Send 3 cards, not 30 profiles

A hiring manager can't compare 30 profiles. They can compare three cards that each say one thing. Here's the card, three filled examples, the note that goes with them, and what to do when the answer is "none of these".

EXAMPLE CARDS FOR A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT ROLE, PEOPLE MADE UP

Anna BrooksAccounting Supervisor · Plano

THE MATCH: Runs the month-end close for two entities
WHERE IT SHOWS: Current role description
FIRST QUESTION: How many days does your close take today?

Mark KellyFinance Lead · Dallas

THE MATCH: Led the company's move onto NetSuite
WHERE IT SHOWS: Projects section
FIRST QUESTION: What broke in the first close after go-live?

Tom ReedSenior Accountant · Irving

THE MATCH: Owned the year-end audit prep
WHERE IT SHOWS: Past role, 2019 to 2023
FIRST QUESTION: What did the auditors push back on?

The card

Four lines. Copy it, fill it, send three.

[Name] · [Current title] · [Town] The match: [the one thing they did that this job needs] Where it shows: [which part of their profile] First question: [what you'd ask them on the call]

Which three

Not your top three by gut. One of each.

The safe one

Has done this exact job, in a similar company. The manager says yes in seconds.

The stretch

Has done the core of it under another title or at a smaller company. Often the best hire.

The question

Strong on the must-have, different on one thing. Their answer tells you what the manager really cares about.

The note that goes with them

Three people for the [role]. One card each. Pick the one you'd call first, and tell me the one line that made you say no to the others. I'll have the next three by [day].

Build a card

When the manager says "none of these"

Ask which line was wrong

The match, the setting, or the level. Their answer is the next change to your search.

Change one thing in the search

Add the reason they gave as words in the sentence. Then send three new cards.

Never send the next 27

More of the same list gets the same answer. Three new people from a better search do not.

In The Cognitive: every person comes back ranked by fit with the reason from their profile. The top of the list is where your three cards come from, and the reason line is most of "the match" already written.

Get the list your three cards come from

Describe the role in one sentence. More people back, ranked by fit, each with the reason from their profile, plus email and phone for the ones you pick. Or book 30 minutes and we'll build your first three cards with you.

Try it free →Book 30 minutes

7-day free trial, 100 credits, no card.