Modern

Recruiter

February 19, 2026

In this issue

Talent leadership framework

Why transparency matters now

How to protect recruiter time

Join us at Open for TA Leaders

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Recruiting status: It’s complicated

More applications to review, longer approval cycles, tighter budgets and higher expectations from candidates and leadership alike… today’s recruiting environment is a constant balancing act. The challenge is now finding great talent and keeping hiring moving when priorities shift, feedback lags and every decision carries more scrutiny.

That’s why strong performance and feedback habits matter more than ever. In his latest Inc. conversation, Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait shares a leadership framework that recruiters can put into practice immediately:

Define what “good” looks like before a search begins
Create simple consistent feedback loops
Address concerns early instead of letting them stall things

When hiring managers are aligned and expectations are clear, roles move faster and candidate experience improves.

Watch the full discussion, then put the learnings into practice to run tighter kickoffs, improve feedback loops and hire with more confidence.

Watch now

Photo of women looking at monitor in office

More volume, more scrutiny: Why transparency matters now

Application volume keeps climbing and candidates are more selective about where they engage, which means every decision needs to be both fast and explainable. High-performing teams are responding by making their process visible – like aligning on clear criteria and showing candidates where AI is used and where humans weigh in. The payoff is practical: stronger pipelines, faster alignment and better hires without second-guessing or rework.

Learn from experts: See how the Greenhouse TA team balances speed, volume and risk

When every role attracts a surge of applicants, the real challenge is knowing where to spend your time. The Greenhouse TA team tackled this by flagging potential risk earlier, so recruiters could focus on real, qualified candidates instead of manual checks and dead-end screens. The takeaway for any team: review for strong signals first, treat risk as a prompt to look closer – and keep human judgment at the center so speed doesn’t come at the cost of quality.

See how

The Recruiter’s Desk: Tackling chaos in today’s hiring market

You’re getting more applicants – and spending less time with each one. 62% of recruiters report rising volume, while 53% review fewer than half of applicants. In this environment, prioritization is everything. Brandon Jeffs, recruiting expert and host of Building the Machine, breaks down how top teams protect their time and pipeline in the tips below:

Prioritize the work that produces hires: Where do strong candidates actually turn into hires? Use yield ratios and pass-through rates to focus your time, then double down on outbound for priority roles. Proactive pipelines outperform inbound when capacity is tight.

Create alignment that moves faster: Speed comes from shared expectations. Run a clear kickoff, agree on feedback timelines and keep hiring managers close to real-time updates in a shared channel or dashboard so decisions don’t stall.

Turn volume into signal: If conversion drops, add smart friction. Knockout and open-text questions capture intent early, so you spend interview time with candidates who are genuinely a fit.

Build pipelines before the req opens: Stay close to your niche talent markets and keep passive networks warm. When headcount lands, you’re activating relationships – not starting from zero.

Stay out of reactive mode: Partner with RecOps and people analytics to map upcoming hiring and run targeted outbound so qualified candidates land every week, not just when a req opens.

Gain hands on strategies at the ultimate event for TA leaders

Join us at Open for TA Leaders in London on March 3 to tackle today’s toughest recruiting challenges. You’ll gain hands-on strategies, real workflows and peer insight, so you leave with ideas you can put into practice immediately.

Sign up now

See how teams protect time and hire with confidence

Ready to see how Greenhouse Real Talent™ helps recruiters cut through noise, surface stronger candidates earlier and keep decisions human?

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Thank you

Thank you for reading this edition of Modern Recruiter! We’ll see you next time for more must-reads, events and open jobs to keep you updated on the latest news and insights in the industry.

Have questions or suggestions? Reply to this email.

Best,

Micah Gebreyes

Senior Manager, Content Marketing

Greenhouse Software, Inc.
228 Park Ave. S PMB 14744
New York, New York 10003-1502