What's in a Recruiter’s Tool Belt? Thumbnail

What’s in a Recruiter’s Tool Belt?

Why is recruitment an essential function for any organization? It brings value to a company; contributes to its collective talent; increases productivity; expands staff diversity and inclusion; and encourages wider professional perspective and development.

Nobody knows these invaluable facets of recruitment better than professional recruiters. And to help streamline this process, they use a range of recruiting tools and products designed to simplify and manage the recruitment process from start to finish, from creating job postings to scheduling interviews and making job offers.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

An ATS is a software platform that allows recruiters to manage the entire recruitment process, from job posting to candidate screening, scheduling interviews and sending job offers. An ATS allows recruiters to store resumes and applications, and sort them according to specific criteria such as skills, qualifications and experience. Some ATS platforms even use artificial intelligence algorithms to match candidates to job openings, speeding up the hiring process and improving the quality of hires.

Recruitment Marketing

These platforms help recruiters attract and engage potential candidates by leveraging digital marketing techniques such as SEO, social media advertising and email campaigns. They can also help employers build and promote their brands, creating a more attractive work environment for candidates, and providing recruiters with tools to track the success of their campaigns, allowing them to optimize their strategies for maximum ROI.

Video Interviewing

Virtual interviewing — especially since the pandemic popularized work-from-home — allows recruiters to conduct interviews with candidates remotely, saving time and reducing costs associated with in-person interviews. Video interviews also provide a more natural environment for candidates to showcase their skills and personality, giving recruiters a better understanding of their potential fit for the role and the company culture. Some platforms even use AI technology to analyze candidates’ facial expressions and body language, providing additional insights to recruiters.

Background Screening

Through background screening services, recruiters can verify the employment and criminal history of potential candidates, ensuring they are who they claim to be and have a clean record. This enables employers to comply with relevant regulations, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Some background screening services even offer international screening services to help employers screen candidates overseas.

Assessment Tools

Helping recruiters evaluate candidates’ skills, knowledge and abilities, and providing additional insights beyond their resumes and applications, assessment tools can include cognitive ability tests, personality tests and skills tests. These tests help recruiters make more informed hiring decisions and ensure candidates are a good fit for the role and the company culture. Some assessment tools even use gamification techniques to make the testing process more engaging for candidates.

Job Boards and Posting Services

To reach a wider audience and attract a large pool of potential candidates, recruiters rely on these platforms to filter candidates based on specific criteria, such as location, experience and skills. These may be paid or free, and some even offer additional features such as resume screening and candidate matching.

The Recruiting Tools of the Trade

These tools go hand in hand with a streamlined strategy. At TalentSpark, we fully immerse ourselves in your business, understanding your goals, needs, values and ethos, so we can be certain that the person you hire will be the ideal fit.

Let us help you find candidates who spark success for your business in every way. Contact us today to begin your recruitment journey.

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Josilyn Clare

Josilyn Clare

Operations Coordinator

Josilyn supports TalentSpark’s daily operations with her background in administrative management and tax. With several years of experience optimizing organizational systems, she works closely with our Leadership Team to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Her attention to detail, financial accuracy, and proactive mindset help the team operate at our best.

Education: Northwest University (B.A.)

Fun Fact: Josilyn’s favorite place in the world is Germany!

Sari Hansen Team Photo

Sari Hansen

Recruiter

After starting her career in telecommunications and public health, Sari was introduced to the recruiting world and never looked back. At TalentSpark, she specializes in project-based and recruiter on demand roles, supporting clients across industries like insurance, finance, engineering, and manufacturing. With over a decade of recruiting experience, Sari is passionate about guiding candidates to the right fit, including opportunities they might never have considered before.

Education: Idaho State University (B.S., Public Health Education & Promotion)

Community: Youth group leader for ages 4–18; active supporter of local school and sports programs

Fun Fact: Sari is a lifelong Idahoan raised on a multi-generational cattle ranch!

Dylan Buckland Team Photo

Dylan Buckland

Recruiter

Before joining TalentSpark, Dylan worked as a hiring manager for Old Navy, the largest specialty retailer in the U.S. There he gained firsthand insight into the importance of thoughtful, people-centered hiring. Now as a TalentSpark recruiter, he’s been involved in all aspects of recruiting — from working directly with clients to managing a full desk. Dylan’s superpower is creating an inclusive and safe environment where authentic conversations come naturally.

Education: Boise State University (B.B.A., Business Administration & B.A., Human Resource Management)

Community: President, Boise Young Professionals; Board Member, Downtown Boise Association (DBA); Board Member, Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce

Fun Fact: Dylan is a ski enthusiast and self-taught handyman who never turns down a home improvement project!

Pariss Paul Team Photo

Pariss Paul

Recruiter

Pariss Paul offers nearly a decade of recruiting experience across a variety of industries, including human resources, accounting and finance, sales, marketing, IT, and engineering. Since joining TalentSpark in 2020, she’s been passionate about creating exceptional experiences for both clients and candidates — connecting the right people with the right roles and watching them thrive. Pariss is known for her relationship-driven approach and her genuine enthusiasm for helping organizations grow through great hires.

Education: Boise State University (B.A., Communication)

Community: Member, Human Resources Association of the Treasure Valley (HRATV)

Fun Fact: A lifelong dancer, Pariss now serves as Assistant Director of a local adult dance company and teaches dance to K12 students!

Allison Bruce Team Photo

Allison Bruce

VP of Recruiting

As VP of Recruiting at TalentSpark, Allison brings 20 years of recruiting experience across a wide range of industries, from Fortune 100 companies to nonprofits. Her background spans global engineering firms, health systems, pharmaceutical companies, and telecom providers. For the past eight years at TalentSpark, she has led the recruitment team and spearheaded executive search efforts. As a self-proclaimed “recruiting nerd,” Allison has a talent for market research and reaching unique, hard-to-find talent.

Education: University of Colorado – Boulder (B.A.); NCAA Division Track & Field Athlete

Community & Awards: Board Member, Boise Valley Economic Partnership; Co-Chair, Key Executive Committee at Meridian Chamber of Commerce; Board Member, American Association of Accounting and Finance; Past HR Committee, Idaho Youth Ranch; Coach, Girls on the Run; Idaho Business Review’s 40 Under 40; Women of Influence Honoree; Keynote Speaker, Meet the CFOs (TV CFO Forum, 2023–2025); Speaker, Boise Chamber Leadership Conference (2021)

Fun Fact: Allison has cycled across the Colorado mountains three times and her favorite place to visit is Sun Valley!

Jamie Brajcich Team Photo

Jamie Brajcich

Manager of Recruiting

Jamie has over 16 years of recruiting and talent acquisition experience. She began her career in healthcare and physician recruitment before expanding into industries like manufacturing, technology, and real estate. Since joining TalentSpark in 2018 as Manager of Recruiting, Jamie’s passion for leadership and talent strategy has shined through in everything she does — especially when it comes to building and mentoring teams.

Education: University of Montana (B.A., Organizational Communication & Nonprofit Administration)

Community: Member, American Association of Accounting and Finance Recruiters (AAFA)

Fun Fact: Jamie is currently thriving in her “mom era” with two active kids!

Stephanie Parker Team Photo

Stephanie Parker

Founder & Executive Recruiter

Stephanie is the Founder and Executive Recruiter at TalentSpark, with 30 years of experience in recruiting and HR. She’s held leadership roles at Alaska Airlines, Micron Technology, and St. Luke’s Health System, and has spent the past nine years growing TalentSpark into a trusted recruiting partner for companies across the Mountain West. Known for her hands-on approach and deep local knowledge, Stephanie combines corporate expertise with entrepreneurial spirit to help organizations hire with confidence.

Education: University of Oregon (B.A.), Kansas State University (M.S., Organizational Psychology)

Community & Awards: Director of Workforce Development, Idaho State SHRM; Past President, HRATV; Advisory Board Member, TOK; Past Executive Board Member, City of Good; Former EO Member; Idaho Business Review CEO of Influence

Fun Fact: Stephanie is a certified yoga instructor and avid fan of reality real estate shows!