Boutique search runs 3–10 active mandates, each with a deeply specific must-have list — operator background, P&L scale, sector experience, sometimes alumni overlap. Generic AI screening was built for the opposite world. ShortlistTable gives you per-search AI rubrics, per-client workspaces, and partner override on every verdict.
Boutique search firms don’t run high-volume corporate funnels. You run 3–10 active mandates at any time, each one with a deeply specific must-have list. Your VP-of-Engineering search and your Director-of-Sales search use rubrics that share zero columns.
Standard ATS screening features are built for the opposite world — lots of candidates, generic criteria, score-based ranking. They work for Google Recruiting; they do not work for a four-person retained search firm closing a $300K placement on a six-week timeline.
ATS systems define candidate fields globally. The columns you need for a CFO search at a manufacturing client are not the columns you need for a VP Eng search at a fintech — but the ATS schema is the same.
Score-based ranking optimises for throughput; retained search optimises for fit. You need to be able to articulate why this specific candidate matches this specific must-have, not where they fall on a leaderboard.
Boutique firms juggle multiple confidential searches. A candidate sourced for one client cannot leak into another’s submission. Workspace boundaries have to be strict, not aspirational.
Each search has its own custom column set. Save templates per role family (e.g. “VP Eng — Series B fintech”) and adapt per-mandate.
Each client engagement gets its own workspace. Confidential candidates stay confidential — no cross-pollination across mandates.
Every verdict cites the resume sentence behind it. Partner reviews the cell, agrees or overrides, ships the submission with receipts.
Two or three partners on a single retained search, each with full activity tracking for credit and oversight.
Each shortlist exports as a branded XLSX with per-candidate fit narratives — ready to email to the client.
Per-workspace pricing designed for 4–20 partners and 5–15 active searches. No per-seat upcharge.
| Property | Clockwork / Invenias | Per-mandate sheet | Generic AI ranker | ShortlistTable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per-mandate rubric | –Schema-bound | ✓Manual | –Limited templates | ✓Plain-English columns |
| Per-client workspace | ✓Yes | ✕Trust-based | –Limited | ✓First-class |
| Multi-partner activity tracking | ✓Yes | ✕Manual | ✕Not supported | ✓Per-partner audit |
| Source-backed verdicts | ✕Manual notes | –Manual | ✕Rare | ✓Sentence + page |
| Client-branded submissions | –Templates | ✓Manual | ✕Not supported | ✓XLSX with branding |
Yes — boutique search workspaces are designed around 2–8 partners sharing pipelines, with per-search access control so client confidentiality is preserved.
Per-workspace, not per-seat. The Boutique plan is designed for firms running 3–10 active searches; you don’t pay per recruiter you add.
We expose a CSV export that maps into both, and a webhook for candidate hand-off. Native integration is on the roadmap — talk to us if you’d want one prioritised.
Yes. That is the point. Each search has its own column set — write them as plain-English questions specific to that mandate.
Each workspace has its own copy of the candidate record with its own audit trail. If a candidate is relevant to two clients, you can run them through both rubrics independently — no cross-contamination.
Retention is configurable per workspace. Boutique firms often set 180-day default with hard-delete on engagement close — both are supported.
Try ShortlistTable on a 25-candidate retained search. Free, no credit card, full per-search customisation.