“Less Admin, More Human”: JobAdder CEO Martin Herbst on Building AI-Powered Plans for Today’s Recruiters
CEO Magazine talks to Martin Herbst
Founded in Sydney and now used by over 27,000 recruiters worldwide, JobAdder is making waves in the UK recruitment scene with its recruiter-first design, seamless AI integration, and bold “Less Admin, More Human” philosophy. Backed by SEEK and led by CEO Martin Herbst, who has extensive experience scaling global tech businesses, JobAdder is on a mission to redefine what recruitment software can do—making it faster, smarter, and more strategic from day one.
Q. Can you start by giving us an overview of JobAdder and its journey?
JobAdder is a global recruitment platform designed to streamline the end-to-end hiring process for recruiters and HR teams. Founded in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, it was originally created to simplify the hiring process through a fully cloud-based system, well ahead of the curve, and quickly gained a reputation for its intuitive design and recruiter-first approach.
Acquired by SEEK, one of the world’s largest online employment marketplaces, JobAdder has evolved into a leading SaaS platform used by over 27,000 recruiters and talent professionals.
Today, JobAdder operates in key markets, including the U.K., U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Canada, serving both recruitment agencies and in-house HR teams. The platform supports permanent and temporary recruitment and continues to expand with a focus on automation, AI integration, and streamlining recruiter workflow.
Q. Can you tell us about your history and role at JobAdder?
Before joining JobAdder, my experience was in consumer-facing tech and startups, taking early-stage companies to profitability, including eBay and PayPal. What drew me to JobAdder was speaking to recruiters and hearing about how much they genuinely enjoyed using the platform—and let’s be honest, no one usually raves about recruitment software. That intrigued me.
Also, the fact that SEEK, a major player in the job market space, acquired the company was a huge advantage. They support us with a light-touch, collaborative approach that gives us the freedom to innovate.
My role as CEO is to take that strong foundation and scale it. I’m focused on accelerating our innovation in AI and automation, expanding our global reach, and helping recruiters spend less time on admin and more time on what really matters: building meaningful human connections.
Q. Let’s talk about the product itself. What tools does JobAdder offer?
JobAdder is a recruitment CRM and ATS designed to streamline the entire hiring journey, from sourcing and job posting to candidate management and client engagement. What makes it stand out is how seamlessly automation and AI are built into the workflow, enhancing productivity without getting in the way.
We were early pioneers in cloud-based recruitment tech, and today, we’re leading the charge with AI-driven tools that make a real difference, like intelligent candidate matching, automated shortlisting, personalised communications, and smart client summaries. Everything is designed to cut down admin and free recruiters to focus on what matters most: building relationships and making great hires.
Q. You recently launched new Recruiter Plans. Can you share more?
Recruitment agencies aren’t one-size-fits-all. A boutique startup doesn’t need the same tools as a multinational. So we designed Recruiter Plans—Light, Essential, and Pro—tailored to agencies at different stages of growth. Each plan offers increasing levels of AI-powered automation, insights, and customisation.
Alongside the plans, a new AI pipeline will deliver 10+ tools over the next year, easing repetitive work and integrating seamlessly into JobAdder’s user-friendly platform. JobAdder’s State of Recruitment Report 2025 shows that applications are up 42% year-over-year, addressing growing recruiter stress and the urgent need for smarter, scalable solutions.
Among the first tools to launch are:
· Smarter Talent Management: Our Candidate Database will feature CRM cleanup tools, intelligent matching, AI-powered summaries, and automated rejection and compliance emails—all designed to streamline recruiter workflows.
Additionally, by more effectively utilising existing databases for proactive sourcing (versus relying solely on ad channels), recruiters can unlock significant benefits, including lowering the cost to hire and accelerating time to place by 30% on average.
· Stronger Client Engagement: New business development–focused client check-in automation and opportunity outreach tools ensure timely, tailored follow-ups with clients.
· Global Enablement & Insights: From localised lead feeds and saved search folders to ANZ benchmark dashboards and in-product guidance via JAA, we’re delivering data-driven support tailored to each region.
We’re already seeing how this flexibility is helping small agencies grow faster and larger agencies become more agile.
Q. How are you using AI differently from others in the space?
AI is everywhere in recruitment right now, but what sets us apart is how seamlessly we integrate it. Instead of relying on separate chatbots or complex interfaces, we embed AI directly into the recruiter’s daily workflow, delivering smart recommendations and summaries right where they’re needed.
Over the next 10 months, we’re rolling out new AI features that do exactly that—from cleaning up CRMs and surfacing top candidates already in your database to generating polished, client-ready summaries—all within the tools recruiters already know and use.
Q. What inspired the “Less Admin, More Human” philosophy?
Recruitment is one of the most human professions—you’re guiding careers, shaping teams, and navigating emotional moments. But for too long, recruiters have been stuck in admin, spending 80% of their time on tasks that take them away from real connections. We want to flip that ratio.
“Less Admin, More Human” was inspired by listening to our users. They don’t want flashy tech—they want tools that quietly do the heavy lifting. Our mission is to give recruiters back their time so they can focus on what really counts: meaningful conversations, trusted relationships, and smarter hiring.
Q. You’ve been described as “the Apple of ATS” by clients. What do you think drives that kind of feedback?
That quote came from one of our agency customers, and it’s something we’re incredibly proud of. Being called “the Apple of ATS” speaks to the simplicity, usability, and thoughtful design of our platform—we obsess over every touchpoint, from onboarding to daily use.
At our core, we’re customer-first. We don’t build tech for the sake of innovation—we build to solve real problems recruiters face every day. Whether it’s reducing friction, boosting efficiency, or helping teams move faster, every feature is designed with purpose.
Q. Where do you see recruitment and JobAdder heading over the next few years?
Over the next two or three years, recruiters will increasingly adopt the role of strategic talent advisors—less focused on transactional tasks and more involved in workforce planning, employer branding, and long-term talent strategy. We expect a significant shift in agency investment, away from traditional job ads and toward tech stacks that drive competitive advantage and measurable impact. JobAdder is building for that future.
Q. And what can JobAdder customers expect from you—on day one and down the line?
From day one, JobAdder customers can expect a platform that lightens the load: intuitive, responsive, and built to help them work smarter, not harder. Whether sourcing top talent, managing pipelines or scaling a team, the experience is designed to boost productivity from the start.
Over time, that impact compounds: faster time-to-hire, better candidate matches, higher client satisfaction, and thousands of hours saved. We’re not just promising “less admin, more human”—we’re delivering measurable outcomes through intelligent, easy-to-use tech that grows with your business.
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