Finding the right talent is the priority of every organization. Creating a talent pipeline increases your chances of sourcing the best candidates for your organization. To do this, you require a strategy to target the right candidates and engage with them. A good strategy will boost the success and growth of the business. The key is to find a method that works for you. However, before we look at strategies for candidate sourcing, let us first look at what candidate sourcing means.

What is candidate sourcing?

Candidate sourcing can be seen as part of the talent acquisition process and is about finding the right people to work for your organization. Candidate sourcing requires you to be proactive, identify potential candidates, and engage with them. You will need to build relationships. The best candidate sourcing strategies will lead to a talent pipeline of candidates who can be considered for present and future openings in your company.

Candidate sourcing vastly differs from a conventional recruitment method which relies on candidates applying for open positions. Candidate sourcing is all about proactively seeking them out and engaging with them. While only 36% of the workforce is actively searching for new opportunities, about 90% of them will be open to talking and learning more. Such initiatives can reach passive candidates who would otherwise not know anything about your company.

Best Candidate sourcing strategies

These candidate-sourcing strategies will help you build a strong talent pipeline and enhance your recruitment efforts.

1. Collaborate Closely with Hiring Managers

The foundation of effective candidate sourcing starts with alignment between recruiters and hiring managers. Begin by conducting kickoff meetings to discuss the role’s requirements, such as skills and qualifications. Together, create a list of sourcing channels and relevant keywords for targeted searches. Hold regular communication throughout the recruitment process to ensure your sourcing strategies align with the hiring manager’s evolving expectations. A collaborative approach minimizes miscommunication and maximizes the chances of finding the right candidates.

2. Leverage Your Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Your ATS is a goldmine of potential talent. Revisit candidates who were previously shortlisted but not hired, as they may now fit well for open roles. Create a system to archive and tag candidates based on their skills and potential for future opportunities. This not only saves time but also ensures that past recruiting efforts continue to yield value. Combine this with a plan to reconnect with candidates, keeping them engaged and updated about your organization.

3. Expand Your Online Sourcing Channels

Most recruiters turn to their professional network or social media channels to find potential candidates. Identify and use unconventional channels and outreach methods to reach candidates. Look for websites that attract people from specific domains, like websites where engineers, tech talent, or people interested in a startup often visit. Sometimes, your own employees can be good resources for finding out which websites people with similar interests visit. Social media has some forums where it is possible to find a potential candidate and engage with them. It is important to find the right forum.

4. Tap your employee networks

Employee networks are a great starting point for candidate sourcing. Conduct a candidate sourcing session with your team, tell them about the open positions, and ask for referrals to fill the open roles. Employees can be good referrals to build your pipeline of people with backgrounds, skills, and interests similar to those already working for you. Connecting with potential employees through your employees is a surer way of reaching and building relationships with potential employees. This is because they respond better to someone they know rather than just a cold email or ping on social media.

5. Attend Industry Events and Host Networking Sessions

Offline methods are still a powerful way to source candidates. Attend industry-specific conferences, career fairs, and meetups to connect with professionals face-to-face. Better yet, host your own networking events to attract talent directly to your brand. In-person interactions build trust and make your organization more memorable. Don’t forget to follow up with attendees post-event to continue the conversation and nurture relationships.

6. Build a Proactive Talent Pipeline

Don’t wait for job openings to start sourcing. Adopt a proactive approach by building a talent pipeline for roles you’ll need to fill in the future. Create candidate personas to understand the traits and skills you’re looking for. Engage with potential candidates early, even if there isn’t an immediate role available. By nurturing these relationships, you’ll have a pool of pre-qualified nominees ready to step in when opportunities arise.

7. Perfect your messaging

Ensure that your messaging is candidate-focused. Focus on what information they would like to know. Ensure that your message is personalized and has relevant information for the potential candidate. Your message must have an interesting subject line that will make them want to open the email and read it. If it is a personal meeting, the impact could be better. Take the opportunity to talk about your organization, culture, and values. You could also talk about the role and how you think they can contribute to the organization. You will have to do this in a sharp and interesting manner without overloading too much information. Try to stick to essentials that will interest a potential employee.

8. Building a strong employer brand

A strong employer brand is a very effective tool to attract top talent. Candidates would consider leaving their present employment if they are offered opportunities to work with brands that have an excellent reputation. Use your website and social media to highlight feedback from your employees about the workplace and how they like it. This will generate goodwill and serve as a strong magnet for potential employees. Find ways to showcase the culture of your company to potential employees. These could be through photos, events, videos, or posts about your company on social media. Talk about the values of the company at every opportunity. This will attract people who share the same beliefs and will be a good fit for your team.

9. Follow Up Consistently

Persistence is vital in candidate sourcing. Don’t be discouraged if a candidate doesn’t respond to your initial outreach. Follow up with personalized messages, keeping the tone professional and respectful. Additionally, maintain contact with candidates who weren’t selected for previous roles but showed promise. Regular check-ins, such as sharing company updates or congratulating them on milestones, help keep your organization top of mind.

10. Utilize Advanced Recruitment Tools and Technologies

Modern recruitment tools can significantly enhance your candidate sourcing strategies. AI-powered platforms can help identify and engage with passive candidates. Additionally, predictive analytics can help you identify high-potential candidates based on data trends. Investing in the right tools ensures a more efficient and effective hiring process.

11. Mastering the Boolean Search Technique for Efficient Sourcing

Boolean search is a decisive tool for recruiters to refine candidate searches across job boards and networks. By using operators like AND, OR, and NOT, you can narrow your search to find candidates with specific skills. For example, “Java AND (Python OR Ruby) NOT JavaScript” filters out candidates with unwanted experience. This technique helps you quickly find the right candidates, saving time and improving sourcing efficiency.

How Xpheno Can Help You Find Top Talent

Partnering with Xpheno can revolutionize your recruitment process. Xpheno specializes in sourcing top talent across industries by leveraging cutting-edge tools and a vast network of professionals. Their expertise ensures you connect with highly qualified candidates quickly and efficiently. From building tailored recruitment strategies to tapping into passive talent pools, Xpheno’s approach aligns with your organization’s goals, helping you secure the right talent to drive business growth.

Creating a Sustainable Talent Pipeline for Long-Term Success

Focusing on creating a talent pipeline of qualified candidates who can fill future vacancies is the essence of candidate sourcing. This will not just save you time and resources but bring in people who are the right fit and qualified too. The key lies in finding newer talent pools, spreading the word, and engaging actively with potential employees.