What is talent sourcing?
Talent sourcing is a process through which companies find, hire, and retain the best people for their organization. Talent sourcing involves recruiting from a pool of candidates who may not otherwise have been considered for an open position. Typically, companies rely on internal HR professionals to conduct the screening and manage the hiring process.
Talent sourcing refers to the process of researching, identifying, developing, and successfully recruiting potential candidates so that they become qualified candidates for available jobs. The broader objective of talent sourcing, in its simplest form, is to transform non-qualified candidates into qualified candidates. There are a number of different approaches to talent sourcing. Some involve networking with current employers; others involve conducting surveys and asking candidates to complete profile questions. Recruiters also develop connections with key players in the job market (job boards and placement organizations) to identify talent that meets the company's hiring needs.
A number of recruiting firms specialize in talent sourcing. These firms build and maintain a comprehensive, high quality, and robust talent pipeline. These firms provide an integral part of the recruitment process by acting as a liaison between candidate sourcing firms and companies. In addition, these firms provide administrative services to help with the recruiting process.
Today's business environment is challenging. Organizations must respond to the marketplace and take advantage of new technologies and trends to remain competitive. One such technology and trend is the development of the candidate-led job market. This type of sourcing enables organizations to identify talent that matches their skill set and resources in the shortest time possible.
There are numerous advantages associated with candidate sourcing. Talent sourcing leverages a number of innovative solutions. These include the recruitment of top talent, which saves costs and requires minimal staffing. The sourcing solution also identifies qualified candidates, eliminates the need for on-site recruiting, reduces paperwork and expense, and saves time for recruiting and selection. However, it is important to note that candidate sourcing is only one part of the overall talent strategy.