Talent Pool
Search and discover candidates using natural language and semantic search.
The Talent Pool uses AI-powered semantic search to help you discover candidates from your existing database using natural language queries.
Talent Pool requires the Recruiting module and AI Configuration to be enabled.
What Is Talent Pool?
Talent Pool searches across all candidates in your database — including:
- Past applicants
- Sourced candidates
- Imported resumes
- Previous employees
Unlike keyword search, Talent Pool understands meaning and context.
Using Natural Language Search
Search Examples
| Query | Finds Candidates Who... |
|---|---|
| "5 years of React experience" | Have React skills, ~5 years exp |
| "Sales background in SaaS" | SaaS sales experience |
| "Fluent in Spanish and French" | Bilingual in those languages |
| "Machine learning PhD" | Advanced ML education |
| "Former Google engineer" | Previously worked at Google |
| "Led teams of 10+" | Management experience |
Use natural language like you're describing the ideal candidate to a colleague.
How Semantic Search Works
Understanding Context
The AI analyzes:
- Resume content — Skills, experience, education
- Application history — Past roles applied to
- Interview notes — Previous evaluations
- Skills tags — Extracted competencies
Beyond Keywords
| Keyword Search | Semantic Search |
|---|---|
| "JavaScript" | "Frontend developer" (includes JS, React, Vue) |
| "Manager" | "Led teams" (includes supervisor, lead, director) |
| "AWS" | "Cloud experience" (includes Azure, GCP) |
Search Results
Result Cards
Each candidate shows:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Candidate name |
| Relevance Score | 0-100 match percentage |
| Key Highlights | Why they matched |
| Last Activity | When they were last engaged |
| Current Stage | If in active pipeline |
Relevance Scores
| Score | Match Quality |
|---|---|
90-100 | Excellent match |
70-89 | Strong match |
50-69 | Good match |
30-49 | Partial match |
<30 | Weak match |
Scores are relative to your query. A "70" for one query may be more relevant than a "90" for another.
Filtering Results
Available Filters
| Filter | Options |
|---|---|
| Availability | Immediate, 2 weeks, 1 month, etc. |
| Experience | Years range |
| Location | City, country, remote |
| Salary Expectation | Range |
| Last Active | Recent, 6 months, 1 year, any |
| Previous Applications | Applied before, never applied |
Combining Search and Filters
- Enter natural language query
- Apply filters to narrow results
- Results update in real-time
- Save search for later
Adding Candidates to Jobs
From Search Results
- Find a matching candidate
- Click Add to Job
- Select the job opening
- Choose pipeline stage:
- New
- Screening
- Interview
- etc.
- Confirm
Adding a candidate to a job creates a new application. Their existing data is preserved.
Bulk Actions
Select multiple candidates:
- Use checkboxes to select
- Click Add to Job
- Select job and stage
- All selected candidates are added
Checking Existing Status
Before adding, check if the candidate:
- Is already in the job pipeline
- Was previously rejected
- Has pending applications
The system warns of duplicates to avoid confusion.
Saved Searches
Saving a Search
Save frequently used queries:
- Enter your search and filters
- Click Save Search
- Name the search
- Choose visibility:
- Personal (just you)
- Team (your hiring team)
- Workspace (all recruiters)
- Save
Using Saved Searches
- Click Saved Searches
- Select from your list
- Search runs with saved parameters
- Results show current matches
Managing Saved Searches
- Edit name or query
- Update filters
- Change visibility
- Delete old searches
Talent Pool Best Practices
Building Your Pool
- Import resumes from previous hiring
- Add sourced candidates even if not immediate fit
- Re-engage past silver medalists
- Keep candidate data updated
Search Strategy
- Start broad — General skills and experience
- Add specifics — Filter for must-haves
- Review high matches — Focus on 70+ scores
- Save good searches — Reuse for similar roles
Candidate Engagement
When finding past candidates:
- Review their history
- Check why they weren't hired (if applicable)
- Personalize your outreach
- Reference their previous application
Don't spam past candidates. Ensure the new role is genuinely relevant to their profile.
Privacy and Compliance
Data Retention
Candidate data in Talent Pool:
- Retained according to your data policy
- Candidates can request deletion
- Anonymized after retention period
Consent
Ensure you have consent to:
- Store candidate data
- Contact them about new roles
- Process their information
Review your privacy policy and local regulations.
Integration with AI Screening
Score Enhancement
Talent Pool results can include AI scores:
- Previous AI screening results
- Skill match percentages
- Experience relevance
Re-screening
For candidates without current scores:
- Add to a job
- AI automatically screens
- View updated scores
- Compare with other candidates
Next Steps
- Candidates — Manage candidate profiles
- Job Offers — Add candidates to jobs
- AI Screening — Screen candidates with AI