Troubleshooting Your Sourcing Assistant Matches

Problem: Your instructions may be too strict. Try these fixes one at a time:

Solution: Check your must-haves

• Move anything that's "nice to have" to the preferred section.
• Even if you really want it, if it's not required, move it to preferred.
• We recommend 3-5 must-haves at maximum.

Solution: Lower your numbers

• Years of experience: Consider changing "5+ years" to "3+ years"
• Job titles: Add more options. Change "Sales Manager" to "Sales Manager or Account Manager"
• Location: Make your location radius bigger (in miles)

Solution: Remove “hidden” requirements from the instructions

• Some things don't show up on resumes even when people have them (like licenses or willingness to relocate). 
  
  • These work well:
    
    • Job titles
    • Years of experience
    • Skills and tools
    • Certifications or licenses
    • Education
    • Industries
  • These don't work:
    
    • Personality traits like "team player" or "passionate," unless added in preferred criteria
    • Work style or "culture fit"
    • Information not likely to be included on a resume, such as "able to commute" or "has their own vehicle"
• If you keep hidden requirements in must-haves, you may lose good matches.
• Add hidden requirements as screening questions on your job post instead.

Example: sales job

Don’t do this

Must-have:

• 10+ years of sales experience
• Sold to Fortune 500 companies
• Degree from a top school
• Carried a $5M+ quota
• Lives in San Francisco

Do this

Must-have:

• 5+ years of B2B sales experience
• Quota-carrying sales experience

Preferred:

• 1+ year SaaS experience
• Experience selling to enterprise customers
• MBA

Other criteria:

• Within 50 miles of San Francisco

Problem: Your instructions are too long and not focused enough.

Solution: Pick your top 2-3 needs

• Make your top needs your must-haves.
• Use specific words.
• Example: Change "sales experience" to "2+ years B2B SaaS sales experience"

Solution: Add smart preferences

• List 2-3 specific things you prefer under preferred (not must-have).
• This ranks better candidates higher without blocking others.

Solution: Use exclusion lists to avoid contacting former employees or past applicants

• Write specific exclusion details into your instructions under “Other criteria”
  
  • Example: "Exclude matches who have worked for ‘Jones and Jones Inc.,’ ‘Jones and Jones,’ or ‘Jones & Jones’"
• Also use exclusion options when you set up outreach.

Solution: Shrink your location area

• If people too far away are showing up, make your location radius smaller.
• Use a city name with a radius (like "within 25 miles of Nashville").

Example: nursing job

Don’t do this

Must-have:

• Active RN license
• Nursing experience

Preferred:

• Hospital experience

Do this

Must-have:

• Active RN license
• 2+ years of acute-care nursing experience
• BLS certification
• ACLS certification

Preferred:

• Charge nurse or lead nurse experience
• 1+ year experience with Epic EHR

Other criteria:

• Within 25 miles of Nashville, TN