This series is dedicated to sharing the experiences and expertise of high-volume recruiters, aka the hardest-working people in the industry. Hiring in the hundreds or even thousands is hard. Getting it right takes time, experience, and sometimes a little magic. So this series is all about storytelling, knowledge sharing, and guiding the next generation of resilient hiring leaders. The first instalment in our series comes from Senior High Volume Recruiter, Ray Simon. Ray works for Crisp Resumes and has been in the business of recruitment for 12 years now.
1. How has the practice of recruitment changed since you began your career? Any memorable moments?
When I first started in recruiting over a decade ago, so much of the work was hands-on and relied heavily on manually searching for candidates, tracking each step in a spreadsheet, and following up one by one. It was effective, but definitely time-consuming.
Fast forward to today, and the shift is huge. With modern ATS platforms, especially those leveraging NLP and AI, we’re able to shortlist and place candidates in a fraction of the time it once took. A lot of the repetitive work from initial screening to interview scheduling, compliance, and onboarding is now much smoother and automated. Instead of consuming time in administrative tasks, we get more time to connect with people, understand what they’re looking for, and build stronger relationships throughout the process.
2. What does a good day look like?
A good day for me is one where I’ve genuinely helped someone secure the right opportunity. It’s when conversations flow naturally, and when candidates feel heard. When I as a hiring manager walk away confident that I’ve really understood what they’re looking for, that’s when I feel I’ve done my job well. There’s something especially rewarding about seeing the whole process run smoothly from the brief through to placement, with both sides feeling supported from start to finish.
3. What systems and processes make it work?
On a day-to-day basis, I rely heavily on a well-organized ATS to track candidates, and I use LinkedIn Recruiter to stay active in the market and source the right people. Tools like Teams or Slack make communication quick and uncomplicated, and a strong CRM helps me maintain long-term relationships instead of having to rebuild them every time.
The processes that make the biggest difference are structured intake meetings, quick and constructive feedback loops, and clear hiring timelines. When everyone aligns from the outset, and the workflow is transparent end to end, recruitment becomes proactive instead of reactive. Anything that reduces friction, speeds up decision-making, and keeps candidates informed ultimately helps me deliver my best work.
4. How are the challenges of high-volume recruitment different?
High-volume recruitment is challenging. Instead of looking after ten candidates, you’re suddenly managing fifty at once across screening, interviews, compliance, offers going out, offers being withdrawn, and then the backfills. It’s busy and a bit chaotic, and the pace really matters. A short delay that wouldn’t be an issue in a corporate role can cost you several strong candidates in a volume intake. You learn to move fast and make decisions without having every detail in front of you. The admin load hits differently, too. You’re reviewing resumes in big batches, coordinating medicals, checking work rights, organizing contracts, and getting onboarding groups ready. One missing document can delay an entire intake, so you naturally become very structured and careful with the details.
“This job is a mix of people work, process work, and pressure.”
Because you can’t speak to everyone one-on-one, you also have to learn how to communicate with many people at once. Group information sessions, bulk SMS updates, and automated touch points become invaluable. When they’re done well, applicants still feel supported even when you’re managing hundreds of them at once.
One intake I still think about was when we had to fill sixty roles in just nineteen days. It was non-stop. Interviews ran back-to-back, hiring managers rotated through the room, and onboarding packs were lined up in rows across the table. At one point, someone joked that we needed traffic-control vests just to keep track of everyone moving around. It was intense, but when everyone turned up on day one without a single issue, it felt like a huge win.
5. What advice would you give someone considering this career?
My advice to anyone thinking about getting into recruitment is pretty simple: stay curious, stay human, and be ready for constant change. This job is a mix of people work, process work, and pressure. You meet every type of personality, you have good days and tough days, and you learn to read people surprisingly quickly. It requires problem-solving, asking good questions, and matching people with the right opportunities; it can be a really rewarding career.
A few things I’ve learned along the way:
- Prioritize early. You will never get everything done in one day, so focus on what actually moves the roles forward.
- Build real relationships, not transactions. The candidate you place today might become your future hiring manager.
- Act without waiting for perfect information. Recruitment moves fast, and hesitation can cost you great talent.
- Take care of yourself. High-volume recruitment, especially, can be intense and demanding. Celebrate your wins and get support when you need it.
I wish someone had told me early on that feeling overwhelmed is completely normal. A lot of learning happens on the job. With every conversation, your instincts get sharper, and you start spotting red flags faster, asking better questions, and handling tricky situations more confidently. That confidence just comes with time.
If you enjoy variety, momentum, and making a real impact on people’s lives, recruitment is a great path. It’s helped me become a stronger communicator, a better listener, and a much more resilient person.
HiringBranch would like to extend a sincere thank you to Ray Simon of Crisp Resumes for participating in this important series. For the next instalment in this series stay tuned, it will be ready in early January.
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