The document presents 11 essential steps to consider before purchasing talent acquisition technology, emphasizing the importance of having a clear objective and understanding internal processes. It highlights the need to assess current vendor contracts, define user requirements, and engage key stakeholders throughout the process. The author, Martin Burns, provides a structured approach to navigating the technology landscape while avoiding common pitfalls.

1. 11 STEPS YOU MUST TAKE
Before Purchasing
Talent Acquisition Technology

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5. Martin Burns
VP - Strategic Consulting
HireClix
Martin Burns combines significant expertise in strategy,
technology, and marketing.
His career has included leading, as well as consulting
with, talent acquisition organizations for some of the
world's most significant brands.

6. 11 Steps You Should Take Before Panicing Over - err,
"Purchasing" Talent Acquisition Technology
Presented by:
Martin Burns
VP - Strategic Services | HireClix
martin.burns@hireclix.com
617-851-7277

7. About Moi
Currently head up the TA tech advisory practice at
HireClix, and run Talent Product Plays
Previously, led TA tech at PwC, ran recruitment for
multiple tech organizations, worked agency and corporate
over my career
Outside of geeking out on TA tech? Dad, traveler,
volunteer, hack chef, decent poet. Terrible skier.
Happy to connect on the socials: @recruitermoe;
facebook - martin.burns1; linkedin - martinburns

8. A Beginning is a Very Delicate Time
-F. Herbert

9. 1. Ask yourself:
“Self, why the hell are we doing this?
This is both hard and risky.”

10. Take a knee if your answer is something along
the lines of:
○ “One of the Senior Partners heard that we
should have AI, so we need to buy some.”
○ “I met someone at a conference and they
told me I had to use this.”
○ “I just got here, but this ATS is terrible, so
we’re going to RFP”

11. Adopting new technology
without a firm reasoning &
plan, is the equivalent of
building an ark because it’s a
little cloudy out.
You need to do your
forecasting first.
2

12. Get Yourself a Map - Nail Those Proceses
● Start by examining your
organization’s internal
processes - anything that
touches TA should be looked at
● Work out which process must/
can be changed vs where tech
needs to be changed
● THEN you’re ready to look for
technology that can be
compatible to the new
processes already in place

14. 3. Define Your
Objective(s)...

15. ...Define Your
Success

16. 6. Count De Monet: Who’s paying for all of
this?

17. 1. Are you replacing a current vendor, or vendors?
a. If so, what’s the rough amount you’re spending?
b. Check your contracts - do you have any
deadlines?
2. What sort of value is this adding to the
organization?
a. Think metrics
b. Not ‘feel facts’
c. This is where your objectives, and success
measures, come into play
3. If this is a fixed capital expense, will IT be funding?
Money, money,
money...

18. 5. Define the Solution: What Do You
Actually Need?

19. 19
Where Do You Live?
617.299.8899 info@hireclix.com
Recruitment Marketing/ EB (CRM/
RMP/ Events/ Programmatic Ads/
Campaign Management/ Referrals/
Chatbots/ SEO/ Enhanced Career Site
& Job Descriptions/ Metrics/
Sourcing/ Content Tools/ Social
Tools)
Selection
(ATS/ Assessments/ Background Checks/ Scheduling/
Video Interviewing/ Candidate Surveys)
Onboarding
Awareness
(Brand/marketing)
Consideration
(RMP/ CRM)
(Re)Engagement
(CRM)
Hired
(Move to
Onboarding)
Rejected
(Return tocCRM with
notes)

20. 7 Be User Centric

21. Yeah: Them - People
● Your users (and that may include you) make-or-break success
● -Over 50% of enterprise CRM adoptions fail annually due to lack of
adoption
● Alligators can sink your boat. So can hippos. And rocks. Also icebergs
● You’re going to need a strong team
Who’s That? People??

22. ● Develop your RACI charts early
○ Responsible (you, Procurement, etc)
○ Accountable (IT, etc)
○ Consulted (E&C & attorneys, anyone?)
○ Informed (you need them to not object)
● Communicate this early, and often
● Keep them close
● Who are your “alligators”?
○ What’s your plan there?
○ Maybe they should be Informed?
Make a Plan...

23. 8. What Do You Need? Requirements
Kind of a big deal
That process map + that great new team = a plan
Divide and conquer - define your SMEs
Force rank, and prepare for battle

24. 9. Who Do You Know?
Navigating the Ecosystem...

25. Make Your List
Key questions:
1. Do we know anyone using them now?
2. Do they work with any of our competitors?
3. How are they going to touch our system -
have we heard about them doing this?
4. Get pricing - just estimates
5. Do you have bandwidth to cut through the
noise, or should you bring in a consultant?

26. 10. RFP Time:
Fortune Favors the
Organized

27. ● Any RFP should be just enough
○ Neither too long, nor too short
● How?
○ Start with the end in mind
○ Leverage your SMEs
○ Know when to push back on alligators
○ Get technical - know what’s possible
● Plan for roadmines - be paranoid
● Set expectations
● Send, and get ready to rumble...
Instructions for
Dancing

28. Rule
Eleven:

29. Thanks! Now, Time for some Q&A...