Same. I also just say in the beginning of the call, “you may hear me typing, but I’m taking notes not answering emails” and if it’s a video interview I explain that if they see me look away it’s to look at my second screen where their resume and my notes are but they have my full attention.
Hi - just hijacking top comment to share that my wife and I found it actually isn’t the headset that makes a huge difference, it’s actually the software you’re using for calls that filters out much of the noise.
My wife and I tested AirPod pros, Jabra Elites, and our Bose NC 700s for calls over the phone directly and it didn’t matter which headset was used, you could hear unbearable typing and background noises.
When we then switched to doing calls via Teams or Zoom, etc, all typing noises disappeared.
My headset and mac arent connected, it's just a pretty quiet keyboard. My headset is the Plantronics - Voyager 5200 (Poly) - Bluetooth Over-the-Ear (Monaural) Headset
#
I usually have a template with a set list of questions I ask, and then I type the answers to the questions in the template and send to the hiring manager.
Yea it saves me a lot of time doing it this way. I can usually finish editing my notes by the end of the call, and then send to the hiring manager immediately after the phone interview.
I usually do raw notes but at the top I do Pros/Cons/Conclusion. It's also nice for myself to remember why I passed or rejected someone, especially if we want to revisit candidates in the future.
I also do this, but I actually do it directly in the ATS that's shockingly free. My company didn't want to pay for any licences but I stumbled upon a newly released one that's legit free, no trials, I signed up through their website. (you can look it up on google , it's called Jobbrella)
I have a page with interview questions for each candidate and answers fields for each question. Plus I take other mixed notes on the side, it all stays in the candidate profile later.
Google docs. Copy + paste into the ATS. I like having access to my notes outside of a clunky system and I can quickly search my past notes for keywords when I get a new role.
They're all in Google drive so I can enter a short boolean string in the search and it will pull up all candidate notes that fit the bill. My ATS doesn't have a way for me to sort by the talent I sourced, it pulls EVERYONE and we're a small fish in a big lake with other fish and share the same system. I prefer my Google drive to only focus on my folks.
That’s sick. Same boat here, you can search our ATS but I’ve found it pulls up random shit that’s irrelevant and it also legit takes 5 minutes to complete a search. Your way sounds a lot better
Notebook and pen. I make shorthand notes and enter info after the call. It’s easier for me to keep my attention on the convo and pick up things I might miss when typing.
I have a template I created in a word doc and I just clack away filling out their information/preferences during the screen I'm so surprised to see so many by hand note takers! That would've been me but my company said absolutely not
Me too! I’m surprised how many hand-writers there are because it seems like double the work
But I’m an aggressively fast typer so I can never imagine myself handwriting my notes
I type right into the notes section in iCIMS. My handwriting is basically illegible at this point, and this allows my teammates to see the info as well.
I used to hand write notes. Now I open a doc and type it. Helps when your candidate relationships span years.
Looking into AI transcription solutions like Otter etc.
Looking for a transcription solution. Our org is soon moving to Teams being able to make outbound calls, and they have a native transcription option. Will have to come up with some "this call will be recorded" type into too
When you turn on to record, it automatically pops up to others that this call is being recorded and you consent by staying in call. Not sure if that helps
We use Brighthire. It's pretty good. Records the calls and then summarizes info for you. It's a cloud based application. For whatever reason I still default to good old pen and paper most of the time and forget to you use it but when I do use, I'm always thankful later that I did. It does inform the person the call is being recorded however depending on what state you are in it might not be required. I always inform the person before the call that I'll be using a software to record the call in order to avoid having to take notes which allows me to be more engaged and focused on our conversation.
No, you set up your phone number in the app. Then you call the Metaview number, and it calls the candidate. From the candidate end it looks like it’s coming from your number.
Have a word doc I just spam my notes in until I copy and paste them into our CRM. But the back of scrap paper, a series of post-it notes, or cocktail bar napkins will also work.
OneNote and then after the call I’ll spellcheck/ reformat and copy/paste into ATS. I used to be a diehard handwritten note taker until my manager hid my notebook forcing me to type notes lol. But I can say it’s 100x better and faster once you get used to it.
Carv.com - works on mobile and can take notes during phone screens, in person meetings, and virtual interviews.
If you set your meeting type to interview for example, it does the follow admin tasks too - candidate write ups, summaries etc., but for some output you have to tell the 'AI workmate' what you need.
I wanted to try and use One Note, but I end up taking most of my phone screens in a conference room right next to my desk since I don’t have an office of my own and feel weird taking a call out in the open around other people working quietly. So most of the time it’s hand written notes which works well for me
IF you do not use something like metaview or Otter AND you like writing over typing an Ipad pro with apple pencil is how I went paperless
You could record the call and play it back to take notes
I type (shorthand) capturing whatever relevant info is communicated based off my screening questions. I wish I had access to MetaView or Otter. I'm aware that Teams has the transcription feature but you need to get permission/acceptance from the candidate prior to be able to use it. You can obvious feed your notes into chatgpt to have it summarize it for you afterwards, but that's what MetaView does from what I understand + a few other features.
Pre-determined scorecards are uploaded into Greenhouse for each role we open up. I ask my questions and type the answers in live time. Having organized and solid scorecards really really helps for consistency and overall candidate experience.
We have a word doc template that our compliance team has a heavy hand in creating.
If I had to make my own it would likely be a word doc template that I can save copies of with each candidates name in the title.
I'm seeing a shocking number of people saying they're hand writing notes and I understand wanting to do things because you prefer it/that's how You've always done it but having to eventually transfer those notes is a big time suck. If you're working over 40 hours per week I'd change that ASAP.
We started using noota, it’s a great new tool. It record the call and transcript notes. It can even anlyse it by their AI if you want, to create summaries.
Our calls are all recorded and AI generated notes are sent to us after so I don’t usually take them. Before that new technology, I took notes in excel, as that’s how I tracked my calls.
I use the ATS form and type as I interview. I have the questions formatted so they have a smooth flow and that way I can go from one to the other quickly, efficiently, and not lose time transcribing it into digital form.
I went on medical leave for a few months and that break from recruiting finally got me to switch from paper notes to electronic. I have a google sheet workbook with every job and I build out templates for every job with the key questions I have to hit. Trying to get better at exporting these sheets to build reports to share directly with leaders.
The benefit to doing this is that I can always search through feedback - I'm about 6 months in and it's hugely helpful. I also have it shared with my coordinator who will take over some roles depending on my workload, and my manager who will see what's going on when I'm on PTO.
It's taken time to get used to, but it's really paying off and getting much faster now.
I put my notes in Outlook, with the event set as "Screen - Name - Role - Location. Makes it easy to search, and to forward screens on to interview invites.
I used to use OneNote becuase I could sort it by day, job title, etc. It does get unwieldy at scale, though.
Because OneNote is kind of clunky and not that great? I've used it in the past and do use it for notes during HM meetings, but I much prefer req and candidate tracking in excel and word doc templates for interview notes.
I was a diehard hand written note person for over a decade. Frankly, it’s a crutch and works against you. Not searchable, no timestamp, you have to have it with you to access.
My lazy way is email drafts. Date and topic in subject line; notes in the body. Accessible anywhere Nd easily searchable. I’ve nailed a few extremely tense meetings w/ VP and TA Leadership because I had my notes and my searchability was so effective
I create a google doc for every candidate that I interview and keep notes there so I can quickly search it and recall other details also helps me to make sure I’m not forgetting anything
I take notes while talking and the notes always follow basically the same format regardless of what role I am sourcing for.
I call out specific things to highlight items from resume and conversation pertinent to that specific client and the specific position.
Since it’s basically the same thing for any candidate and any job, it makes it easy and my clients appreciate the consistency.
I use Evernote to take notes during interviews then copy/paste into whatever scorecard/ATS needed from there. You can create templates and organize into different folders.
I like having notes outside of a formal feedback form so I can note my observations, concerns, things to dig into further, etc.
Newer Kindle Scribe user here. Pen and paper all the way historically, I grew tired this spring of paper and went electronic with a Kindle Scribe which has both reading and writing functions. I thought about a Remarkable electronic notebook, but it was out of my budget, and I could trade in my old Kindle for a discount, and it was also already on sale. I have files set up on it with sub notebooks and files, and can break down notebooks by candidate or search. I can then save selected pages or entire notebooks as pdfs - can supposedly also covert to typewritten but haven't done that yet - and download into my candidate files on my computer - and add a link to the notebook pdf in my ATS.
Now I just have to properly file the piles of notebooks on my floor from Q1 and early Q2... so glad to be done with paper! The Scribe is a godsend and feels great when writing on it, very much like pen and paper.
google doc with a template i made then paste it into outlook mail to send to hiring managers... but now the format gets fucked up in outlook so i'm scouring this thread for alternatives lol
We have a screening form. Voice to text works for quicker note taking but I’ve struggled to find a free version of it. Copilot is meh but a colleague swears by it and has said her note taking has increased since doing it with that.
Some of my managers record the call on teams /gong and then download the transcript. Personally, I never did video calls before covid. Now, I do my intro on video and explain that I'll turn my camera off while I'm asking them questions, explain that I'm using onenote to type everything up, then turn the camera back on when I give them time at the end to ask me questions. When I was laid off I found it very directing to speak to the interviewer while they typed everthing up. I ask them to tell me if the typing gets too annoying and that I'll mute myself while they're talking. I can't write quickly enough to take hand written notes
One note and AirPods.
Over time I have developed a library of screening notes for each candidate.
I do paste my notes into candidate profile for HM.
Additionally I use AI assist for PDF resumes and bulletize 5 key takeaways from the resume and add it to the notes.
I type into an email, candidate's name in the subject line. I created a simple rule and a keyword that I put in every email so that Outlook automatically files it into a folder called Screens. I'll clean these notes up and add to our ATS, but I like keeping my long form, full notes.
I can type faster than I can write.
I use my computer (OneNote to be precise). I usually have three things on my screen: half screen is their application, quarter of a screen is the video call with the candidate, last quarter is my notes.
I recently discovered OneNote and omg it's the best. I used to use MS word for each call (I type while talking, and sometimes preface the call with the fact that I'm taking notes in case of award silence or anything). But doing a seperate word doc, then saving to the right folder, and inputting the edits into the CRM is not efficient. Now I use OneNote for tons of things, just tabbed out. Spec profiles that I can copy and paste, client notes, my to-do lists, leads list, basic active job info to talk to candidates about for stuff that's not in the JD, and quick notes for random messaging like my own template for the day that I plan to be sending out to several people etc. Very much recommend.
Type and listen. I use notes on my Mac (they are great for organization in sub categories and populate across all Apple devices) and OneNote for Microsoft.
-Text blaze to paste standardized interview questions for a specific job
-Type notes in email to HM during screen
-Paste full notes into ats before cleaning up and sending email to HM
I type as they talk. I save resumes in categorized folders (by skillset) in documents. Then save a second copy of the resume but with “notes” added after their name.
I create feedback forms in the ATS and type while I am talking. The Mac has a quiet keyboard. It is so much faster to edit typed notes rather than type up longhand notes. I have also used word, one note etc.
For real, I get that satisfying feeling taking handwritten notes during screening calls. There's just something about pen and paper, ya know? But that analog grind started feeling mad inefficient after a while, so I had to level up and go full digital with my note-taking game.
Evernote was a straight game-changer, my dude. User-friendly as hell, lets you organize notes by candidate, tag stuff for easy searching, attach docs or links - keeps everything clean and tidy in one place instead of scattered all over.
OneNote low-key became a staple too since it integrates so smooth with that whole Microsoft suite I'm rocking. Set up separate notebooks for each job or candidate to keep those notes structured and searchable. Clutch for quickly referencing during follow-up calls and whatnot.
If you want something stupid simple though, Google Docs always comes in clutch. Free, easy to share with the team, accessible from anywhere. Used to just roll with Docs before leveling up to those more specialized note-taking tools. Kept shit clean and straightforward.
Making that digital switch definitely leveled up my organization big time and made having all that candidate info at my fingertips an absolute breeze. No more decoding that chicken scratch handwriting from frantic call scribbles! With everything digital now, sharing notes across the squad or quickly pulling them up later is just so clutch. Future is now man!
I never use the ATS for notes. I write them by hand and then make a document or just type it out. I tell people to slow down all the time and they are fine with that
I guess im in the minority because I just type and listen. I'm on a macbook and have a good headset so noise isnt an issue
Same. I also just say in the beginning of the call, “you may hear me typing, but I’m taking notes not answering emails” and if it’s a video interview I explain that if they see me look away it’s to look at my second screen where their resume and my notes are but they have my full attention.
All of this
Hi - just hijacking top comment to share that my wife and I found it actually isn’t the headset that makes a huge difference, it’s actually the software you’re using for calls that filters out much of the noise. My wife and I tested AirPod pros, Jabra Elites, and our Bose NC 700s for calls over the phone directly and it didn’t matter which headset was used, you could hear unbearable typing and background noises. When we then switched to doing calls via Teams or Zoom, etc, all typing noises disappeared.
I use a pen and paper
Im the same. I use airpods!
What headset do you have? And does MacBook improve sound when using a headset? Not sure
My headset and mac arent connected, it's just a pretty quiet keyboard. My headset is the Plantronics - Voyager 5200 (Poly) - Bluetooth Over-the-Ear (Monaural) Headset #
Thanks!
I usually have a template with a set list of questions I ask, and then I type the answers to the questions in the template and send to the hiring manager.
This is what I need to do. My free form notes require rewriting for most managers.
Yea it saves me a lot of time doing it this way. I can usually finish editing my notes by the end of the call, and then send to the hiring manager immediately after the phone interview.
I usually do raw notes but at the top I do Pros/Cons/Conclusion. It's also nice for myself to remember why I passed or rejected someone, especially if we want to revisit candidates in the future.
I like that idea.
I have templates too, in Excel with rows for answers.
I also do this, but I actually do it directly in the ATS that's shockingly free. My company didn't want to pay for any licences but I stumbled upon a newly released one that's legit free, no trials, I signed up through their website. (you can look it up on google , it's called Jobbrella) I have a page with interview questions for each candidate and answers fields for each question. Plus I take other mixed notes on the side, it all stays in the candidate profile later.
One Note
I can’t live without one note!
Google docs. Copy + paste into the ATS. I like having access to my notes outside of a clunky system and I can quickly search my past notes for keywords when I get a new role.
If you search from menu does it search within your documents? If so you just converted me
They're all in Google drive so I can enter a short boolean string in the search and it will pull up all candidate notes that fit the bill. My ATS doesn't have a way for me to sort by the talent I sourced, it pulls EVERYONE and we're a small fish in a big lake with other fish and share the same system. I prefer my Google drive to only focus on my folks.
That’s sick. Same boat here, you can search our ATS but I’ve found it pulls up random shit that’s irrelevant and it also legit takes 5 minutes to complete a search. Your way sounds a lot better
Notebook and pen. I make shorthand notes and enter info after the call. It’s easier for me to keep my attention on the convo and pick up things I might miss when typing.
2nd this.
I have a template I created in a word doc and I just clack away filling out their information/preferences during the screen I'm so surprised to see so many by hand note takers! That would've been me but my company said absolutely not
Me too! I’m surprised how many hand-writers there are because it seems like double the work But I’m an aggressively fast typer so I can never imagine myself handwriting my notes
Same and my hand writing is horrible 😂
I type shorthand notes into the ATS then fix it after the call so it makes sense!
I type right into the notes section in iCIMS. My handwriting is basically illegible at this point, and this allows my teammates to see the info as well.
I used to hand write notes. Now I open a doc and type it. Helps when your candidate relationships span years. Looking into AI transcription solutions like Otter etc.
Metaview because it works on video calls and phone calls
Thanks
Looking for a transcription solution. Our org is soon moving to Teams being able to make outbound calls, and they have a native transcription option. Will have to come up with some "this call will be recorded" type into too
When you turn on to record, it automatically pops up to others that this call is being recorded and you consent by staying in call. Not sure if that helps
fathom ai is great for transcription.
We use Brighthire. It's pretty good. Records the calls and then summarizes info for you. It's a cloud based application. For whatever reason I still default to good old pen and paper most of the time and forget to you use it but when I do use, I'm always thankful later that I did. It does inform the person the call is being recorded however depending on what state you are in it might not be required. I always inform the person before the call that I'll be using a software to record the call in order to avoid having to take notes which allows me to be more engaged and focused on our conversation.
Metaview
I’ve found the note summaries - while awesome - don’t actually reflect the spirit of the conversation for me. It’s so convenient though
Second this!
Dont you have your call through the app ?
Integration with your email/meeting or ATS
No, you set up your phone number in the app. Then you call the Metaview number, and it calls the candidate. From the candidate end it looks like it’s coming from your number.
Obsidian notes - I’ve installed an OpenAi API and it can generate quick summaries or answer questions about anything in my notes.
One note. Organized into notebooks. Have all of my reqs and candidates in there, primarily out of habit. Then again, our ATS is trash.
Hand written notes for me.
Have a word doc I just spam my notes in until I copy and paste them into our CRM. But the back of scrap paper, a series of post-it notes, or cocktail bar napkins will also work.
I have a screening form on MS word and type whilst I listen. Then send to the hiring manager. I wouldn’t duplicate note taking.
OneNote and then after the call I’ll spellcheck/ reformat and copy/paste into ATS. I used to be a diehard handwritten note taker until my manager hid my notebook forcing me to type notes lol. But I can say it’s 100x better and faster once you get used to it.
I just type.
I’m a writer during screens. It’s not something anyone would understand. I then go into a google doc and dictate notes to it to send to managers.
Carv.com - works on mobile and can take notes during phone screens, in person meetings, and virtual interviews. If you set your meeting type to interview for example, it does the follow admin tasks too - candidate write ups, summaries etc., but for some output you have to tell the 'AI workmate' what you need.
Good old Google Docs. I have a template / building block that I just fill in and I paste them into the ATS.
I wanted to try and use One Note, but I end up taking most of my phone screens in a conference room right next to my desk since I don’t have an office of my own and feel weird taking a call out in the open around other people working quietly. So most of the time it’s hand written notes which works well for me
I use a remarkable with the type folio for F2F and tend to just type notes onto our CRM /onto MS Word for video interviews/phone calls.
Tabbed
Google Keep
IF you do not use something like metaview or Otter AND you like writing over typing an Ipad pro with apple pencil is how I went paperless You could record the call and play it back to take notes
I type (shorthand) capturing whatever relevant info is communicated based off my screening questions. I wish I had access to MetaView or Otter. I'm aware that Teams has the transcription feature but you need to get permission/acceptance from the candidate prior to be able to use it. You can obvious feed your notes into chatgpt to have it summarize it for you afterwards, but that's what MetaView does from what I understand + a few other features.
Pre-determined scorecards are uploaded into Greenhouse for each role we open up. I ask my questions and type the answers in live time. Having organized and solid scorecards really really helps for consistency and overall candidate experience.
We have a word doc template that our compliance team has a heavy hand in creating. If I had to make my own it would likely be a word doc template that I can save copies of with each candidates name in the title. I'm seeing a shocking number of people saying they're hand writing notes and I understand wanting to do things because you prefer it/that's how You've always done it but having to eventually transfer those notes is a big time suck. If you're working over 40 hours per week I'd change that ASAP.
We started using noota, it’s a great new tool. It record the call and transcript notes. It can even anlyse it by their AI if you want, to create summaries.
Do the candidates know they are being recorded?
Yes absolutely
Our calls are all recorded and AI generated notes are sent to us after so I don’t usually take them. Before that new technology, I took notes in excel, as that’s how I tracked my calls.
I use the ATS form and type as I interview. I have the questions formatted so they have a smooth flow and that way I can go from one to the other quickly, efficiently, and not lose time transcribing it into digital form.
Google docs
Bright hire. I’ll never take another note again
I love brighthire too!
I went on medical leave for a few months and that break from recruiting finally got me to switch from paper notes to electronic. I have a google sheet workbook with every job and I build out templates for every job with the key questions I have to hit. Trying to get better at exporting these sheets to build reports to share directly with leaders. The benefit to doing this is that I can always search through feedback - I'm about 6 months in and it's hugely helpful. I also have it shared with my coordinator who will take over some roles depending on my workload, and my manager who will see what's going on when I'm on PTO. It's taken time to get used to, but it's really paying off and getting much faster now.
I put my notes in Outlook, with the event set as "Screen - Name - Role - Location. Makes it easy to search, and to forward screens on to interview invites. I used to use OneNote becuase I could sort it by day, job title, etc. It does get unwieldy at scale, though.
How the fuck are you not using OneNote?
Because OneNote is kind of clunky and not that great? I've used it in the past and do use it for notes during HM meetings, but I much prefer req and candidate tracking in excel and word doc templates for interview notes.
I’m “lucky” to have a PI built into my ATS for the templates and note taking that produces a PDF to slate to HMs.
I was a diehard hand written note person for over a decade. Frankly, it’s a crutch and works against you. Not searchable, no timestamp, you have to have it with you to access. My lazy way is email drafts. Date and topic in subject line; notes in the body. Accessible anywhere Nd easily searchable. I’ve nailed a few extremely tense meetings w/ VP and TA Leadership because I had my notes and my searchability was so effective
Oh my gosh. I want to know the same thing!! And if anyone has any one note templates, please send.
I create a google doc for every candidate that I interview and keep notes there so I can quickly search it and recall other details also helps me to make sure I’m not forgetting anything
Typing them!!!! We do our submittals in email so I do the submittal while I’m on the phone!
I use a speaker phone and mac whisper and a chat gpt pro api. Takes notes, like a court stenographer is sitting in the corner. lol
I put on speaker phone and then open word. Activate dictate and the edit notes.
Would some of you mind sharing your templates that you use for some new ideas? Thank you!
Pen and paper…I’m trying to move to taking digital notes. At least I’m taking notes from my intake calls on my laptop!
I used to use Notepad ++
Created my own word doc phone screen guide and save that as a blank template on my Home Screen and then save it into specific folders when I’m done.
Either one note on my computer or if I’m face to face, the notes on my iPad
I take notes while talking and the notes always follow basically the same format regardless of what role I am sourcing for. I call out specific things to highlight items from resume and conversation pertinent to that specific client and the specific position. Since it’s basically the same thing for any candidate and any job, it makes it easy and my clients appreciate the consistency.
Email. Gets saved as a draft automatically. Copy and paste it later.
fathom ai has been an absolute lifesaver.
I use Evernote to take notes during interviews then copy/paste into whatever scorecard/ATS needed from there. You can create templates and organize into different folders. I like having notes outside of a formal feedback form so I can note my observations, concerns, things to dig into further, etc.
Old school - I like handwritten notes. I have phone screen notes and resumes going back several years.
AssessmentHero dies the whole interview for us.
METAVIEW. Game changer.
Newer Kindle Scribe user here. Pen and paper all the way historically, I grew tired this spring of paper and went electronic with a Kindle Scribe which has both reading and writing functions. I thought about a Remarkable electronic notebook, but it was out of my budget, and I could trade in my old Kindle for a discount, and it was also already on sale. I have files set up on it with sub notebooks and files, and can break down notebooks by candidate or search. I can then save selected pages or entire notebooks as pdfs - can supposedly also covert to typewritten but haven't done that yet - and download into my candidate files on my computer - and add a link to the notebook pdf in my ATS. Now I just have to properly file the piles of notebooks on my floor from Q1 and early Q2... so glad to be done with paper! The Scribe is a godsend and feels great when writing on it, very much like pen and paper.
google doc with a template i made then paste it into outlook mail to send to hiring managers... but now the format gets fucked up in outlook so i'm scouring this thread for alternatives lol
We have a screening form. Voice to text works for quicker note taking but I’ve struggled to find a free version of it. Copilot is meh but a colleague swears by it and has said her note taking has increased since doing it with that.
Some of my managers record the call on teams /gong and then download the transcript. Personally, I never did video calls before covid. Now, I do my intro on video and explain that I'll turn my camera off while I'm asking them questions, explain that I'm using onenote to type everything up, then turn the camera back on when I give them time at the end to ask me questions. When I was laid off I found it very directing to speak to the interviewer while they typed everthing up. I ask them to tell me if the typing gets too annoying and that I'll mute myself while they're talking. I can't write quickly enough to take hand written notes
otter.ai to record the call and transcribe. I find that I start getting distracted if I'm taking notes and trying to think at the same time
One note and AirPods. Over time I have developed a library of screening notes for each candidate. I do paste my notes into candidate profile for HM. Additionally I use AI assist for PDF resumes and bulletize 5 key takeaways from the resume and add it to the notes.
I type into an email, candidate's name in the subject line. I created a simple rule and a keyword that I put in every email so that Outlook automatically files it into a folder called Screens. I'll clean these notes up and add to our ATS, but I like keeping my long form, full notes. I can type faster than I can write.
My firm uses Google so I take my messy notes in a Google Doc before cleaning it up and transferring to the ATS/email.
I use my computer (OneNote to be precise). I usually have three things on my screen: half screen is their application, quarter of a screen is the video call with the candidate, last quarter is my notes.
I recently discovered OneNote and omg it's the best. I used to use MS word for each call (I type while talking, and sometimes preface the call with the fact that I'm taking notes in case of award silence or anything). But doing a seperate word doc, then saving to the right folder, and inputting the edits into the CRM is not efficient. Now I use OneNote for tons of things, just tabbed out. Spec profiles that I can copy and paste, client notes, my to-do lists, leads list, basic active job info to talk to candidates about for stuff that's not in the JD, and quick notes for random messaging like my own template for the day that I plan to be sending out to several people etc. Very much recommend.
MetaView, have that for free
Pen and paper baby!
Type and listen. I use notes on my Mac (they are great for organization in sub categories and populate across all Apple devices) and OneNote for Microsoft.
Microsoft OneNote every time
I type them up. We use Greenhouse and I preload my questions in the req. So it's a simple answer box and quick save in the ATS.
-Text blaze to paste standardized interview questions for a specific job -Type notes in email to HM during screen -Paste full notes into ats before cleaning up and sending email to HM
I type as they talk. I save resumes in categorized folders (by skillset) in documents. Then save a second copy of the resume but with “notes” added after their name.
I create feedback forms in the ATS and type while I am talking. The Mac has a quiet keyboard. It is so much faster to edit typed notes rather than type up longhand notes. I have also used word, one note etc.
Check out Krisp
I use Microsoft Word to take notes. Then use ChatGPT to combine the resume and notes I took to create a write up for the hiring manager
Memorize questions I want to ask and take notes in word. Copy and paste into ATS afterwards
One Note for everything
For real, I get that satisfying feeling taking handwritten notes during screening calls. There's just something about pen and paper, ya know? But that analog grind started feeling mad inefficient after a while, so I had to level up and go full digital with my note-taking game. Evernote was a straight game-changer, my dude. User-friendly as hell, lets you organize notes by candidate, tag stuff for easy searching, attach docs or links - keeps everything clean and tidy in one place instead of scattered all over. OneNote low-key became a staple too since it integrates so smooth with that whole Microsoft suite I'm rocking. Set up separate notebooks for each job or candidate to keep those notes structured and searchable. Clutch for quickly referencing during follow-up calls and whatnot. If you want something stupid simple though, Google Docs always comes in clutch. Free, easy to share with the team, accessible from anywhere. Used to just roll with Docs before leveling up to those more specialized note-taking tools. Kept shit clean and straightforward. Making that digital switch definitely leveled up my organization big time and made having all that candidate info at my fingertips an absolute breeze. No more decoding that chicken scratch handwriting from frantic call scribbles! With everything digital now, sharing notes across the squad or quickly pulling them up later is just so clutch. Future is now man!
I never use the ATS for notes. I write them by hand and then make a document or just type it out. I tell people to slow down all the time and they are fine with that
markers and white board
Metaview for screening calls. Takes better notes than I ever could, and no need to lift a finger.
I don’t do initial phone screens anymore since because my ATS grabs everything I need from the applicant