What is AI Screening?
AI Screening replaces manual resume review and recruiter phone screens with structured, AI-led screening conversations. Instead of scheduling calls, candidates complete a 15 to 20 minute AI interview on their own schedule.
Sam evaluates candidate responses consistently against your criteria and delivers decision-ready results directly in your Recruit workflow, including:
AI-generated summaries
Competency scores
Role requirement responses
Full transcripts
Sam doesn't replace recruiters. It removes the bottleneck at the top of the funnel so your team can spend time on the candidates who matter most.
Who has access?
AI Screening with Sam is available to all SeekOut Recruit customers starting February 18, 2026. It is free to use through April 30, 2026 as part of the Early Access program.
If you are not a Recruit customer, you can request access via the Sam Marketing Page by clicking Request Access / Join Early Access. Access for non-Recruit customers is managed by the SeekOut product team.
Key benefits
50 to 70% faster than traditional recruiter phone screens
2 to 3x more candidates screened with the same recruiter capacity
40% less review time using AI summaries and transcripts instead of live calls
100% consistent experience for every candidate
~60% of candidates prefer AI screening for its scheduling flexibility and reduced pressure
Ways to use Sam
Sam works across two common hiring workflows.
Option 1: Recommended for teams with Applicant Review
Best for inbound-heavy hiring teams using SeekOut Applicant Review in Recruit.
Sam integrates directly into the Applicant Review feature. Set up your interview once in Sam, and whenever a recruiter moves a candidate to the AI Screen stage, an automated email with the Sam interview link is sent to the candidate. Results including scores, summaries, and transcripts flow back into SeekOut for review and advancement decisions.
Option 2: Sourced Candidates
Best for high-volume sourcing teams using SeekOut Spot or Recruit sourcing.
For customers without the Applicant Review add-on, Sam can be used by creating Jobs in Sam, setting up an interview, and including the screening link in your Outreach campaign. Source candidates in Spot or Recruit, send an AI interview, then review signal before outreach. This ensures you only invest recruiter time on qualified, interested candidates.
Where to find Sam
Sam can be accessed at any time from the SeekOut toolbar. Look for the Sam icon labeled Early Access.
If you are using Sam with Applicant Review on a qualifying workspace, Sam can also be launched directly from the Workspace Applicant Review tab using the Launch Sam button.
Setting up Sam: Step-by-step
Setup takes approximately 5 minutes per job.
Step 1: Create a job in Sam
Navigate to the Sam platform and click + Create Job.
Enter the job title, location, and job description.
Note: If you have access to Applicant Review, you can select from any of your Active Jobs instead. Select the desired job and skip to Step 2.
Step 2: Create the interview
After the job is created, click + Create Interview. You will configure the interview across four phases.
Phase 1: Interview Details
Interview Name - Give the interview a clear, recognizable name (e.g., "Initial Screening").
Upload Resume - Choose whether resume upload is optional, required, or not requested.
Phase 2: Interview Questions
Add 3 to 5 open-ended assessment questions tailored to the role. For example: "Tell me about your experience managing revenue month-end close."
Sam will auto-generate questions based on your job description. You can keep, edit, reorder, or delete any of the suggested questions.
Phase 3: Role Requirements
Add 3 to 5 Yes/No questions to validate hard requirements at a glance, such as location, salary range, work arrangement, and visa sponsorship. Optional follow-up questions can be added for both Yes and No responses.
Phase 4: Interview Options
Choose how candidates will complete the interview. Options include:
AI Interview (recommended) - Sam conducts a voice-led interview. Select from six voice personalities to match your brand tone.
Written Assessment - Candidates respond to questions in writing with AI-assisted suggestions.
Live Interview Scheduling - Allows candidates to request a live screen with a recruiter.
Step 3: Generate an interview link
Review the interview summary and click Invite Candidates to generate a unique link for the role. You can copy the link directly or copy a pre-written email message to send to candidates.
Step 4: Include the link in your Outreach campaigns
Add the Sam interview link to your Outreach campaigns for the related job. Candidates who receive outreach can complete their screening interview on their own time before you invest further recruiter effort.
Step 5: Review results
After candidates complete their interviews, results appear in the Sam dashboard. Plan to review results on a regular cadence, daily or weekly, to keep your pipeline moving.
What is included in each candidate result:
AI Summary (Takeaway) - A concise overview of the candidate's overall fit, communication style, and standout qualities.
Competency Scores - Structured scoring across: Communication and Clarity, Ownership and Accountability, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making, Collaboration and Team Orientation, and Role-Specific Attributes.
Role Requirements - A quick Yes/No reference showing whether the candidate meets each of your hard criteria.
Video and Transcript - Full recordings and transcripts of every response. Using AI takeaways instead of rewatching full videos saves approximately 40% of review time.
Top Pick Flag - Sam automatically highlights the highest-performing candidates in your queue.
Step 6: Take action
From the results view, you can Advance or Reject candidates directly. The dashboard organizes candidates into four views: Unreviewed, Advanced, Rejected, and All.
Frequently asked questions
How long does setup take? Approximately 5 minutes per job to configure. Once live, plan to review results and make advancement decisions on a regular cadence.
What competencies does Sam evaluate? Sam scores candidates across Communication and Clarity, Ownership and Accountability, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making, Collaboration and Team Orientation, and any role-specific attributes you define during setup.
Is the candidate experience good? Candidate feedback has been consistently positive. Common themes include appreciation for scheduling flexibility, reduced pressure compared to live screens, and accurate voice recognition across accents and speaking styles.
What happens after Early Access ends on April 30? Pricing transitions to approximately $2 per completed interview. Contact your Customer Success Manager for enterprise pricing options.
I'm not a Recruit customer. Can I still use Sam? Yes. Request access via the Sam Marketing Page using the Request Access / Join Early Access button.