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Bullhorn Data Fundamentals

Primary Data, Secondary Data, and Data Quality Management for Bullhorn

CIQ Data Success Team
March 8, 2025

Understanding the differences between primary data, secondary data, and data quality management is essential for maintaining an accurate and actionable database in Bullhorn. Effective management of these data types ensures that recruiters and AI have complete and reliable profiles to work with.

What Is Primary Data?

Primary data refers to information that is directly collected from original sources, such as resumes uploaded by candidates, job applications, or recruiter notes in Bullhorn. While primary data is often directly from the candidate, it can sometimes lack important information needed for a complete profile.

Examples of Primary Data:

  • Candidate resumes and cover letters.
  • Interview notes taken by recruiters.
  • Job applications submitted directly to Bullhorn.
What Is Secondary Data?

Secondary data refers to information that is gathered from external sources, such as data enrichment services, public profiles, and third-party integrations. Secondary data is valuable for filling in gaps left by primary data, providing a more comprehensive view of each candidate.

Examples of Secondary Data:

  • Data from LinkedIn profiles or other public sources.
  • Information enriched through third-party services.
  • Historical data migrated from previous systems.
Why Both Primary and Secondary Data Matter
  1. Completeness: Secondary data helps fill in missing details such as updated job titles, contact information, and skills, creating a more complete candidate profile.
  2. Enhanced Search and Matching: A combination of primary and secondary data allows recruiters and AI to find better matches by leveraging a fuller set of information.
  3. Improved Decision-Making: Having both direct candidate input and enriched external data enables recruiters to make more informed decisions.
What Is Data Quality Management?

Data quality management (DQM) is the process of maintaining high standards for data accuracy, consistency, and completeness in Bullhorn. It involves data cleansing, normalization, validation, and enrichment to ensure that both primary and secondary data are reliable and actionable.

Key Components of Data Quality Management:

  1. Data Validation: Verifying accuracy of phone numbers, emails, and other contact details.
  2. Data Cleansing: Removing duplicates and outdated information.
  3. Data Normalization: Standardizing data formats for consistency.
  4. Field Mapping: Ensuring data is accurately captured in the correct fields.
  5. Continuous Monitoring: Regular audits to maintain data quality over time.
Benefits of Data Quality Management
  1. Improved Search Accuracy: Ensures reliable data for precise candidate searches.
  2. Enhanced Reporting: Facilitates accurate and comprehensive reports.
  3. Operational Efficiency: Reduces manual data entry and corrections.

Effectively managing both primary and secondary data through robust data quality management practices ensures a clean, reliable, and actionable Bullhorn database.