Beyond the Black Hole: How Hollstadt Consulting Used Voice AI to Deliver a Candidate-First Hiring Experience

Beyond the Black Hole: How Hollstadt Consulting Used Voice AI to Deliver a Candidate-First Hiring Experience

‍Hollstadt Consulting, a woman-owned firm based in Minneapolis, has built its 30+ year reputation on two things: high-quality talent and unwavering integrity. For decades, this commitment has fostered lasting relationships with both clients and consultants.But as the hiring market became increasingly competitive—and application volumes soared—Hollstadt faced a critical challenge: How do you scale candidate screening without sacrificing the personalized, high-touch experience your brand is known for?

The Challenge: When Volume Overwhelms Personalization

‍The influx of applications across numerous clients was starting to overwhelm the recruiting team. Manual resume review became a massive time sink, and the sheer volume meant qualified candidates were occasionally slipping through the cracks.The core pain points were clear:

• Manual resume review was overwhelming teams.
• Candidates were slipping through the cracks due to high volume.
• Real-time candidate engagement, especially after hours, was a significant challenge.
• Recruiting teams needed time back to focus on building meaningful relationships.

As Jen Larson, VP of Marketing + Digital Strategy at Hollstadt Consulting, noted, “With so many people applying, we knew some candidates weren’t getting the experience they deserved. That’s when we started looking for a more scalable, candidate-friendly solution.”

‍The Solution: Sense Voice AI—Meet "Sunny"

‍Hollstadt partnered with Sense to implement their Voice AI solution, affectionately naming their new automated recruiter Sunny.Sunny stepped in to automate the initial screening process. After a candidate applies, the AI bot initiates an outbound call, asking a customized set of screening questions and recording the responses in real time. Recruiters then receive a detailed transcript and summary, allowing them to quickly surface the most qualified individuals without sifting through thousands of resumes.The key to its success lay in flexibility and availability:

• AI-led voice screening initiates calls automatically.
• 24/7 availability allows candidates to complete the screening outside of business hours.
• Flexibility lets candidates call back on their own time, picking up right where they left off.

“Now candidates can call back on their own time—and it picks up right where they left off. It’s seamless and it really meets them where they're at,” said Jen.
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The Voice AI video : https://sensetalent.wistia.com/medias/hqhxir1e05

‍The Results: Efficiency, Experience, and a Competitive Edge

‍The implementation of Sunny delivered massive value on three fronts: unprecedented efficiency, superior candidate experience, and unexpected brand growth.

‍1. Exponential Recruiter Efficiency

‍By taking over the manual screening work, Sunny immediately gave Hollstadt’s recruiters precious time back.

• Exceptional Engagement: Sunny achieved a 74.37% candidate completion rate, far exceeding typical engagement benchmarks.
• Time Saved: In just 90 days, Sunny eliminated 754 hours of manual work, freeing up the equivalent of 1.5 full-time employees to focus on high-value relationship building.
• Scale in Action: In one example, Sunny helped screen 1,200 applicants in two days, surfacing 200 highly-qualified candidates (80%+ match)—a truly impossible task to accomplish manually.

“Efficiency - 100%. We’re not manually combing through every resume. We’re reviewing the right candidates, faster.”

2. Better Fit and a Human Touch

‍Sunny went beyond simple keyword matching. By capturing voice responses, the AI helps recruiters assess both hard skills and soft skills like communication strength and availability.

• High Candidate Sentiment: This personalized, transparent approach earned an impressive 82% positive sentiment from candidates.
• Quality Over Quantity: "Sunny does a great job of surfacing not just technical skills, but communication strengths, soft skills—you can actually hear that in the transcript,” Jen noted. This clarity helped recruiters avoid dead-end interviews and ensure better candidate fit before the first live conversation.
• Ending the Black Hole: Crucially, every single applicant now receives a response and a chance to showcase their potential, eliminating the frustrating "black hole" experience where resumes disappear without a word.

3. Unexpected Value: Strengthening Brand and Business Growth

‍By proactively integrating advanced AI, Hollstadt didn't just streamline operations—they solidified their reputation as a visionary, tech-savvy consulting firm.

• Thought Leadership: “Now we’re recognized as a true thought leader. Our clients see that we’re not just claiming to be technology-driven—we’re actively demonstrating it.”
• A Clear Differentiator: Voice AI became a competitive advantage. Hollstadt stood out in a crowded market by offering a modern, engaging, and candidate-first experience.
• Positive Brand Halo: Even candidates who didn’t move forward in the process shared positive feedback, viewing Hollstadt’s AI as a genuine tool that made the process smoother and more transparent.

The Takeaway

‍Hollstadt Consulting successfully leveraged Sense Voice AI to overcome the challenge of scale, turning a high-volume process into a high-touch experience. By empowering their AI bot, Sunny, to handle the heavy lifting, the recruiting team saved hundreds of hours, improved candidate sentiment to 82% positive, and reinforced their brand as a forward-thinking, people-centered leader in the consulting space.

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