Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “screen resumes for open roles”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

60 min
typically, every day
50%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Process fixBest fix

Agree three to five must-haves and add knockout questions to the application

Clear criteria agreed with the hiring manager up front make screening faster and fairer, and knockout questions (work authorization, location, license) remove obvious mismatches.

Typically saves about 30% of the time30 min to set up
  1. 1Hold a 20-minute intake with the hiring manager and agree three to five must-haves and a few nice-to-haves.
  2. 2Add yes/no knockout questions to the application for true requirements only.
  3. 3Build a simple scorecard with those criteria for screens and interviews.
  4. 4Screen every applicant against the same scorecard.

Tools: Your ATS application form and scorecards

Fix 2 of 2

Software feature

Use your ATS's AI summaries to screen against must-haves, with a person deciding

Greenhouse, Ashby, Lever, Workable and SmartRecruiters can summarize each application against your criteria so you read faster. A person makes every decision, and AI in hiring is regulated in some places, so check with legal and audit outcomes for bias.

Typically saves about 40% of the time1 h to set up
  1. 1Write the must-have criteria first (see the structured screening fix).
  2. 2Check with legal before turning on AI screening: New York City, Colorado, Illinois and the EU have rules on automated hiring tools.
  3. 3Turn on AI application summaries or matching in your ATS, and use them to summarize, not to auto-reject.
  4. 4Read the full application for anyone near the line.
  5. 5Every quarter, compare pass-through rates across groups to spot bias.

Tools: Greenhouse · Ashby · Lever · Workable · SmartRecruiters

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Have you tried your ATS's AI summaries to screen applications against your must-haves?
Many applicant tracking systems can summarize how each application matches your criteria. It speeds up reading; a person still makes every decision, and you check results for bias.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

How many hours does this cost you?

The free 8-minute check works out where your week goes and gives you your top fixes. The team scan does the same for everyone and adds it up, so you know which leaks to fix first.

Answers are anonymous. Leaders only see team totals.

Other common tasks for Recruiters