With NIC changes contributing to the continued decline in vacancies in the UK, and concern about the impact of Trump’s tax and tariff plans on the biggest US companies based in Ireland, recruiters are looking to new markets for growth and tech to increase effectiveness whilst reducing cost.
TALiNT Partners took time out after our Recruitment & Talent Leader Summit in Dublin on 27th May to talk to recruitment tech expert and Summit speaker Neil Curry, VP Sales at TargetRecruit about how this global solution is enabling recruiters to adapt in a challenging market.
TALiNT Partners – TargetRecruit has existing operations in the US and APAC and are supporting local UK & Irish recruiters looking to expand into those regions. How do recruiters in these region’s differ in their optimisation of recruitment tech, and is it important that your solution is built on Salesforce to achieve this?
Neil Curry – Because a lot of tech originates in the US, the US region is naturally an early adopter. The UK follows soon behind but they tend to want to gain references and assurances before progressing. APAC are less risk averse and adopt technology readily to stay ahead of the market, but they do tend to benefit from more stable markets than the UK & Ireland. The majority of our clients operate different brands and lines of business in regions and that requires different data, processes, and reporting as well as different needs for the candidate. For clients that have global operations, or are looking to expand globally with a system they can trust, Salesforce is a global solution that gives them confidence in handling these complexities through every part of the business and a plethora of integrations.
TP – Data management is vital in optimising AI and Automation in recruitment. How are you supporting sales and marketing leaders to unlock potential from their CRM?
NC – It is vital, especially if those AI and automation tools are looking at your internal data, it’s got to be very accurate. For us, it all starts with the initial set up and data migration and we’re not afraid to challenge if people look like they want to bring across bad practices. We want everything in one place and everyone singing off the same hymn sheet. Once they’re up and running we advise on best practice – deduplication, validation, and standardisation of data and processes, regular user training, effective third-party integrations to make sure there’s as few hands on as possible. Again, something which our software and the Salesforce platform can help people do very well.
TP – We have seen a greater focus on client development as it’s been harder to win new business in a more challenging and competitive market. How is TargetRecruit enabling agencies to win more business from existing clients?
NC – TargetRecruit helps its customers unlock more value from existing relationships by providing a single view of activity across all brands, divisions, and regions. This visibility makes it easier to spot cross-sell and upsell opportunities that might otherwise be missed. Our reporting and analytics tools also enable account managers to bring real-time insights and workforce trends to client conversations, positioning them as strategic partners rather than just service providers. Combined with automation that improves service delivery, this helps our customers strengthen relationships and win more business without needing to start from scratch.
TP – How are the best consultants using AI, Automation & Analytics to differentiate themselves and their service?
NC – The best recruitment consultants are using AI to build deeper candidate profiles by analysing skills, experience, and even social signals. Customers already engaging with our new AI Agents are set to see some impressive results. They leverage automation to keep candidates and clients informed with personalised updates at every stage of the process. Using analytics, they provide valuable insights on market trends, salary benchmarks, and feedback patterns that help clients make better hiring decisions. This data-led, tech-enabled approach sets them apart as true recruitment partners, not just transactional suppliers.
TP – We’re seeing more collaboration between marketing and finance to specify the right solution and make sure it’s maximised? From your interactions with TargetRecruit clients, what and who is driving the best optimisation of technology?
NC – We’re definitely seeing this trend. The most successful TargetRecruit clients aren’t leaving technology decisions solely to IT or operations, they’re bringing together Marketing, Finance, and Commercial Leaders to ensure the platform not only meets operational needs but supports revenue growth, customer experience, and ROI. This cross-functional collaboration helps define the right solution for front, middle and back office and drives ongoing adoption and utilisation. This ensures the investment delivers real business value beyond just process automation.
TP – What new challenges for recruiters are you focusing on at TargetRecruit?
NC – We’re focused on helping recruiters overcome the complexity of managing multiple systems, which often leads to poor data visibility and disconnected processes. We’re also addressing the growing need for automation and AI to reduce manual admin, giving recruiters more time to build relationships. Finally, with client and candidate expectations higher than ever, we’re helping agencies deliver a better, more consistent experience across the entire recruitment lifecycle—front, middle, and back office.
Neil Curry will be speaking at TALiNT Partners Client Growth Lunch & Learn in Manchester on 10th July alongside senior leaders from Morson, Cielo Talent and Reed Talent Solutions. Register here to attend or get in touch with Neil at neil.curry@targetrecruit.net.
