> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.cutshort.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Sourcing: AI-Driven Candidate Discovery on Cutshort

> Understand how Cutshort's sourcing engine works — from AI-powered shortlisting to bulk outreach — and how to trigger sourcing workflows via the API.

Sourcing is Cutshort's core AI workflow that maps a job to the best-fit candidates and reaches out to them on your behalf. Through the API, you can trigger shortlist generation, review matched candidates, and send bulk invites — all without manual search.

## How sourcing works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Submit a job">
    You submit a job via the UI or API with a full description, required skills, and an experience range. The richer the detail, the more precisely the engine can match candidates.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Semantic analysis">
    Cutshort's **Role Matcher** semantically analyzes the job and searches the 4M+ candidate pool. It understands tech stack, seniority, domain, and company stage fit — not just keyword overlap.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Quality scoring">
    The **Quality Grader** scores each candidate match based on their accomplishments, career trajectory, and depth of fit for this specific role.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ranked shortlist returned">
    A ranked shortlist is returned — typically within minutes for active candidates. Each entry includes a match score and the reasons behind the ranking.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Invites sent">
    You — or the **Sourcing Assistant** acting on your behalf — sends invites to shortlisted candidates via WhatsApp and email.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Candidates enter the pipeline">
    Interested candidates respond and move into your hiring pipeline, ready for interviews or further screening.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Shortlists

A shortlist is a ranked list of candidates matched to a specific job. Each entry in a shortlist contains:

* The **candidate object** with profile data and quality score
* A **match score** indicating how well the candidate fits this particular role
* **Match reasons** — a human-readable explanation of why the candidate was surfaced (e.g., "5 years of React with fintech domain experience")

Request a shortlist programmatically with:

```http theme={null}
POST /v1/sourcing/shortlist
```

Pass the `job_id` in the request body. Cutshort will generate or refresh the shortlist asynchronously and return the ranked candidates.

***

## Sourcing Assistant

The **Sourcing Assistant** is an AI agent that automates the entire sourcing loop so your team doesn't have to manage it step by step. Once activated for a job, the Assistant:

1. Generates and continuously refreshes shortlists as new candidates join the pool
2. Sends personalised invites to matched candidates via WhatsApp and email
3. Screens initial responses to filter out candidates who don't meet baseline criteria
4. Surfaces only the candidates who passed initial screening to your hiring team

The Assistant runs continuously for as long as the job is in `active` status. You can review its activity, override decisions, and adjust invite cadence through the API or the Cutshort dashboard.

***

## Invites

An invite is an outreach message sent to a shortlisted candidate via WhatsApp and/or email. Invites include:

* The job title and a brief role summary
* Your company name and a short description
* A personalised call-to-action link for the candidate to signal interest or decline

Send invites programmatically to a list of candidate IDs with:

```http theme={null}
POST /v1/sourcing/invite
```

Pass the `job_id` and an array of `candidate_ids` in the request body. Cutshort dispatches the outreach messages and tracks delivery and response status for each candidate.

***

## Outreach channels

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="WhatsApp">
    **Delivery rate:** High — WhatsApp messages reach candidates directly on their primary device and are not filtered by spam folders.

    **Typical response time:** Most candidates who intend to respond do so within **24–48 hours** of receiving a WhatsApp invite.

    **When to use:** WhatsApp is the recommended primary channel for reaching Indian tech talent. It produces significantly higher open and response rates compared to email, particularly for `active` and `open` candidates who have opted in to job alerts.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Email">
    **Delivery rate:** Moderate — email deliverability depends on the candidate's inbox provider and spam filtering. Cutshort optimises send reputation to maximise inbox placement.

    **Typical response time:** Responses via email typically arrive within **48–72 hours**, though passive candidates (`open` status) may take longer.

    **When to use:** Email works well as a secondary channel or for roles targeting senior candidates who prefer asynchronous communication. Pair email outreach with WhatsApp for the highest combined response rate.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Rate limits on invites

<Note>
  Invite limits apply per job per day to protect candidate experience and maintain the quality signal of Cutshort's talent pool. Sending too many invites too quickly can lower response rates and affect your sender reputation on the platform.

  See the [Rate Limits](/api-reference/rate-limits) page for the exact limits that apply to your plan and how to handle `429 Too Many Requests` responses from the invite endpoint.
</Note>