How should we calculate the ROI of rediscovering candidates?
Akshata Pawar
Senior TA Specialist
I’m a senior recruiter with 5 years of experience in talent acquisition, HR, and hiring technology. I write data-driven product reviews, ATS evaluations, and comparisons that help HR leaders choose tools with confidence.
Calculate ROI by comparing the cost of the rediscovery tool against the combined savings from reduced job board spend, recruiter hours saved on screening, and faster time-to-fill, measured over a fixed pilot period. A structured 30-day pilot with checkpoints at day 15 and day 30 gives you measured results instead of a projection.
Track these specific inputs during a pilot:
- Time-To-Screen Reduction: Compare how long it takes to build a shortlist from rediscovered candidates versus your prior process using fresh sourcing.
- Job Board and Sourcing Spend Avoided: Rediscovered candidates were already sourced once, so filling a role this way needs no new posting or sourcing partner fee.
- Job Board and Sourcing Spend Avoided: Documented pilots report interviews from the top shortlist doubling once rediscovered candidates enter the pipeline.
- Hiring Manager Time Saved: A shorter, pre-scored shortlist reviewed through a no-login link takes less manager time than screening a longer unscored list.
A simple ROI formula looks like this: (recruiter hours saved multiplied by hourly cost, plus job board spend avoided) minus the tool's subscription cost, measured across the pilot period.
Skima AI structures its pilots around this exact measurement approach, tracking time-to-screen, interview rate, and hiring manager response through weekly reports during a 30-day window.