The Importance of Hunting When Sourcing Candidates

 Successfully sourcing candidates takes skill and strategy – it goes beyond simply posting a job on several different job boards. Infusing hunting tactics into sourcing can launch the search for candidates in any field of work. Much like hunters study and follow their prey, recruiters need to research and keep track of candidates to ensure they don’t lose sight of top prospects and follow only the best leads.

Aiding in this pursuit is the rise of social media networks. These outlets provide something for everyone – people with all kinds of interests now use social media outlets which cater to their hobbies and likes, so recruiters can now access more resources to find under-the-radar candidates. The downside, though, is the time it takes for recruiters to thoroughly review each candidate’s presence on various social media outlets – a concept all too familiar to hunters who go out in search of a particular prize.

This presents a daunting and overwhelming task for any person or team of people to take on, so posting job openings on job boards and vetting candidates that respond appears to present a better, easier option. Though it might seem like this passive approach provides the best alternative, consider some reasons to take a proactive approach to sourcing and become a hunter.

They’re Not Looking

The top candidate that could be a perfect match for a job opening might be content where they are now.  That’s not to say they would turn away a better opportunity, but most candidates who feel content at their current job probably do not take the time to scout job boards and respond to posts. Hunting for candidates allows recruiters to identify those inactive job seekers who may have the exact skillset needed for a job.

Use Your Tools

HR technology has experienced an explosion of changes over the past few years, and there’s more to come! It’s an exciting time to work in human resources, especially in the recruiting industry. Considering the options, take a look at the number of tools available to provide everything needed to transform into a hunter. The tricky part comes in deciding which to use and how. Narrow the selection of tools by analyzing which type of HR technology benefits your company most. An example includes a talent search engine, which crawls the web to compile composite resumes. These search engines provide candidates’ skills and expertise, contact information, and even their favorite activities outside of work. Utilizing these tools allows for research on prey without exhausting manual searches.

Be Social and Engaging

It’s no secret that the world continues to evolve into a social-focused atmosphere, and social media allows each person to find a network of people to connect with, even with others who reside thousands of miles away. Candidates with whom recruiters engage with on a personal level will be more receptive to what recruiters have to offer them.  Keeping an open dialogue with candidates allows a pathway to present them with opportunities when they feel ready to move on or even bring to their attention a job that may offer them greater satisfaction.

Recruiting takes time; making the most of that time is what counts. Actively recruiting and hunting for candidates allows for better recruiting efforts. To transform into a hunter while sourcing for candidates, be sure to research candidates, engage with them, and employ tools to help you navigate and source for perfect candidates. Taking the steps to hunt in recruiting efforts can help to find and secure the best candidates—like a hunter securing the best prize.