I’ve been sourcing in some capacity for two decades and I have seen many tools and trends come and go. (Anybody remember Friendster? ICQ? Usenet?) However, there are some tactics that have remained constant. No matter the next cool tool or shiny new chrome extension, Sourcers who develop these habits of sourcing methodologies in recruitment will always be successful.
BE CURIOUS
When I started, I had no idea what I was doing and had no formal training. So, I researched and experimented and researched and experimented and researched and experimented. Now there is a lot of training available online. Take advantage of it and never allow yourself to get too comfortable with your knowledge. The moment you think you know it all is the moment you fall behind because it is always changing.
USE DATA
Which companies do your hiring managers tend to recruit from? If you know that they typically hire people from company A, B or C, save yourself some time and headache and give them candidates based on their historical hiring data.
LEVERAGE IMAGINATION
Always be willing to experiment and leverage tools that may not be designed for recruiting. For example, Hootsuite used the free livestreaming app Periscope (now X.com) to give virtual office tours to passive candidates.
BE AN EXPERT
Job Seekers are more sophisticated than recruiters think. Just as you can check them out, they can do the same research on you. Take the time to brand yourself as an expert recruiter by sharing your recruiting / sourcing stats on your LinkedIn profile, getting new hires to recommend you on LinkedIn and / or contributing to industry white papers, webinars and podcasts that can be cited on your LinkedIn profile.
BE AN ENTHUSIAST
If you are recruiting scientists who are experts in nanotechnology, then you should be sharing content on nanotechnology on your social media profiles and joining in online conversations and/or blogging about nanotechnology as best you can. This will set you apart from other recruiters who do not have the time to do so and thereby, you will attract more passive candidates your way.
BE AUTHENTIC
It is one thing to say my company is a great place to work and its quite another to say that and prove it by sharing pictures of yourself working alongside your co-workers or joining in a charitable initiative sponsored by your employer. Give jobseekers something to find that validates your claim of how great it is to work there.
KNOW YOUR COMPETITION
Learn all you can about the companies you are competing with so you can make more persuasive arguments when engaging candidates currently working for your competition. For example, if you learn that people hate the blue carpeting at one rival company, be sure to mention how much you and your co-workers admire the red carpeting at your office. Make sense?
NETWORK RELENTLESSLY
Building a robust professional network can significantly enhance your sourcing capabilities. Attend industry events (SourceCon for example), join relevant online forums, and build up your LinkedIn network. A strong network can provide valuable referrals and insights that you might not find elsewhere.
PRIORITIZE CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE
Provide timely updates, constructive feedback, and a positive interaction when screening for qualified, interested and available candidates. A good candidate experience can lead to strong referrals and a positive reputation in the industry. Always, always, always, treat your candidates with the utmost respect and professionalism.
CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE
The recruitment industry is always evolving, and so should you. Regularly seek feedback from hiring managers, peers, and even candidates. Use this feedback to refine your strategies, improve your communication, and enhance your overall effectiveness as a sourcer.
While these effective sourcing strategies in recruitment are intended to make good Sourcers better, even great, these habits should also be explored when hiring Sourcers. In those instances, ask open-ended questions that encourage Sourcers to prove how these 10 habits play in their everyday work life. If they cannot, maybe you have an opportunity to recruit the better Sourcers who can.