Instant Expert vs SeekOut: check which plan searches your old applicants

Instant Expert vs SeekOut is a choice between a sourcing platform and a paid introduction. Choose SeekOut for repeatable candidate sourcing and recruiting campaigns. Choose Instant Expert when you want to pay selected people for an introduction.

The SeekOut buying detail that matters is ATS export versus ATS rediscovery. Sending a profile into your recruiting system differs from searching the candidates already stored there.

SeekOut's Core plan exports; rediscovery sits higher up

SeekOut's pricing page lists Recruit Core at $179 billed monthly, or $149 per month paid annually upfront ($1,788 a year). Core includes 500 monthly contact credits, 1,000 monthly exports and multi-step email campaigns.

ATS export is included in Core. ATS integration and rediscovery appear in the custom-priced Sourcing + Integration package and above. If past applicants are why you are buying, have that package demonstrated and quoted.

Instant Expert finds people or imports known contacts, then sends a paid call or reply request priced per person. A contact credit buys a different thing from an offer to pay someone for their time.

Test rediscovery with a past finalist

Here is a made-up example. You rejected an analyst because the job needed substantial infrastructure work. Six months later, a new opening is mostly SQL modelling and finance collaboration, and they may now fit.

Start the SeekOut demo with the new job, some permitted historical records, one former finalist worth another look and one who still lacks an essential skill. Ask the vendor to show:

• How the search finds those people alongside external candidates.
• How you can see why each person did not advance last time.
• How the recruiter identifies the current candidate record.
• What context is available before sending a new message.

Rediscovery earns its price by remembering why someone is worth another look. Finding the same name twice is the easy part.

Offer the finalist a paid conversation about what changed

If you already know whom you want to approach, import selected contacts into Instant Expert using email address, LinkedIn URL, or name and company.

For a past finalist, a message might say:

We spoke about an infrastructure-heavy role earlier this year. This opening focuses on analytics modelling and working with finance. Would you consider a paid 15-minute call about the new scope?

Add the responsibilities, working arrangement and salary range, and say what changed. (They remember the earlier conversation.) For someone new, name the background that prompted your invitation.

A short paid reply can ask the same question; the recipient chooses text or voice. Either way, acceptance covers the exchange, not a commitment to apply.

Start with SeekOut when a recruiting team needs ongoing sourcing or access to past applicants. Start with the invitation when you already know the people.