What is a Talent Sourcing Specialist?

You know the drill. The business team gives you a long list of roles and guess what, they need it all filled yesterday. You go on the internet, on LinkedIn, scouting for profiles, but to no avail. 

While you’re struggling to fill the position with the most competent you can get with the resources you have, some recruiters tend to never run dry of top-notch candidates and fill positions at lightning speed. 

Well, of course, you’ve thought to steal their secret techniques. We’ve all been there. 

But, worry not, we’ve laid out the best-kept secrets of talent sourcing specialists, for you to understand areas where you may be going wrong, and what are the hot, cost-efficient, yet most effective techniques to create an infinite candidate pool that keeps on giving amazing talent for your company. 

What Do The Best Talent Sourcing Specialists Do?

Those who get high-potential candidates right off the market play the long game. Sadly, there’s no one secret weapon they wield to get the biggest fish. 

It all boils down to their constant nurturing, getting nose-deep in the talent market, knowing what’s trending in their industry, laying the groundwork and creating a robust candidate pool. Despite this bird’s eye view, we’ve broken down what goes into making a great talent-sourcing specialist. 

They are Master Matchmakers

A talent sourcing specialist is like a skilled matchmaker, connecting the right candidates with the perfect job opportunities. They have an exceptional ability to understand the needs and aspirations of both hiring managers and candidates, ensuring a seamless match is made. 

It's about finding the cultural fit, the passion, and the growth potential. The best sourcing specialists excel at making these connections and creating long-lasting relationships. They don’t just rely on gut feeling. They collect cues from every touchpoint with the candidate and gauge their suitability to their company. 

They Harness the Power of Research

The best sourcing specialists are relentless investigators. They dive deep into industries, companies, and job markets to gather valuable insights. Armed with this knowledge, they can identify emerging trends, anticipate talent demands, and make data-driven decisions. 

They explore various resources, scout social media, attend industry events, and build extensive networks to stay at the forefront of their game. In short, they are perpetual learners, always seeking to expand their knowledge. 

They Embrace Technology and Innovation

This goes without saying. Most hiring processes nowadays take place with an AI tool or many at hand. Recruiters utilize innovative tools to streamline their work. They try to leverage advanced applicant tracking systems, sourcing platforms, and automation tools to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. 

By staying up-to-date with the latest technological trends, they ensure they are equipped with the best resources to identify, engage, and attract top talent.

But, sadly, not all recruiters are successful with the tools they select. Researchers say that 65% of organizations use multiple tools for recruitment, with most of them being disconnected from one another. 

This leads to recruiters manually filling data from one tool to another, or copy-pasting from spreadsheets, which defeats the purpose of buying a tool in the first place – it scatters and prolongs your hiring process even more. 

But, what if you had an intelligent all-in-one system that can single-handedly take care of your entire hiring – from cold and warm outreach, sourcing, laser-sharp screening, candidate engagement, candidate pool workflow management, team collaboration etc? 

One single tool that can give you pristinely accurate data in no time and help you make faster, well-informed hiring decisions that can make millions for you. Hire Quotient is the one you need now and for the future.

They Are Storytellers

Behind every exceptional candidate is a compelling story waiting to be shared. The best sourcing specialists know how to capture these stories and showcase them to the world. Through skilful storytelling, they highlight the unique experiences, achievements, and potential of candidates. 

They craft enticing job descriptions, captivating employer branding materials, and engaging social media campaigns. By effectively narrating these stories, they entice talent and leave a lasting impact. 

They Cultivate Meaningful Relationships

Building strong relationships is at the core of what the best sourcing specialists do. They understand that talent sourcing goes beyond a transactional process; it's about nurturing connections. They actively engage with passive candidates, industry influencers, and potential future team members. 

By investing time in cultivating meaningful relationships, they create a network of trust and loyalty. These relationships become invaluable assets in their talent acquisition journey.

They Think Outside the Box

In a competitive talent landscape, creativity is key. The best sourcing specialists think outside the box to discover new avenues for talent acquisition. They tap into unconventional sources, explore untapped talent pools, and experiment with alternative strategies. 

By embracing innovative approaches, they can uncover hidden gems that others might overlook. They dare to challenge the status quo and bring fresh perspectives to the table.

What Does Good Sourcing Do For the Company?

Why go through all this trouble, you ask? Well, the answer lies in the quality of hires you will get once you rev up your sourcing game. 

Lower Training Cost

When you tap into a talent pool of highly skilled candidates through effective sourcing, you gain access to a vast ocean of specialized knowledge. 

This expertise is invaluable, as it eliminates the need for extensive training and reduces the time required for individuals to become subject matter experts. 

Reduces Time Taken to Contribute Effectively 

Did you know that 60% of recruiters find it incredibly hard to find someone who is competent, has the required skills, knows exactly what your business wants, can deliver the best quality output and exceed your expectations? 

Imagine welcoming a new team member who already has a deep understanding of their role, the company, and its values and is fully equipped with everything they need to perform their best. 

Thanks to sourcing, this dream scenario can become a reality. By proactively sourcing candidates, you can identify individuals who have a track record of success in similar roles or industries. 

These candidates often require less time to get up to speed, allowing them to hit the ground running and contribute effectively from day one.

Helps in Hiring a Growth-Focused Workforce

Sourcing doesn't stop at hiring experienced professionals. It can also be a powerful tool for identifying and attracting talented individuals who show great potential but may lack extensive experience. 

By investing in these promising candidates and providing them with targeted training and mentorship, you can fast-track their development. 

This approach reduces the time taken for them to become fully productive, while also nurturing a loyal and dedicated workforce.

Onboarding, Acclimatising Made Easier

Time is a precious resource, and efficient sourcing helps you optimize it. By sourcing candidates who have relevant experience and a deep understanding of the industry, you can significantly reduce the onboarding time. 

These individuals can quickly grasp the nuances of their new roles, familiarize themselves with existing processes, and seamlessly integrate into the team, thus accelerating their contributions.

Higher Retention

Imagine the impact of working with a team of passionate and engaged individuals. 

By sourcing candidates who are genuinely interested in your organization's mission and values, you create an environment where people are driven to excel. 

Motivated employees are more likely to invest their time and energy into their work, resulting in quicker and more impactful contributions. 

Studies say that 70% of recruiters need to backfill to replace workers who left shortly after joining. When you look out and bring people who are ready to build with you long-term, you increase retention. 

Enriches Diversity

By adopting a purposeful sourcing approach, you actively seek out candidates from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This intentional effort allows you to tap into a rich pool of talent, bringing fresh ideas and unique viewpoints to the table.

It breaks down those barriers by actively challenging unconscious biases and broadening the scope of candidate selection. It ensures that individuals from underrepresented groups are given equal opportunities to showcase their skills and expertise.

By highlighting diversity and inclusion as core values, you send a powerful message to potential candidates that your organization is committed to fostering a welcoming and equitable work environment. 

This builds trust, strengthens your reputation, and positions your company as an employer of choice for diverse talent.

Diversity fuels creativity and innovation,  leading to more robust problem-solving, improved decision quality, and innovative breakthroughs that drive business success.

Straight from the Toolbox – Steps to Revive Your Sourcing Game

We’ve talked about the big game, let’s get into the nitty-gritty now. Take notes, we’re going to go step by step to change your sourcing game. 

Assessing Your Current Strategy

First things first, let's take a step back and evaluate your existing sourcing strategy. What's working well? What needs improvement? Take a closer look at your sourcing channels, candidate engagement methods, and overall effectiveness.

Are you leveraging job boards, social media platforms, or professional networks? Consider the effectiveness of each channel in terms of the quantity and quality of candidates they generate. Are you reaching your target audience effectively?

Next, analyze your messaging. Are your job descriptions clear, engaging, and appealing to potential candidates? Put yourself in their shoes and assess if the information you provide accurately represents your company culture, values, and the role itself. Remember, candidates are attracted to organizations that can showcase their unique employer brand!

It's also essential to assess the efficiency of your sourcing process. How long does it take from the initial search to finding qualified candidates? Are there any bottlenecks or delays in the process that could be streamlined? 

Look for opportunities to automate repetitive tasks or integrate technology that can enhance your efficiency and save time.

Setting Clear Goals: Where Do You Want to Go?

Revamping your sourcing strategy without a clear destination is like driving without a map. Define your goals and align them with your organization's objectives. Are you looking to increase the quality of candidates? Improve time-to-hire? Enhance diversity and inclusion efforts. 

Once you have a clear vision, you can tailor your strategy to achieve those goals.

To further enhance your sourcing goals, consider incorporating metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). These will provide you with quantifiable data to evaluate your progress and make data-driven decisions. 

Examples of sourcing KPIs could be the number of qualified candidates identified, conversion rates from initial contact to interviews, or time-to-fill metrics. Regularly reviewing these metrics will help you stay on track and make necessary adjustments to optimize your sourcing efforts.

Additionally, don't forget the power of collaboration. Engage with hiring managers, recruiters, and other stakeholders to align your sourcing goals with their expectations. By understanding their needs and incorporating their input, you'll enhance the chances of success and foster a stronger working relationship with the wider team.

Get to Know Your Ideal Candidate: Be the Sherlock Holmes of Talent Sourcing

To attract the best talent, you need to understand who you're searching for. 

Dive deep into the job requirements and consult with hiring managers to create a detailed candidate persona. What skills, experience, and attributes are crucial? Where do they hang out online?

Start by creating a detailed profile of the candidate you envision. Consider factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, and cultural fit. This will serve as your roadmap for understanding and connecting with them.

Don't limit yourself to active job seekers. Many talented individuals are not actively looking for new opportunities but may be open to considering them. Engage with them through networking events, online communities, or professional platforms to understand their career goals and motivations.

Social media platforms provide a treasure trove of information about potential candidates. Follow them on professional platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or relevant industry forums. Engage with their content, share valuable insights, and start conversations to gain a deeper understanding of their perspectives and expertise.

Embrace Technology: Tap into the Power of AI and Automation

Leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and automation tools to streamline your sourcing process. Use AI-powered resume screening to save time and identify the most qualified candidates. Explore applicant tracking systems (ATS) that help manage candidate pipelines and provide valuable data insights. 

Let technology do the heavy lifting so you can focus on building relationships. Almost 49% of companies across the globe will invest in people analytics, or data-driven recruitment software in the next 2 years.

Be one of the firsts and get Hire Quotient to simplify your hiring for you. 

Think Beyond Traditional Channels: Go Where the Talent Is

think outside the box and explore non-traditional channels. Engage with talent communities on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook groups, and industry-specific forums. Attend virtual and in-person events to network with potential candidates. 

Be proactive and go where the talent is!

LinkedIn is an amazing place to build credibility as a recruiter, make a name for your brand, nurture connections with the cream layer of candidates, aka the miracle workers for your industry, and create an evergreen candidate pool. This works well only with personalization.

Every candidate wants to be valued, respected and feel special. Personalized outreach, follow-up and nurturing, however, are not possible for hundreds of candidates. 

That’s why you need a tool like EasySource that helps you extract the best candidates, bulk send semi-personalized messages, schedule automatic workflows to send emails and messages based on the stage of the candidate, engage with them consistently, monitor the team’s work on a dashboard and ensure you stand out as a recruiter. 

Craft an Irresistible Employer Brand: Make Candidates Fall in Love

Your employer brand is your superpower in talent acquisition. Revamp your strategy by investing in a strong, authentic employer brand that resonates with candidates. Showcase your company culture, values, and opportunities for growth. 

Craft compelling job descriptions that highlight the impact candidates can make. A strong employer brand will make candidates fall in love with your organisation.

Throughout the recruitment process, maintain transparency about the role, the company's values, and expectations. This fosters trust and ensures that the candidates you attract are genuinely aligned with your organization's goals.

Build Meaningful Relationships: It's All About Connections

Revamping your sourcing strategy means going beyond transactional interactions. Focus on building meaningful relationships with candidates. Personalize your communication, show genuine interest, and be transparent throughout the process. 

Even if a candidate isn't the right fit now, they may be perfect for a future opportunity or refer others. Foster connections that last beyond a single hire.

Networking events, industry conferences, or even virtual meetups provide excellent opportunities to connect with potential candidates on a personal level. Strike up conversations, listen attentively, and show genuine interest in their professional journey.

Continuous Improvement: Learn, Adapt, and Innovate

Revamping your sourcing strategy is not a one-time endeavour. Embrace a culture of continuous improvement. Stay up-to-date with industry trends, attend workshops and conferences, and connect with fellow sourcing professionals. 

Are you effectively measuring the success of your sourcing efforts? Look at metrics like the number of qualified candidates sourced, conversion rates, and time-to-hire. Identify any gaps or areas for improvement and set benchmarks for future assessments. 

Get an AI-powered, foolproof tool like Hire Quotient to get never-before-accurate candidate insights at every step of the recruitment process and ensure you sharpen your sourcing strategy.