Bullhorn Hotlists vs Favourite Searches

As a Bullhorn user, you will have seen hotlists in your Menu and you have (hopefully!) already got quite a few setup! But are you missing out by not combining these with favourite searches, which is one of THE most underused tools within Bullhorn.

So what is a Hotlist?

A Hotlist in Bullhorn is a curated list of records, generally candidates, contacts or jobs, which can quickly be accessed and updated. Hotlists serve the primary purpose of streamlining recruitment processes by providing an efficient way to monitor and interact with a selection of key records.

The benefits include improved organisation, quicker access to high-priority records, and enhanced collaboration among team members.

How to Create a Hotlist

To create a Hotlist, navigate to the 'Hotlists' tab within Bullhorn, click on the 'Add Hotlist' button, select the desired records, and save. Update your Hotlist by adding or removing candidates when needed, you can even use Bullhorn Automation to add people to your hotlists automatically.

Tips for naming and organising Hotlists

Choose clear, descriptive names for your Hotlists. Organise them by priority, industry, or candidate skill sets to maintain clarity and ensure quick access.

Typical use cases for Hotlists

• Tracking top candidates: Keep a shortlist of top-performing or highly sought-after candidates within easy reach. This works incredibly well for tracking contractors.

• Managing job vacancies: Monitor active jobs, ensuring that they are fully covered with shortlists, CVs, Interviews and offers to keep them moving forward.

• Collaborating with the wider team: Make Hotlists public so they can be viewed, accessed and added to by colleagues.

And what's a Favourite Search?

A Favourite Search is a saved search query within Bullhorn that is stored for repeated use. This function allows recruiters to instantly retrieve a set of records matching specific criteria. Unlike a hotlist, this list is always changing based on the search criteria.

How to create a Favourite Search

Execute your search with the desired filters or criteria, then click 'Favourites' then 'Save Search', give it a name, choose who to share it with and you are set. Access it later with just one click.

Tips for naming Favourite searches

Name your searches with attention to detail and future relevance. Categorising them based on industry, location, or job title can improve search when managing large volumes of data.

Typical use cases for Saved Favourite Searches

• Repeatedly accessing specific candidate pools: Quickly pull up lists of candidates with certain qualifications or from particular industries.

• Monitoring communication: Stay upto date with what records have or have not had activity within a specific time frame, e.g. candidates added in the last 7 days.

• Live placement information: As a favourite search is always live, this is a great way to track upcoming starters, recent starters or even upcoming contract finishers. This overview helps identify who needs a check-in and when.

Detailed Comparison: Hotlist vs Favourite Search

Key similarities and differences

While both Hotlists and Saved Favourite Searches are designed to streamline recruitment processes, they each have unique features and benefits. Hotlists are ideal for tracking and managing specific records without real-time updates, whereas Saved Favourite Searches are excellent for repeatedly accessing live updated lists based on certain criteria. Accessibility and collaboration differ too: Hotlists can be easily shared and discussed among team members while Saved Favourite Searches serve an individual's repeat data retrieval needs more efficiently unless they get set up and shared business-wide.

When to use a Hotlist over a Saved Favourite Search

Use a Hotlist to maintain an active dialogue with candidates for high-priority job orders or when you need to collaborate with colleagues on shared recruitment efforts. For tracking project-specific candidates and job orders, Hotlists offer superior advantages with their dynamic update capabilities.

When to use a Saved Favourite Search over a Hotlist

If your primary goal is to save time by accessing standard searches and you require regular updates on specific search criteria, a Saved Favourite Search will better serve your needs. This is particularly useful when monitoring ongoing market trends or when you regularly source candidates from a predefined pool.

Advanced Tips and Best Practices

For optimal efficiency, use both Hotlists and Saved Favourite Searches in tandem. For example, create a favourite search to identify candidates or contacts within a hotlist who haven't had communication within a set time period. This is then an up-to-date list and ensures recruitment consultants are thoroughly communicating with everyone in that hot list.

Final Thoughts

The strategic use of Hotlists and Saved Favourite Searches can significantly boost a recruiter's effectiveness. Experiment with both features and tailor them to your individual recruitment strategies for optimal results, if you aren't sure what hotlists or favourite searches you need within Bullhorn, just drop me a message right here on LinkedIn.