Glossary
Recruitment technology, explained
Clear definitions of the terms that matter in modern recruitment — CRM, ATS, RPO, agentic recruiting and the Salesforce-native platform that ties them together.
AI & automation
Agentic Recruiting
Agentic recruiting uses autonomous AI agents that carry out multi-step recruitment tasks on their own — sourcing, screening, engaging and shortlisting candidates — rather than simply assisting a recruiter with suggestions. The agent acts, then reports back for human decisions.
AI & automation
AI Candidate Sourcing
AI candidate sourcing uses artificial intelligence to find, rank and engage candidates automatically — parsing skills and intent across large talent pools and surfacing the best-fit people for a role far faster than manual search.
Core concepts
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that manages candidates through the hiring process — from application and screening to interview, offer and placement. It centralises CVs, statuses and communication so recruiters can move candidates through a structured pipeline.
Comparisons
ATS vs CRM
An ATS manages candidates through the hiring pipeline; a recruitment CRM manages client relationships and business development. Agencies need both — an ATS to place candidates and a CRM to win and grow accounts. Modern platforms combine them so the two pipelines share one record.
Core concepts
Candidate Relationship Management
Candidate relationship management (CRM) is the practice and software of building long-term relationships with candidates — nurturing talent pools, re-engaging past applicants and keeping candidates warm between roles, rather than treating each vacancy as a one-off transaction.
AI & automation
Recruitment Automation
Recruitment automation uses software to perform repetitive hiring tasks — sourcing, screening, scheduling, follow-ups and data entry — without manual effort. It frees recruiters to focus on relationships and decisions while improving speed, consistency and candidate experience.
Core concepts
Recruitment CRM
A recruitment CRM is software that manages an agency’s client and candidate relationships and business-development pipeline. Unlike a generic CRM, it is built around the recruiter’s workflow — job orders, client contacts, BD pipelines and placement history — in one place.
Models
RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing)
Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) is when an organisation transfers all or part of its recruitment to an external provider that acts as an extension of the in-house team — owning sourcing, screening and hiring workflows, often across multiple clients and to strict SLAs.
Platform
Salesforce-Native
Salesforce-native means an application is built and runs entirely inside the Salesforce platform, not merely integrated with it. Data lives in one Salesforce data model, inheriting its security, automation and reporting — with no external sync, middleware or separate database to maintain.
Core concepts
Staffing Agency Software
Staffing agency software is an integrated platform for running a recruitment or staffing business — combining CRM, ATS, placement management, timesheets and invoicing so agencies can source candidates, win clients and bill revenue from one system.
Transform Your Recruitment Business with AI
One platform. Every hire. Zero gaps. See how recruitMaxx autonomous agents work on your own data.