In this article, you'll learn when Smart Candidate Distribution makes the most difference, how to choose between Random and Sequential mode, and what to expect from your team's data once it's enabled.
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When Does Smart Distribution Make a Difference?
Smart Distribution is most valuable when two or more recruiters are working the same job and there's no clear system for who handles which candidate. The larger the team and the higher the application volume, the more impact it has.
High-volume jobs: when dozens of candidates apply in a short period, manual assignment becomes a bottleneck. Smart Distribution handles it automatically.
Teams with shared jobs: when multiple recruiters are on the same role, duplicate work is the default without a distribution system.
KPI-driven teams: when recruiter performance is tracked and reported, accurate assignment is the foundation. Unassigned candidates make the data unreliable.
Random vs. Sequential — Which Mode Should You Use?
Choose Random if… | Choose Sequential if… |
Your team has equal-capacity recruiters | You have a tiered team (senior/junior) |
Workload should be shared evenly | Certain recruiters should handle early-stage candidates |
No recruiter specialises in a specific batch | You want the first X candidates reviewed by a specific person |
Fair distribution is the priority | Order and structure matter more than even spread |
💡 Tip: Not sure which to use? Start with Random Distribution. It requires less configuration and works well for most teams. Switch to Sequential if you find your team has a natural order of who should handle candidates first.
What Changes in Your Reports Once Distribution Is Enabled
The Hires report Recruiter Performance table becomes significantly more accurate when Smart Distribution is active. Before distribution, the table reflects activity — who moved candidates, who sent messages. After distribution, it reflects ownership — who was assigned this candidate and what happened.
Total Hires per recruiter — reflects only candidates they were assigned, not all candidates they touched.
Avg TTH and TTF — calculated from assignment date, giving a more accurate picture of each recruiter's speed.
Offer Accepted % — tied to the recruiter who owned the candidate through the process.
📌 Note: Enable Smart Distribution on all active jobs — not just new ones — to get consistent data across your team in the Hires report.
💡 Tip: If a team member leaves the job or is removed mid-cycle, the system will prompt the admin to reassign their candidates before completing the removal. No candidate is ever left without an assigned recruiter — the handoff is always explicit.
🕹️Try it out today
Smart Candidate Distribution was built on feedback from teams like yours — and we're not done yet. Got a suggestion? Drop it on our feedback board (recruitera.canny.io) or chat with us directly using the button below. 💬