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Clockwork Recruiting vs Firefish

Clockwork vs Firefish: Features & Benefits Comparison

Which tool is the Right Choice?

Quick Summary

Clockwork Recruiting and Firefish are both web-based recruitment software platforms aimed at boosting the efficiency of the hiring process. Clockwork Recruiting provides executive search software for retained search firms, in-house teams, and investors, enabling them to manage projects, collaborate with clients, and streamline workflows.

Firefish, on the other hand, is a recruitment CRM that accelerates profitable growth by promoting a CRM-first strategy. It increases revenue per recruiter through an enriched and engaged database, admin automation, and increased recruiter engagement. Both platforms are designed to support various devices, including desktops and mobiles. They also offer flexibility for recruitment professionals. User reviews show that Clockwork Recruiting has an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5, while Firefish boasts a slightly higher rating of 4.6 out of 5, reflecting varying levels of user satisfaction.

We will also look at iSmartRecruit, a cost-effective recruitment software designed to suit the requirements of agencies and small to medium-sized businesses.

Metrics Comparison of Clockwork Recruiting vs Firefish

Clockwork Recruiting
Clockwork Recruiting
Firefish
Firefish
iSmartRecruit
iSmartRecruit
Pricing Starts From

$149

£80

-

Free Trial

Yes

No

Yes

Best For Retained search firms, in-house executive recruiting, and institutional investors Recruitment agencies of all sizes Corporate HRs, Mass recruiters, Hiring managers, Employment and recruiting agencies, Executive search firms, Staffing firms, Small businesses and startups
Help Videos Yes Yes Yes
New Release/Updates Monthly Monthly Monthly
Trustpilot Score - 3.3 4
Software Suggest Score 0 0 4.7
SaaSWorthy Score - 4.7 4.6
Capterra - Ease of Use 4.3 4.6 4.5
Capterra - Customer Service 4.3 4.7 4.7
Capterra - Features 4.1 4.3 4.6
Capterra - Value for Money 4.3 4.6 4.6
Mobile Application No Yes Yes
Capterra Rating
G2 Rating
Clockwork Recruiting

Pricing Starts From $149

Free Trial: Yes

Ease of Use: 4.3

Customer Service: 4.3

Features: 4.1

Value for Money: 4.3

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating:

Firefish

Pricing Starts From £80

Free Trial: No

Ease of Use: 4.6

Customer Service: 4.7

Features: 4.3

Value for Money: 4.6

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating:

iSmartRecruit

Pricing Starts From -

Free Trial: YES

Ease of Use: 4.5

Customer Service: 4.7

Features: 4.6

Value for Money: 4.6

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating:

Overview of Clockwork Recruiting

Clockwork Recruiting, launched in 2010 and based in Oakland, California, is a niche software-as-a-service company. They're all about making the process of finding top execs and handling in-house recruitment smoother for specialised executive search firms and internal recruiting teams.

Their platform brings together a bunch of tools designed to make executive recruitment easier. Think of it as a one-stop shop for client management, keeping tabs on projects, and generating reports. All of these features make it simple for executive search pros to work hand-in-hand with their clients.

Clockwork Recruiting's software covers the entire exec search journey, from drumming up business to placing the right candidate. It's got a recruiting CRM, client collaboration portals, and tools to boost business development, giving firms a helping hand with workflows both before and after a sale.

The platform prioritises keeping clients actively engaged and well-informed throughout the search process by offering collaborative tools. It achieves this by sharing search strategies, longlists, and scorecards, enhancing transparency and ensuring client buy-in.

Furthermore, Clockwork Recruiting equips firms with real-time, automated reporting tools, enabling them to generate custom reports. This keeps clients abreast of progress and bolsters their confidence in the search process.

By bringing all these features together on a single platform, Clockwork Recruiting strives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of executive search projects. This ultimately leads to stronger client relationships and successful candidate placements.

pros

PROS

cons

Highly recommended for retained search firms as a robust project tracking solution.

cons

Offers a competitive edge and ensures organized, on-track searches.

cons

Reporting and past search insights provide valuable inspiration.

cons

Excellent service and support enhance the user experience.

cons

Smooth purchasing process with responsive and helpful staff.

cons

Overall user experience is seamless and satisfactory.

cons

Users anticipate continued benefits from the software's growth.


Verified User in Management Consulting

"Pretty good, but needs work"
It’s aesthetically pleasing and intelligently-designed. It has made it far easier to keep track of candidates

Verified G2 Review

pros

CONS

cons

Switching between projects is difficult for users and clients.

cons

Tagging and merging lists are inefficient despite admin support.

cons

Lack of LinkedIn Recruiter integration hampers recruiting workflows.

cons

Poor search functionality discourages feature use.

cons

Updates sometimes remove essential features like dual-tag searches.

cons

Incompatibility with Outlook 365 creates scheduling challenges.

cons

These issues significantly impact usability and efficiency.


Jason W.

"Decent concept, pretty basic software, and deceptive sales practices. Beware!"
They don't care about taking advantage of small businesses. I asked to cancel my account before my new contract date, and they showed me some fine print that said my contract automatically renew for two years when I renew the previous year. And then tried giving me flack for not giving them 90 days notice even though I logged into the platform once in the last year. None of this was ever mentioned in the sales call. All they said it would require a two-year contract but nothing about being committed to two more years every time 365 days passes.

Verified G2 Review

Overview of Firefish

Firefish Software was established in 2010 and is headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland.

This company is all about creating SaaS tools for the recruitment and marketing world, helping recruiters connect with, engage, and ultimately hire the best candidates out there.

Their core product is a robust Recruitment Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, bringing together different parts of the recruitment process into one easy-to-use platform. This system shines with features like an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that makes hiring smoother, AI-powered automation tools that boost efficiency, and smart analytics that help make decisions based on real data.

Additionally, Firefish provides integrated communication tools, such as two-way email and SMS tracking, to facilitate seamless interactions between recruiters and candidates.

The platform offers a comprehensive Recruitment Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that integrates various recruitment activities into a single, unified interface. Key features include an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that streamlines the hiring process, AI-powered automation tools to enhance efficiency, and advanced analytics for data-driven decision-making.

Firefish supports recruitment agencies of all sizes, ranging from startups to large corporations, across a multitude of sectors. Agencies in over 25 countries rely on its services, which help them refine their recruitment processes, boost candidate engagement, and achieve substantial growth.

By prioritising data within recruitment operations, Firefish equips agencies to make well-informed decisions and stay ahead in the competitive recruitment landscape.

pros

PROS

cons

Firefish is user-friendly, with an intuitive workflow and uncluttered dashboard.

cons

The software is fast, reliable, and ideal for recruitment tasks.

cons

Exceptional customer support is responsive, courteous, and highly effective.

cons

Easy training makes it suitable for new team members and start-ups.

cons

It consistently delivers value, positively impacting businesses quickly.

cons

Highly recommended for its usability, support, and overall functionality.


Rachel F.

"Brilliant!"
Firefish is an amazing system, it is perfect for my business needs, it can be altered to support my business specifically plus the customer service is unbelievable

Verified G2 Review

pros

CONS

cons

CVs cannot be viewed during calls without downloading.

cons

Global dropdowns lack customization options.

cons

Adding a role requires entering a contact before the company.

cons

Temp side initially supports only day rates, not hourly rates.

cons

User removal is frustrating and time-consuming.

cons

Initial learning curve can be challenging.

cons

Retainer input process needs improvement.


Thea B.

"AVOID AT ALL COSTS"
AVOID. Pretend to be a small business that cares for small businesses, but are the total opposite and are currently hiding behind contracts when i've asked for help. System still not fully operational after a month - not worth the migration costs to move from other suppliers with. Am now left in an even worse position than when I was with the dumpster fire that is Vincere/Access, which I didn't think was even possible. Broken process where each department is seperate, zero account management once signed up. AVOID AVOID AVOID.

Verified Capterra Review

Features Comparison

Clockwork Recruiting
Clockwork Recruiting
Firefish
Firefish
iSmartRecruit
iSmartRecruit
API
Activity Dashboard
Activity Tracking
Alerts/Notifications
Applicant Tracking
Application Management
Approval Workflow
Assessment Management
Billing & Invoicing
Boolean Search
Built-in ATS
CRM
Calendar Management
Campaign Analytics
Campaign Management
Candidate Management
Candidate Profiles
Candidate Sourcing
Candidate Tracking
Careers Page
Chatbot
Collaboration Tools
Commenting/Notes
Compliance Management
Compliance Tracking
Configurable Workflow
Contact Database
Content Management
Customisable Branding
Customisable Forms
Customisable Reports
Customisable Templates
Data Import/Export
Document Management
Electronic Signature
Email Management
Email Marketing
Email Templates
Employee Database
Employee Onboarding
Employee Referral Management
For Recruiting Agencies
For Small Businesses
For Staffing Agencies
Full Text Search
HR Management
Internal Chat Integration
Internal HR
Interview Management
Interview Scheduling
Job Application Management
Job Board Software
Job Management
Job Posting
Job Requisition
Job Tracking
Lead Management
Marketing Automation
Matching Engine
Mobile Access
Multi-Channel Marketing
Onboarding
Pipeline Management
Pipeline Reports
Question Library
Real-Time Analytics
Real-Time Reporting
Recruiting Firms
Recruitment Management
Reference Checking
Reminders
Reporting & Statistics
Reporting/Analytics
Resume Database
Resume Parsing
Resume Search
Resume Storage
SMS Messaging
Scoring
Search/Filter
Self Service Portal
Skills Assessment
Social Media Integration
Social Recruiting
Status Tracking
Tagging
Talent Acquisition
Talent Pool
Task Management
Temporary Staffing
Third-Party Integrations
Workflow Management

Why iSmartRecruit is Best?

iSmartRecruit is a highly adaptable recruitment software that's geared towards making the hiring process smoother for staffing companies, recruitment agencies, and executive search experts. It uses AI to parse resumes, which cuts down on manual tasks and makes managing candidate data much easier. With support for more than 14 languages, it's a great fit for teams that operate on a global scale.

The software lets Organisations create recruitment pipelines that match their unique workflows. It also integrates with job boards and offers a candidate relationship management (CRM) system, which helps to source candidates more effectively and build stronger relationships with both clients and applicants. Plus, its reporting and analytics tools provide valuable insights to help make decisions based on data.

iSmartRecruit is known for its user-friendly interface that ensures quick adoption without the need for extensive training. Its affordability and scalability make it a practical choice for Organisations of all sizes. For agencies seeking a reliable, feature-rich, and cost-effective alternative to platforms like Clockwork Recruiting and Firefish, iSmartRecruit offers a comprehensive and user-friendly solution.

Our Client Testimonial Speaks Louder Than Words!

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Conclusion

Clockwork Recruiting and Firefish both offer strong recruiting tools, but they cater to slightly different needs. Clockwork Recruiting has a really complete platform that's especially good for executive search firms looking to make their search process smoother and work better with their clients.

On the other side, Firefish's recruitment CRM helps agencies grow faster and be more profitable by focusing on a "CRM-first" approach and getting recruiters more involved.

And for agencies and small to medium-sized businesses looking for a recruiting solution that won't break the bank but still packs a punch, iSmartRecruit is a great option. It's got some advanced features, supports multiple languages, and is super easy to use.