Screening and shortlisting have become major bottlenecks in the hiring process.
Recruiters today face a growing challenge: Too many applications and not enough time to identify the best candidates. Screening and shortlisting have become major bottlenecks in the hiring process, slowing down placements and adding pressure on recruitment teams to deliver faster results.
This latest video interview from IHR (In-House Recruitment) Live London 2025, George Petrou (Talent Acquisition Campaigns Manager), Tanya Bentham (Head of Resourcing) and Rob Bellingham (Head of Growth at YOONO) highlight the problem and how AI-powered recruitment tools are transforming how recruiters handle high-volume hiring and improve candidate quality.
The screening bottleneck
One of the most time-consuming stages of recruitment is the initial sift. Sorting through hundreds of CVs to create a shortlist of quality candidates can delay hiring and lead to missed opportunities. Manual screening often relies on incomplete or candidate-curated information, which can leave recruiters exposed to risk.
The cost of delayed hiring is significant. Every day a critical role remains unfilled represents lost productivity, missed revenue opportunities and increased pressure on existing teams. Research shows that prolonged vacancies can cost organisations thousands of pounds per day, whilst competitors who move faster secure the best talent first.
Even more damaging is the cost of a bad hire. According to industry estimates, a poor recruitment decision can cost up to 30% of an employee's first-year salary when factoring in wasted time, training, lost productivity and potential reputational damage. For senior roles, this figure can run into six figures.
AI recruitment tools remove this bottleneck by automating early-stage screening. Instead of manually reviewing every CV, recruiters can instantly identify candidates that meet key criteria, creating a shortlist of high-quality applicants in minutes. The result is faster, fairer and more confident hiring decisions that help agencies protect time-to-fee and client trust.
Beyond LinkedIn: The need for deeper candidate insight
LinkedIn profiles only show what candidates want you to see, lacking verification and broader context. Relying solely on LinkedIn for candidate research is no longer enough. Recruiters need a broader, data-backed view that goes beyond what candidates choose to share. With vast amounts of information spread across online platforms, verifying accuracy and credibility can feel impossible without the right technology.
YOONO’s AI-powered candidate research platform uses open source intelligence (OSINT) to scan and analyse trusted public data, building a complete digital footprint of each candidate. This includes their professional history, affiliations, online activity and media coverage, giving recruiters an impartial, transparent view of the person behind the CV.
From data overload to data clarity
Recruiters are surrounded by information but lack the tools to make sense of it quickly. YOONO’s technology transforms unstructured data into clear, actionable intelligence. Within minutes, recruiters can gain a full understanding of a candidate’s reputation, credibility and potential fit within the organisation.
By removing the noise from candidate research, YOONO allows recruiters to focus on what matters most — making informed hiring decisions built on evidence, not assumption.
AI that empowers recruiters
AI empowers recruiters rather than replaces them because it handles time-consuming administrative tasks — like screening large volumes of CVs and aggregating candidate data — allowing recruiters to focus on what they do best: building relationships, assessing cultural fit, and making nuanced hiring decisions.
YOONO helps recruitment agencies and in-house talent teams automate reputation checks, streamline workflows and maintain compliance without sacrificing quality. By using verified, publicly available data, YOONO ensures every background check is ethical, compliant and free from bias.
Recruitment teams using YOONO gain the confidence to move faster, reduce risk and deliver smarter shortlists that clients can trust. The platform’s insights provide the depth, speed and certainty modern hiring demands.
In summary
• Screening and shortlisting are the biggest recruitment bottlenecks.
• YOONO uses AI and open source intelligence to analyse candidates beyond LinkedIn.
• Recruiters can access a full digital footprint and make faster, more informed decisions.
• Ethical, compliant and transparent, YOONO helps recruitment teams hire with confidence.
