AI
How I use AI, and what it means for you.
When a search needs a tool that doesn't exist yet, I build it myself, with AI, as fast as the search needs it.
Most technology recruiters use the tools they are given. I can build my own. I built this site and Oliver, the agent that answers for me here, and I bring tools I've built along the way into my searches.
For companies
Your search is ready sooner.
- AI helps me define the role and map the market for it, so the search plan comes together faster.
- If your role needs a tool of its own, I can build one for it.
- You get answers from me quickly.
- For technical roles, I ask candidates how they work with AI tools. I do that work myself with Claude Code, so I know what a good answer sounds like.
For candidates
More of my time goes to you.
- You hear from me faster.
- I come to our conversation prepared. I know the role and the market before I describe either one to you.
- My follow-up reaches everyone, which is the promise I already make.
What stays with meI read every résumé myself and I make every decision about a person. No AI screens, ranks or rejects anyone.
Built
I built this site.
I designed and built it directly with Claude Code, without a traditional development team.
MethodI built it with HALO, which my Trinzik co-founder and partner Bob Michaels came up with. It's how we work together: one person directing the AI, with a human approval at every gate and nothing running unattended. The decisions stay with a person, which is how I recruit too.
About HALO, created by Bob Michaels (opens in a new tab)Agent
Oliver speaks for me, and says so.
Oliver is the AI agent on this site. I designed and built it, with guardrails. It tells you plainly that it is an AI agent and that it isn't me. If you bring it something concrete, it writes me a summary and I follow up myself.
Writing
I write about what I learn.
Two essays cover how I went from hiring builders to building, and how I made this site readable to AI assistants.
Every kind of roleAI and deep-tech hiring is a strength of mine. It is one part of the practice, and I fill professional roles of every kind.
CoachingI also coach founders and operators without an engineering background through the shift I made myself, from evaluating builders to being one.
An invitation
If this is how you'd want to be treated, let's talk.
Tell me about the role you need to fill, or the move you're thinking about. You'll be talking with me, and you'll hear back from me afterward whatever we decide.
Thanks for reading this far.RikRik Avalos, Austin, Texas