What is recruitment sourcing and what is its purpose?
Recruitment sourcing defines all activities aimed at identifying and attracting potential talents for hiring opportunities.
The main goal of sourcing, whether for recruitment agencies or human resources teams, is tobuild a pool of qualified and motivated candidates to effectively meet the current and future recruitment needs of a company.
Sourcing aims tofind competent candidates suited for the roles to be filled, whether they are actively seeking employment or not.
Sourcing includes several methods and approaches, such as:
- Active search
- Direct approach
- Networking
- Referral and co-optation programs
Candidate sourcing is particularly used for high-demand roles. The profiles qualified by the recruitment agency or the researcher are not necessarily visible through traditional recruitment channels such as job ads. The recruiter's goal when sourcing is to find the best available talent for the company, to speed up the recruitment process, and to reduce the costs associated with searching for external candidates.
When does sourcing occur in a recruitment strategy?
Sourcing takes place upstream in a company's recruitment strategy. It occurs once recruitment needs are determined and the desired profiles are identified.
While defining the desired profiles should be done with utmost attention and in consultation with all stakeholders, sourcing is also a particularly important step in the recruitment strategy. It should not generate unsuitable applications and must ensure optimal management. The number of applications received or candidates selected is a key element to ensure a quality campaign, maintaining a good employer brand and optimal time savings.
Who is responsible for sourcing?
During a new recruitment campaign, the Human Resources Department (HRD) may decide that sourcing is done internally by HR teams (recruitment officer) or outsourced to recruitment agencies, independent recruiters, or headhunters.
What are the benefits of sourcing for recruiters?
Whether for recruitment agencies or HR teams, candidate sourcing offers several advantages that facilitate recruiters' work:
Access to a talent pool:Sourcing allows for buildinga database of qualified candidates which eases short and long-term recruitment. Recruiters can tap into this talent reserve to quickly fill vacant positions.
Identification of passive candidates:Sourcing allows discovering candidates who are not actively seeking a job but possess the desired skills. This broadens the pool of potential candidates and increases the chances of finding exceptional profiles.
Reduction of recruitment-related costs:By using sourcing, recruiters can reduce costs associated with paid job ads and external recruitment agencies. By directly finding potential candidates, the expenses related to the recruitment process decrease.
Improvement of candidate quality:Sourcing allows identifying qualified and motivated candidates who match the specific criteria of the roles to be filled. This reduces the time spent on interviews and evaluations by targeting only the most relevant candidates.
What are the sourcing methods and strategies?
There are different methods and strategies for sourcing to find potential candidates:
Internal sourcing:This involves looking for candidates within the company itself, identifying current employees who could be promoted or transferred to other positions.
External sourcing:This method involves looking for candidates outside of the company, using online platforms, professional social networks, job sites, specialized forums, job fairs, etc.
Direct approach:Also known as "headhunting," this strategy involves directly contacting potential candidates who meet the sought criteria, often using professional social networks or personal contacts.
Referral programs:Referral programs encourage existing employees to recommend qualified candidates for vacant positions. This leverages the company's internal network to find talent.
What tools are suitable for sourcing candidates?
Job aggregators:These tools collect job listings from various sources, making it easier to search for potential candidates on a single platform.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS):These recruitment tools allow storing, organizing, andtracking applications, simplifying the recruitment and sourcing process. They are available online (SAAS) and as installable software.
Professional networking platforms:Sites like LinkedIn offer advanced search features to find qualified candidates based on specific criteria.
Candidate tracking software:These softwarehelp manage the sourcing process by automating certain tasks and providing filtering and sorting features for applications.
There are many sourcing tools that facilitate the process of searching and identifying potential candidates.
Candidate sourcing is an essential practice for finding qualified and motivated candidates. Using appropriate sourcing methods and tools, recruiters can build a talent pool and improve their recruitment process while saving time and reducing costs.
Find our tips to optimize your sourcing:6 tips to optimize your sourcing strategy