Who can do this: Anyone with Candidate Search AI · Product: Candidate Search AI · Where: All candidates → AI Search → after your first search
Refine a Candidate Search AI search by typing follow-ups into the refine bar or by editing the Filters sidebar. Both work on the same search.
How do I refine with the refine bar?
After the first search, find the refine bar at the bottom. It says "Refine your search, e.g. "add Python" or "in Berlin"…".
Enter what to change, for example "add Kubernetes".
Press ⌘+Enter (Mac) or Ctrl+Enter (Windows) to send.
Candidate Search AI merges your message into the search you already have. The Filters sidebar updates and the results re-rank.
A follow-up in the refine bar
Type the change at the bottom of the results, then send it.
Examples that work:
"add Kubernetes"
"remove the location, anywhere is fine"
"make it more senior"
"only candidates who worked with banking clients"
"exclude PHP"
"within 30 km of Munich"
A longer brief: "I need people who served banking clients and worked at Bank of America"
Each message narrows or widens the same search. In this example, after "add Kubernetes", Kubernetes was added to the skill list and the results re-ranked.
Results after a refinement
After "add Kubernetes", the top result's AI Summary and checklist mention Kubernetes.
Does refining update the Ideal Candidate Brief?
No, refining with the refine bar doesn't rewrite the Ideal Candidate Brief. The filters change, but the brief keeps its old text. After each refinement:
In the Filters sidebar, go to AI Search Context → Ideal Candidate Brief.
Read the brief and remove anything that no longer applies. Example: after "remove the location", the brief can still say "Based in New York area", and the evaluations keep flagging the location.
Click Apply Changes.
The brief after removing the location
The Location filter is empty, but the Ideal Candidate Brief still mentions New York.
How do I refine in the Filters sidebar?
Change anything in the sidebar, then click Apply Changes at the bottom.
Work experience in years: drag the slider ends.
Skills: make the 1–3 must-haves required and leave the rest optional; set an experience level per skill; exclude a skill to keep it out; remove a skill with the x.
AND / OR between skills, and Add Group for nested logic.
Location: add cities or regions, drag the radius slider (at the far left it shows Entire area), switch miles / km above the field.
Ideal Candidate Brief: plain-text description of the ideal person, including titles, employers and remote wishes.
Bullhorn filters (if Bullhorn is connected): status, owner and the other Bullhorn fields your admin makes available.
Each filter is explained in AI Search filters explained.
How do I start over or keep a search?
To start from scratch, click New Search at the top of the Filters sidebar. Only New Search clears the search.
To come back to a search later, click Copy Search URL and keep the link. Opening the link reopens that search.
In what order should I refine?
Run a broad search: one sentence, 3–5 requirements.
Look at the top 10. Are they the right kind of person? If not, fix the brief or your search text first.
Too many results: make 1–2 skills required, narrow experience, add context to the brief.
Too few results: untick required skills, widen experience, widen the radius.
If Bullhorn is connected, add Bullhorn filters last (status, owner, do-not-contact). They narrow the list.
How do I check the refinement worked?
Look at the candidate count at the top right and the evaluations on the top result cards. If a card still flags something you removed, check the Ideal Candidate Brief.
Pro tip: After every refinement, read the Ideal Candidate Brief. Refining doesn't rewrite it, so remove anything that no longer applies and click Apply Changes.
We are always here for you if you need us.
Our whole team is around almost 24/7 to support you. Click the chat icon at the bottom right to start chatting with us. Our team is happy to help.