Let’s face it—hiring in 2025 is a whirlwind. You’ve got Zoom calls flying, candidates coming in from three different time zones, and notes scattered across three sticky pads and four Slack messages. Whether you’re on the recruiting side or part of a hiring panel, it’s tough to really be there during interviews and still keep track of everything. That’s where the AI Note Taker steps in to calm the storm. These tools are doing more than just jotting down what people say; they’re changing how recruiters prep, listen, and collaborate.
So what’s the deal with note taking AI tools? Here’s the lowdown.
What Exactly Do These AI Note Taker Tools Do?
At the core, these platforms use speech-to-text tech and a little natural language magic to turn real-time convos or recordings into clean, searchable notes. But they don’t stop there. Most of them also:
- Pick up who’s speaking and label them.
- Create handy summaries and “next steps.”
- Let you dig through old convos with keywords.
- Translate in a bunch of languages.
- Sync with calendars, ATS platforms, and your usual meeting apps.
Originally built for meetings, they’re now pulling double duty in the recruiting world—and with good reason.
Why Recruiters Are Actually Loving These
From what I’ve seen and heard from hiring teams, here’s where these tools really shine:
1. You Get to Be Present.
Instead of scribbling furiously while a candidate speaks, recruiters can actually listen. The tool catches the words—you catch the nuance.
2. More Fair, Less Fuzzy.
With a transcript in hand, it’s easier to go back and check exactly what someone said—no guessing, no “I think they mentioned…” moments. It levels the playing field.
3. Sharing Is Caring (and Efficient).
Did your hiring manager miss the call? No worries. Just share the transcript and summary. Now everyone’s looped in without chasing recordings.
4. Speed Is the Name of the Game.
Nobody wants to spend their evening writing feedback emails. These tools give you a jumpstart with summaries and action items right out of the box.
5. Going Global Gets Easier.
Multilingual transcription? Yes, please. Notta, in particular, is a lifesaver when you’re interviewing folks from across the globe.
How They Stack Up: Otter vs Notta vs Bluedot
| Feature | Otter.ai | Notta.ai | BluedotHQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Use | Live note-taking | Multilingual meeting transcription | Interview-specific analysis |
| Languages | English (mostly) | 100+ languages | English |
| AI Summaries | Yes | Yes | Yes (and role-based) |
| Speaker ID | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Action Items | Yes | Yes | Yes (tied to job criteria) |
| Integrations | Zoom, Meet, Teams, Dropbox | Zoom, Webex, Meet, Teams | Greenhouse, Lever, calendars |
| Recruiting Features | More general-purpose | Great for global hiring | Built for structured interviews |
| Free Plan? | Yep | Yep | Chrome Extension |
| 🔗 Start Your Free Trial with Otter.ai—Capture Every Conversation | 🔗 Try Notta.ai Free—Transcribe Your Meetings in Seconds | 🔗 See What’s Possible with BluedotHQ—Get Started Now |
Quick take: If you’re deep in global recruiting, Notta is your buddy. Otter’s a solid all-rounder. But if you want structured scoring and insights tailored for interviews, Bluedot’s built for that.
How to Actually Use These in Real Interviews
These tools aren’t just shiny toys—they’re practical. But like any tech, they’re best used with a little thought. Here’s how recruiters are plugging them into their daily Video Interview flow:
- During interviews: Let the AI handle the note-taking so you can focus on connecting with the candidate. But—and this is key—make sure to give everyone a heads-up that the meeting is being transcribed. It’s not just polite, it’s fair. Nobody likes to be surprised by a bot quietly scribbling down every word.
- Afterward: Use the summaries to refresh your memory or loop in teammates who couldn’t join. Just remember—some of these tools (like Otter and Notta) can automatically send out summaries or transcripts. So if someone leaves the meeting early, be mindful of what gets said next. The AI doesn’t know how to keep secrets.
- When comparing candidates: Pull up transcripts, spot patterns, and flag standout answers. It’s way easier than going off vibes or half-remembered notes.
- For panel feedback: Share the transcripts or summaries instead of trying to recreate everything from memory. Everyone stays on the same page, literally.
- Hiring across borders: Notta’s real-time translation makes it feel like everyone’s speaking the same language, even if they’re not.
- Structured interviews: Tools like Bluedot tag specific skills and generate scorecards. It’s perfect for hiring teams that want to keep things consistent and data-driven.
Wrapping It Up
Honestly? Note taking AI tools are becoming non-negotiable – as every aspect of AI in Recruitment – if you’re in recruiting. They help you move quicker, stay focused, and bring clarity to decisions—without drowning in post-interview admin work.
And hey, transparency matters. If a robot’s taking notes, everyone should know. Set expectations early, be thoughtful about what gets shared, and use these tools to make hiring smoother for everyone involved.
