for many recruiters and leaders this year. But what’s the point of more platforms and data if you’re not maximising what’s already at your fingertips?Instead of spending more on sourcing more leads, Linkedin Recruiter, and outsourcing your BD and marketing, start tapping into your own Bullhorn and data. A warm CRM is faster, cheaper, and more effective than cold sourcing every time.🔢CRM and Sales Stats Every Recruiter Should Know78% of placed candidates are already in your CRM. Yet many recruiters go straight to LinkedIn or job boards before checking their own database.Recruiters that use their CRM effectively can improve sales by up to 29%. CRM applications can help increase sales by up to 29%, sales productivity by up to 34%, and sales forecast accuracy by 42%.It costs 6x more to attract a new lead than to nurture one already in your CRM. Reaching out to warm clients already in your system isn’t just faster—it’s smarter for your bottom line.Recruiters spend up to 64% of their time on non-selling tasks. Imagine Wednesday, Thursday, Friday being almost totally unproductive! CRM adoption increases forecast accuracy by 42%. Whether you have Analytics or not, this is a stat which focuses the mind on activity and pipelines.Leads nurtured via CRM systems make 47% larger purchases. A statistic we see cited again and again in articles about lead management is from The Annuitas Group that nurtured leads make 47% larger purchases than non-nurtured leads.80% of sales require 5+ follow-ups—but 44% of recruiters give up after 1. How many opps are not being converted due to a lack of resilience?Only 30% of recruiter CRMs are considered “clean and current”. And a lack of faith in your system is driving costs up - you need more systems and data to tackle this lack of confidence.CRM users are 3x more likely to hit their sales targets. Companies that leverage CRM systems are 86% more likely to surpass their sales targets.Re-engaged clients in your CRM convert 2x faster than cold leads. What is your strategy to capitalise on this sta?The stats above are from a variety of sources, including Salesforce, The Brevet Group, Bullhorn, Weflow, and LinkedIn.Even just one of the stats above should be enough to make you stop and think "how can I use my Bullhorn system to generate easier to convert sales? (Whilst saving time and money outsourcing / buying more tech and data...)"💪Start Selling More and EasierAnd then ask -"I wonder how Barclay Jones can help with me Bullhorn RoI, Training, and Automation to help my team generate easier sales, whilst helping me reduce reliance and time/money wasted on Linkedin and Job Boards?"Let's start with our next batch of free webinars where we optimise and unlock Bullhorn to help you sell more (and easier).Recruiters!REGISTER FOR OUR "BULLHORN4SALES" WEBINARRecruitment Leaders and Automators!REGISTER FOR OUR UNLOCK SALES AUTOMATION WEBINAROr arrange a chat with us😇ARRANGE A CALL BACKRecruitment and Bullhorn TrainingWe deliver the best live Bullhorn ROI webinar training, and you'll find other tips and tricks in Recruitment HIIT, our online recruitment training platform.Plus, through our Bullhorn Vision service we help generate serious ROI from your Bullhorn, data, and people.TRY HIIT FREE HERECONTACT US ABOUT BULLHORN ROI
Is Recruitment Ready for AI? Why 2025 Should Be Your Year of Preparation

There’s no doubt that AI is reshaping recruitment—but is the recruitment industry truly ready for it?In a recent battle planning chat with a client, I raised concerns about the readiness of most recruitment businesses to adopt AI meaningfully. While AI is already being used for tasks like note-taking, blog writing, research, creating prompts to help with screening and sales, I think that real transformation requires much more thought and time.For most recruitment firms, poor data quality and fragmented recruitment processes remain major barriers. If 2024 was the year of AI curiosity, 2025 needs to be the year of AI readiness.Get Your Recruitment House in Order FirstI think that recruitment leaders need to use the next 6–12 months to improve internal systems, particularly focusing on data hygiene (data wealth) and process automation. Too many firms are chasing shiny AI tools before ensuring their candidate and client data is clean, current, and usable. In fact, many recruitment CRMs are disorganised—polls show that messy and unstable databases are the norm, not the exception.Automation StrugglesEven the biggest players are feeling the pinch. I often hear of large enterprises struggling to get automation really driving performance due to internal resistance and territorial "leave my data alone" behaviour. Siloed departments, and change-averse individuals can inadvertently block progress, making it difficult to implement even basic automations and change.Plus, as much as the industry is keen to adopt efficiencies and tech, it's often not driving change through continuous, engaging, recruitment training.Automation and AI needs to be "sold" to recruiters with a WIIFM (What's in it for me?) approach. Even the best-intentioned recruiter may find it hard to step into the space that automation and AI creates for them.Have you been hired, or been the one doing the hiring, in the last 5 years? The turbulence, blind-siding, speed of change, means that stopping to take a breath and ensure best practice is a big ask!AI Can’t Replace Relationships (Yet!)My client gave a compelling example of AI not really driving the best outcome when their client was trying to use AI instead of their recruitment business.Luckily my client had the time and knowledge to step in and prevent their client from making a mistake.AI had failed to select the right candidate for a role, missing vital nuances only a seasoned recruitment consultant would catch. They campaigned for the candidate that AI had rejected. The client interviewed and offered!It’s a strong reminder that recruitment remains a relationship-driven business. AI can support consultants, but it can’t replace their ability to read people, understand market subtleties, or build long-term trust. (Yet...)Getting Back to Being Recruitment CONSULTANTSI encourage recruitment leaders to rethink traditional recruiting models—especially the classic 360 / 180 recruitment role.With automation and AI streamlining admin and sourcing, do you really need consultants to do everything? This could be the moment to specialise, refocus roles, and hire people who are better suited to today’s more tech-enabled recruitment landscape.There are way too many recruitment consultants who are actually recruitment co-ordinators / administrators. Large, dirty data sets, managed by untrained recruiters makes for a very transactional process, and this is at a time when recruiters really need to get back to consulting. (The clue is in the job title...)From Vicious to VirtuousThe recruitment industry’s heavy reliance on LinkedIn— which I think is one of the dirtiest databases—is another sign that recruiting firms aren’t maximising their own data or opportunity. The irony? Many of the best candidates are already sitting in your CRMs, but are overlooked in favour of job boards and external sourcing. This results in a vicious cycle of wasted time, rising costs, and lost opportunities.A recent poll confirmed this.Instead, recruitment businesses must create a virtuous cycle: invest in clean data, automate wisely, and help consultants to focus on consulting. With proper engagement, re-engaged candidates and clients can convert faster and generate more revenue than cold leads.The Road Ahead for RecruitersMy client summed it up well: their goals for the next six months are about efficiency, pushing back against unfair client demands, and focusing on higher-value deals.Yes! This is the mindset the industry needs.AI isn’t magic—but with smart preparation, clean data, and clear processes, it can be a game-changer for recruitment. Let 2025 be the year your recruitment business gets truly AI-ready.Automation Buddy / Bullhorn RoIWe are Automation Buddies set on helping ambitious recruitment businesses who want to increase speed and sales.We coach to inspire, and build your automations so you can recruit and sell!Plus, through our Bullhorn Vision service we help generate serious ROI from your Bullhorn, data, and people.READ ABOUT OUR AUTOMATION BUDDY SERVICECONTACT US ABOUT BULLHORN ROI
Recruiter Productivity Series: Optimise Bullhorn Part 3 ~ Sell Faster with Less Effort

Recruiters – let’s get real. Sales is hard for some of you right now, but it needn't be.If you actively engage with your Bullhorn data, you will sell more, and sell easier!So, before you throw time and money at job boards, LinkedIn, or outsourced marketing, it’s time to rediscover the goldmine you're sitting on.Part 3 of our "Optimise Bullhorn" webinar series is for busy recruiters who want to get smart! We'll focus on how you can use Bullhorn to increase sales.Scroll down to watch🤔Why You Should Be Selling From Bullhorn FirstConsider the stats below...💸Recruiters that use their CRM effectively can improve sales by up to 29%. Active use of your CRM can help increase sales by up to 29%, sales productivity by up to 34%, and sales forecast accuracy by 42% (Source: Salesforce).💸It costs 6x more to attract a new lead than to nurture one already in your CRM.Reaching out to warm clients already in your system isn’t just faster—it’s smarter for your bottom line. (WeFlow)💸Re-engaged clients in your CRM convert 2x faster than cold leads.What is your strategy to capitalise on this stat? (Source: LinkedIn)🧠Don't Try and Generate Sales Everywhere - Get Smart!Linkedin and Job Boards are full of really dirty data, and it takes longer to engage and convert a client sourced from them than if you engaged and managed direct from your own database.Engaging relatively, warm, or even dormant, data could be a super-productive way to create easy-to-convert leads.Don't create "busyness" with ineffective sales, dirty data, disengaged clients, and thus a lack of RoE (return on effort).Get off of the sales hamster wheel, and spend more time on the real work of recruitment - consulting!📅 Webinar Highlights🛠️ Real-Life Bullhorn Tips to Drive Stronger Sales from your Bullhorn Database:✅Speedy Sourcing:Find leads in Bullhorn faster than it takes to open a new tab.✅Sell Like a Pro: Master smart engagement tricks to manage your clients - don't let them get cold!✅Automate Your Edge: Learn how to use automation to clean, enrich, and activate your data so you never miss a top candidate again.✅Get Back to Placing: Stop wasting hours on manual tasks and focus on what you do best—placing great people in great roles.📍 Watch our Optimise Part 3 ~ Sell Faster with Less EffortPS. Want to go even further? Check out our "Optimise Bullhorn" webinar series.🔍 23 April 2025: Engage, nurture, place, and re-place. Watch the recording💬 14 May 2025: Source faster and easier. Watch the recording📈 4 June 2025: Sell faster and easier. Watch the recording above💡 2 July 2025: Place faster and easier. Register now.Recruitment and Bullhorn TrainingWe deliver the best live Bullhorn ROI webinar training, and you'll find other tips and tricks in Recruitment HIIT, our online recruitment training platform.Plus, through our Bullhorn Vision service we help generate serious ROI from your Bullhorn, data, and people.TRY HIIT FREE HERECONTACT US ABOUT BULLHORN ROI
Recruiters! 10 Reasons Why Candidate Engagement is Critical

Recruiters and their leaders who want to spend less time and money sourcing, and more time placing, need to read this blog and think about why they need to create a virtuous circle of talent.On our recent Bullhorn Tips webinar, where we focused on candidate management tips, we asked the attendees about their current candidate management strategy.The results were unsurprising, but also disappointing.They told us that their candidate database was...And that their candidate management strategy was...In other words, not future proof or focussed on creating a robust, easy to deliver pipeline. It's mainly focussed on live, active candidates who are imminently placeable... and Linkedin / Job Boards continue to win at the expense of the recruiter and their profits.Recruitment Data Wealth💵💶💷If we've learned anything (at least since 2008) we need a clean, warm databases to see us through easy and tough times.We need engaged, loyal, happy candidates who are easy to find, happy to recommend, refer, and show up!Some recruiters call this "Data Health" - I call it "Data Wealth".I've seen a lot of tech and data hitting the recruitment market, but still do not see enough process improvements to capitalise on it. We just keep buying more, rather than exploring how we actually need less, but need to work it better.It's Time to Move from Vicious to Virtuous!Recruiters still waste crazy amounts of time sourcing and advertising, but not enough time engaging and managing.And ironically, by not engaging, and letting hot data cool off, the industry creates silos of "cold" data. Hence sourcing is key and reliance on external systems is high, costs increase, placements take longer... Vicious cycle!What if, though, we take a moment? Let the stats below sink in, and engage with our systems and data in a proactive way. Could recruiters create a virtuous circle of engaged candidates staying loyal and placeable, meaning less need for job adverts, Linkedin, sourcing, and insanity?Yes!🔢Candidate Management Stats Every Recruiter Should Know78% of placed candidates are already in your CRM. – Yet many recruiters go straight to LinkedIn or job boards before checking their own database.Only 30% of CRM records are typically up to date. – That means 70% of your candidate data might be incomplete, inaccurate, or out of date.60% of recruiters admit to rarely revisiting past candidates. – This leads to missed opportunities and duplicated effort.It costs 6x more to source a new candidate than to re-engage an existing one. – Save budget and time by starting with your CRM.43% of recruiters say poor data quality negatively impacts their ability to place quickly. – Dirty data slows down sourcing, shortlisting, and matching.48% of candidates who apply to a role never hear back. – Proper candidate management helps ensure consistent communication and better candidate experience.80% of candidates say they’d reapply to a company with a good hiring experience. – Engagement doesn’t stop at “not selected”—it builds your future pipeline.Recruiters spend up to 1/3 of their time on admin. – Automation and smart candidate management free up time for relationship-building and placements.Re-engaged candidates are 2x more likely to be placed than cold-sourced ones. – Prior placements and silver medalists are often your hottest leads.Companies that nurture candidates improve quality of hire by 20%. – Keeping in touch with passive talent builds a stronger, more prepared pipeline.The stats above are from a variety of sources, including IBM, TalentBoard, Bullhorn, and LinkedIn.Even just one of the stats above should be enough to make you stop and think "how can I create a virtuous circle of happy, engaged, and placed candidates?"And then sourcing is simple!REGISTER FOR OUR SOURCING TIPS WEBINARAnd then ask - "I wonder how Barclay Jones can help with me Bullhorn RoI, Training, and Automation to help me engage my candidates more, and reduce reliance and time/money wasted on Linkedin and Job Boards?"Then arrange a chat with us😇ARRANGE A CALL BACK WATCH OUR CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT WEBINARRecruitment and Bullhorn TrainingWe deliver the best live Bullhorn ROI webinar training, and you'll find other tips and tricks in Recruitment HIIT, our online recruitment training platform.Plus, through our Bullhorn Vision service we help generate serious ROI from your Bullhorn, data, and people.TRY HIIT FREE HERECONTACT US ABOUT BULLHORN ROI
3 Hacks to Help You Get More Testimonials for Easy Sourcing and Sales

As a recruiter you need easy sourcing and sales."Social proof" is key to this! Candidates and clients in your network who think that you're ace and are prepared to recommend that others work with you will drive your pipeline for you. But we often see a lack of process in getting recommendations and this makes recruitment harder.3 Stats to Focus You on Getting Testimonials9 out of 10 purchases happen because of peer recommendations. (Source: Marketing Charts)Referrals are 5x more effective than all other sources of hiring. (Source: Zeti)69% of clients would work with a recommended recruiter. (Source: CIPD)So, having a strategy to get recommended is key!1 Stat Says it All, Though!But here's the clincher: 91% of customers say they’d give referrals, but only 11% of salespeople ask for referrals. (Source: Sale Carnegie)So:Referrals, recommendations, testimonials are easy to get...However, recruiters are just not asking for them!But, recruiters! You have a wealth of candidates and clients to tap into and convert in to great referees.Choca Bullhorn CRMs.Busy LinkedIn contact lists.And surely for every placement you make you could get 1 x candidate and 1 x client testimonial... But are you?My 3 Tips to Help Get Testimonials and Weaponise Them for Easy Sourcing and Sales1️⃣Ask, but be specific! 💪Don't just ask for a testimonial and leave it to the client or candidate to get around to it. Have a call with them at the end of your assignment and ask them questions. These questions could get you started:What was your issue?Why did you choose to work with me?What did we do for you?How will this new hire / new job help you now?Give me 3 words to describe your experience of working with us. (These in be super helpful in getting your message across to who you want to work with...)This testimonial call will not only get you valuable feedback. It will also be a great excuse to manage your candidate and client experience (and account / pipeline), and also ideally help you get further business / candidate leads.Ask:Who do you know that we can also help?2️⃣Write it for them📝Draft 2-3 short paragraphs and email it back to the candidate/client to get their OK.Use their language in the copy you create - this will make it sound more human, less "markety", and also get them to sign off quicker.Pro tip! Ensure you use valuable keywords to ensure that this content is optimised on your website and LinkedIn profile when you come to publish it.3️⃣Get it online 📢Publish testimonials on:Your website, and not just on your testimonials page. Knit them into your blogs, job adverts, sector pages.Google updates - ask your marketer to do this for you.Your Linkedin profile recommendations. (Use the Request a recommendation feature in Linkedin and paste in your copy - make it easy for your community to recommend you.)Your Glassdoor page.Your email signatures.And create cute images. I use Canva to create speedy 2minute testimonials that I can use in my sales and marketing.My Final Tip? Timing is KeySo recruiters! Don’t be afraid to ask for a recommendation you deserve it!Promise yourself to ask for a recommendation from the candidate and client on your next placement – just do it! And then rinse and repeat using my tips above.And don't keep them secret - get the message out there. Your desk, pipeline, boss, and bank account, will thank you!Recruitment TrainingWe deliver the best Recruitment Training through live webinars and our online training platform Recruitment HIIT.Our recruitment training helps new and experienced recruiters qualify their jobs, speedily source and advertise, and improve their screening. It boosts CV to interview ratios, whilst giving great tips to prevent counter offers, and secure the placement and beyond.Plus, if you have Bullhorn, Analytics, Automation, SourceBreaker, LinkedIn, Calendly, Teams, Daxtra, Broadbean, idibu, Hinterview, Paiger, and more... we train on those too!TRY HIIT FREE HERE
6 Reasons Why Online Recruitment Training is a MUST

Recruitment leaders wanting to improve the performance of their recruiters has never been a more valid goal.Perhaps you’re looking to scale your recruitment business this year?Or stay the same size, but do more with what you already have (people, data, systems)?Don’t mess up the chance to improve recruiter performance by ignoring what’s “between the chair and the keyboard”. You need an agile, cost-effective, inclusive recruitment training solution, to improve / scale / protect your recruitment business.(If you have an online recruitment training platform already, try our online learning engagement tips to ensure you generate ROI! And read below for a pep talk on how you can get buy-in for your recruitment LMS.)Improving Recruiter Performance Has Never Been EasierI’ve written about Kaizen, 1% marginal gains, and improving recruiter performance. I've presented at the Recruitment Agency Expo about improving recruiter performance with automation. Kaizen is about standards, reduced waste, high-performance - which is a passion for my clients.Now is the perfect opportunity for recruitment leaders to "Kaizen".Scale at Speed – Improve PerformanceBefore the pandemic, 70% of recruiters admitted that they didn’t have enough training. Even if that's not true of your recruitment business, it’s likely since 2020 you’ve been “a little” distracted to focus on totally fixing recruiter performance.Recruitment training is obviously key…But your goals for training are often not achieved by traditional training and recruitment coaching. (And often the only people who get full ROI from training are those who deliver it and charge you for it.)Now with systems evolution, data volumes, and hybrid working, a new approach is needed.… This is where online training steals the march.6 Reasons Why Online Recruitment Training is a Must1. It's Cheaper and Agile🤑You can either spend £€$1,000s getting recruiters in the same place at the same time, turn off the phones, worry about missed opportunities, and run a “let’s hope this works” recruitment training session.OrYou can give your recruiters access to an online recruiter training platform (LMS) where they can learn and relearn when they want, where they want, stress-free. Online training platforms can be accessed throughout the year, 24/7, and they are normally cheaper than other training/trainers. You're likely looking for stronger screening and job qualification, improving CRM adoption, and reduced reliance on job boards. Use cost-effective online learning to create best-practice agility.2. Less Reliance on You – Less Stress😱This is definitely a year to be working on your business, so the time-consuming task of you and your managers training new starters needs a rethink. I spoke with a recruitment manager recently who admitted 2 things:She didn’t know Bullhorn well enough to train her new starter (a common case study).When she hired a new recruiter, her fees dropped significantly for 3 months.Online recruitment training helped her rapidly re-skill, and took away the pressure of onboarding new recruiters. Online learning provided the training for her rookies, and she did the coaching and bingo! The rookies started billing quicker too!It's gold dust for me when I get a new starter. I save huge amounts of time when onboarding them. I can still run my desk. (And, Recruitment HIIT has opened my eyes to how I can use Bullhorn, too.)3. More Effective💪Online learning boasts retention rates at a massive 60% (compared to 10% traditional training) and you learn 5 x more with online learning.Plus, learning at your desk – in the environment where you are delivering your job – is more effective.Online learning is often minutes not hours. I know in recruitment speed is just as important as pipeline.Yes, we’ve all had horrific, disengaging, online learning experiences. Don’t let past experiences prevent future gains. Plus new recruiters prefer online.Whether it’s increased sourcing speed, or improving CV to Interview ratios, you need quick, self-serve effective recruitment training. You can’t afford to not improve.I am building trust quickly and becoming more efficient. HIIT has created flexibility for me to train myself at my desk whilst I am doing my job. And I can quickly re-fresh the training whenever I want.4. It’s “Just in Time” and Easier⌚Freeing up a team of busy recruiters, and getting them all synchronised and focussed is a tough gig.Why disrupt your recruiters when they can log on for 5 minutes, learn a new recruiting hack, log off, and get back on the phone and practice what they’ve learned?“Always on”, continuous learning for recruiters is key to creating accountability and a sense of recruiters feeling in control of their careers.Got a counteroffer? Login and complete a 5-minute workout to tackle it head-on. A recruiter told me:I got a counteroffer. I went back to the online training I'd already completed. I took notes which helped me get back on the phone and ensure that the candidate was attracted by the role, not the money.5. It’s Inclusive, Hybrid and Remote Friendly🟰I get that managing a remote/hybrid recruitment team is challenging.Maintaining standards, keeping everyone engaged, and delivering “your way” was tough enough pre-pandemic.Now, with online learning tools, you have a chance to attract, engage, and nurture your recruiters. (Neat tip: with online training, you can give your recruiters access to their online training platform before they even start to ensure that they stay engaged and don’t drop out.) Plus, if your training platform is gamified, your recruiters will see each other online and feel more connected. You’re creating a community for your potentially disconnected recruiters. 6. Prevents Churn 💩Glib quotes around not training recruiters and having them stay are not needed here.Acknowledge that recruiters crave training and will leave without it. In fact, a whopping 2/3 of people leave due to lack of training. The last thing any recruitment leader needs right now is to lose valuable recruiters, or indeed take too long to train new starters. I left my previous recruitment job as I didn’t have enough training. HIIT is priceless. It gives me that edge over other recruiters.More Reasons Online Recruitment Training WorksOther viable reasons why online training is crucial in recruitment. Recruitment training:Gives recruiters control – accountability. Better for the environment.Gamification drives engagement and performance.Flexible and mobile – where you want, when you want.Self-paced – different people learn at different speeds hence you need to allow for that.Improves the ROI from your internal training. Trainers can focus more on coaching performance rather than repeatedly training new recruits - blended learning works.Final Word on Recruitment TrainingWhether you’re looking to improve your recruiter performance, generate ROI from your people, data, systems, or just create a better experience for your candidates and clients, training is crucial. Just be sure that the recruiter training you buy is engaging, easy, self-serve, relieves stress and pressure on you and your team, and is cost-effective. And if you have an online platform already, try our online learning engagement tips to ensure you generate ROI from that!...Talking of Online Recruitment Training...Recruitment HIIT trains recruiters and resourcers so you can speedily onboard new starters, and improve the performance of experienced recruiters.Bullhorn hacks, job qualification, screening, sourcing, job advertising, and counteroffer immunity, are just some of the 5-minute topics recruiters love.TRY RECRUITMENT HIIT FREEDOWNLOAD YOUR RECRUITMENT TRAINING PLAYBOOK
How Can You Revolutionise Your Recruitment Business with Data?

Recruitment leaders and their recruiters who want to explore how data can transform their desks, pipelines, and recruitment businesses need to listen to / watch this video about data in recruitment.The innovative SourceFlow invited me to chat with my long-time Star Wars buddy, Matt Comber.Watch / listen for ideas on the impact data can have on recruitment processes and how staffing firms can leverage it for greater success. Here are the key takeaways from our discussion.Why Data is Crucial for Recruitment and Staffing FirmsData is the backbone of modern recruitment. By embracing data, recruitment and staffing firms can:Boost Efficiency: Automate time-consuming tasks to focus on strategic efforts.Strengthen Relationships: Enhance connections with both candidates and clients.Make Informed Decisions: Use data to guide smarter, more effective choices.Data - Driving RoE (RoI is So Yesterday!)We chatted about the concept of Return on Effort (ROE), a more meaningful metric than ROI, and...Getting started with data, by understanding your market, and your niche and tapping into industry's data to uncover new opportunities and trends.Leverage existing tools before diving into new data sources. Make the most of the tools already available to you, like Bullhorn, and use automation intelligently to create opportunities - more time and deals!Managing data effectively. Declutter your database and avoid hoarding disorganised data. Prioritise quality over quantity to ensure your data is useful and actionable, and keep data healthy with regular cleans and meaningful workflows driving hygiene and monetisation. Stay connected!Nurturing relationships by using meaningful data points, such as interests or milestones, and personalising interactions.Monetise your recruitment website. Treat it like a goldmine, not just a digital brochure.5 Key Takeaways to Use Data to Revolutionise Your Recruitment BusinessClean, organised data is far more valuable than a vast quantity of it.Focus on building relationships through personalised engagement.Use tech to enhance human interactions, not replace them.Develop scalable, long-term data strategies to support your growth.Use your recruitment website to gather actionable insights and drive engagement, not just clicks!Dive deeper! Watch the full episode of Matt (Jedi-Master!) and my conversation for actionable insights on leveraging data for a strong (and exciting) year!Automation and Bullhorn1stWe are Automation Buddies and Bullhorn Experts set on helping ambitious recruitment businesses who want to increase speed and sales.Automation: We coach to inspire, and build your automations so you can recruit and sell!Bullhorn: We optimise, train, and improve RoI from your key recruitment system.READ ABOUT OUR AUTOMATION BUDDY SERVICERead about our Bullhorn 1st Service
Recruitment Awards 2025 - Dates for Your Diary

Recruitment Awards are a sure-fire way to attract attention and drive sales. Check out our list of recruitment awards below.But, be sure not simply to enter, but to "work it" - and by that I mean working the award:Before,During, And after the awards... And whether you win or not...Market when you are shortlisted. Talk about your passion.Update your social banners, website, candidate and client talk tracks! Use your recruitment awards as a campaign to generate more business!🏆Which Recruitment Awards to Enter?(Have we missed any recruitment awards for the remainder of this year? Contact Us to get them added to our Recruitment Awards List.)Onrec AwardsSeptember ~ The prestigious Onrec Awards Ceremony has cemented itself in the calendar as a must-attend event. Not only is it an opportunity to celebrate the very best in online recruitment but it is also a chance to network with the very best suppliers in recruitment.Recruiter AwardsSeptember ~ The iconic Recruiter Awards is the UK’s largest event for the entire recruitment community, recognising outstanding achievements by agencies and in-house recruiters. Achievements in recruitment marketing and technology also are spotlighted.APSCo AwardsSeptember ~ The APSCo Awards for Excellence are a prestigious accolade in professional recruitment. The awards celebrate outstanding achievements in the professional recruitment sector and are a unique indicator of professional standards. They are widely recognised by clients as well as the recruitment sector. The awards are free to enter and open to all APSCo members. We are past winners and know the judging process to be rigorous and worthwhile!TIARAsOctober ~ The TIARA Recruitment Awards recognises excellence in the UK’s best-performing recruitment companies with revenues above £5m.Recruitment Marketing AwardsOctober ~ The Recruitment Marketing Awards provide reward and recognition for excellence and professionalism in recruitment marketing and talent management. Categories include Art Direction, Graduate Initiatives, Campaign of the Year... etc.REC AwardsNovember ~ The annual Recruitment Awards dinner is one of the UK's most prestigious events in a recruiter's calendar, celebrating the best in UK recruitment.NORAsNovember ~Established in 2001, the National Online Recruitment Awards acknowledge and reward excellence in online recruitment practice. They are dedicated to the continual improvement and evolution of the candidate experience. No Budget for an Award but Still Need to Source and Sell Better?You needn't enter an award to get serious traction from awards. You can source and sell at speed if you are clever with awards.I've blogged about my top tips for sourcing and selling more by using industry-specific awards.READ MY SOURCING AND SELLING TIPS HERERecruitment TrainingWe deliver the best Recruitment Training through live webinars and our online training platform Recruitment HIIT.Our recruitment training helps new and experienced recruiters qualify their jobs, speedily source and advertise, and improve their screening. It boosts CV to interview ratios, whilst giving great tips to prevent counter offers, and secure the placement and beyond.Plus, if you have Bullhorn, Analytics, Automation, SourceBreaker, LinkedIn, Calendly, Teams, Daxtra, Broadbean, idibu, Hinterview, Paiger, and more... we train on those too!TRY HIIT FREE HERE
5 Reasons Why Recruitment Leaders Need to Monetise Their Data

In today’s competitive recruitment landscape, data is your most valuable asset — yet many recruitment leaders fail to leverage it effectively.Instead, recruiters hoard data, struggle to find it, and then pay LinkedIn and job boards to gather more.Sound familiar?It’s time to break the cycle and start monetising your recruitment data.Watch our Automation RoI webinar, where we dive into data health and monetisation—and why it’s critical for your business. WATCH IT HERE 5 Reasons to Prioritise Monetising Your Recruitment DataReduced Costs - Less Need for Linkedin and Job BoardsRecruitment leaders collect vast amounts of data—candidate applications, interview feedback, calls, emails, CVs - but too often, it remains uncoded, unquantifiable, and unused. And then more job adverts are written and more data is collected... What a vicious cycle!Increased EfficiencyInefficiencies in recruitment waste time and money. Get your data cleaned and valuable. Shorten sourcing and placement times. Keep active candidates and clients focused on you. Stop missing opportunities with protracted sourcing and recruitment times.Stronger 3Cs (Candidate / Client / Colleague) ExperienceCandidates expect transparency and efficiency. Clients expect intel, speed, solutions. Colleagues need easy processes and barriers removed. New Revenue Streams - Old to Gold?Weaponise your old data - turn it into gold! Which juniors from years back are sat in your Bullhorn database waiting to be contacted now that they are more senior? Which placements are now viable contacts you can sell to?Protect Your Process, Brand, and BusinessSimply mining data that everyone else (clients and competitors) have access to isn't a great strategy for protecting your business. Let them waste time, money, and tears on dirty data. Build your brand on the USP of "I have what you want, desire, and need". Be known for your people, process and communities. Old to Gold...Your data is a goldmine—if you clean and use it properly. Whether through automation, better insights, or revenue-generating analytics, monetising your data gives your recruitment business a competitive edge.🤖 Watch our data webinar and learn how to monetise your recruitment data.WATCH IT HereAutomation Buddy and Bullhorn1stWe are Automation Buddies and Bullhorn Experts set on helping ambitious recruitment businesses who want to increase speed and sales.We coach to inspire, and build your automations so you can recruit and sell!READ ABOUT OUR AUTOMATION BUDDY SERVICERead about our Bullhorn 1st Service