How Copilot Evaluates Candidates

Overview

While traditional recruiters are managing their inboxes, FactoryFix's Copilot is methodically evaluating candidates using a rigorous approach similar to an experienced manufacturing hiring manager, enhanced by your direct input. This AI-powered evaluation helps determine if a candidate is a strong match for your role, saving you time and surfacing top talent. Here’s how Copilot thinks about each candidate:

What Copilot Considers

Recent Relevant Experience (Key Factor)
Copilot places the heaviest weight on what candidates have done in the last approximately 5 years. Recent, relevant experience is often the best predictor of success. For example, when evaluating a maintenance technician candidate, Copilot will value their current experience troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLCs more heavily than similar work they did 8 years ago.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

For each required skill in your job posting, Copilot:

Evaluates demonstrated experience level
Considers how recently they've used the skill
Factors in relevant certifications and training
Looks for supporting evidence in both resumes and screening conversations

Copilot is manufacturing-focused, so it understands the difference between someone who can "use" a CNC machine and someone who can actually program one. It won't be fooled by vague claims or keyword matching.

Environment & Culture Fit

Copilot analyzes whether candidates have worked in similar manufacturing environments by looking at:

Industry sector alignment (e.g., automotive, food processing)
Production process similarities
Operational scale match
Physical demands and safety requirements

Career Stability

To assess likelihood of long-term fit, Copilot examines:

Average tenure in recent roles
Any concerning patterns of frequent job changes
Gaps in employment history
Current employment status
Stated reasons for seeking new opportunities

Practical Success Factors

Copilot evaluates real-world factors that often determine success:

Commute feasibility based on location
Shift compatibility with past experience
Pay expectations versus role requirements
Ability to meet physical demands
Required certifications or clearances

Help Copilot Screen and Evaluate

Your Company's Unique Context

Copilot incorporates information you provide in Settings > Company Overview. Details about what your company builds/offers, your competitors/differentiators, and your company description for candidates help inform the evaluation, leading to assessments that better reflect your company's unique environment.

Your Custom Evaluation Guidance (Crucial for Accuracy)

You can directly teach Copilot how to evaluate candidates for each specific job. During job posting (in the "Teach Copilot how to evaluate candidates" step), you can provide:

How strictly should Copilot evaluate candidates?: Set the overall strictness level ("Lenient," "Balanced" (default), or "Strict").
Ideal Candidate Definition: Describe what experience or skills separate an okay candidate from a great one.
Overlook Factors: Specify aspects (e.g., specific certifications, unique machine experience) that make you willing to overlook other shortcomings.
Dealbreakers: Clearly state what would make you immediately reject a candidate (e.g., lack of a specific license, unwillingness to work a required shift).

Copilot uses this input directly in its scoring, leading to evaluations more aligned with your true priorities.

Previous Interactions

If a candidate has applied to your company before, Copilot considers:

Past roles they've applied for
Previous screening results
Interview outcomes
Quality of past interactions

How Copilot Provides Its Assessment

For each candidate, Copilot:

1. Builds a complete picture of their capabilities from their resume, screening responses, and your custom guidance.

2. Compares their recent experience and skills against your specific requirements and ideal candidate profile.

3. Evaluates practical factors and dealbreakers you've defined.

4. Provides its assessment as:

A 1-5 star rating.
A written assessment blurb in the candidate's conversation thread, summarizing the rationale, highlighting strengths, and weaknesses relative to the job and your criteria. (Scores of "N/A" indicate Copilot did not perform an evaluation for that specific application, e.g., for manually added candidates).

What Makes Copilot Different

Unlike traditional applicant screening systems that rely on keyword matching or generic assessments, Copilot:

Understands manufacturing-specific requirements and terminology
Evaluates candidates the way an experienced hiring manager would
Adapts to your specific needs and requirements
Provides clear, evidence-based explanations for its recommendations
Gets smarter over time through feedback

Best Practices for Working with Copilot

To ensure Copilot provides the most accurate and helpful candidate assessments:

1. Be specific in your job description and skill requirements. Clearly list necessary certifications, equipment models, and technical knowledge.
2. Utilize the "Teach Copilot how to evaluate candidates" fields during job setup. Define your ideal candidate, what you're willing to overlook, and absolute dealbreakers. This is key to tailored evaluations.
3. Fill out your "Company Overview" in Settings. This gives Copilot valuable context about your business.

4. Review Copilot’s detailed assessment blurbs. They often contain valuable insights into why a candidate was rated a certain way.
5. Provide feedback on Copilot's assessments using the "thumbs up/down" icons. This directly helps the AI learn and refine its understanding of your specific needs for future evaluations.

6. Trust but verify. While Copilot is a powerful assistant, always use your professional judgment in final hiring decisions.

Remember: Copilot is designed to handle the time-consuming parts of candidate evaluation, equipped with your specific guidance, so you can focus on interviewing and hiring the best talent for your team.

How Copilot Evaluates CandidatesUpdated 14 days ago