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Industry Insights | 3 minute read

All Sourcing is Strategic

March 8, 2012

As the famous proverb says, "What's the use of running if you are not on the right road”…seems to ring true now more than ever in the recruiting world. With an influx of new technologies and gadgets for recruiters to utilize, it is easy to get distracted by shiny things and to just run in any direction without stopping to think what the best implementation strategy may be. The foundation of all great recruiting is simple; be an exceptional sourcer…and even more so, have a truly strategic execution that separates you from everyone else running the race.

In developing a flawless sourcing approach, it is so important to fully understand the specifications of each position. It’s not enough to be given a job description and told “go find it.” A strategic sourcer creates strong relationships, conducts thorough intake calls and market research, brainstorms, is hungry for knowledge, asks thoughtful questions, and absorbs the information fully. And while at first it seems time consuming for all parties involved, this time spent truly understanding the requirements, skills, company culture and employment climate enables identifying quality candidates to be a much quicker and streamlined process…a huge pay off at the end of the day.

In recruiting, almost everyone can be trained to look on job boards for candidates. The best will go well beyond those resources. Skilled sourcers will get in the candidate mind frame and ask themselves…. “If I was this person, what organizations or associations would I belong to? What certifications would I have? What social groups would I be a part of? Who would be in my professional network? What companies would I work for?” Thinking from this point of view is what opens avenues that lead to identifying amazing talent along the road less traveled and utilizes resourcefulness vs. expensive tools.

At the end of the day, even the best sourcing must still be done effectively and efficiently. Picking up the phone and calling passive candidates is easy…what’s not easy is walking away from a cold-call with a fully engaged candidate or at least the name of a referral from their network. So, even when using “alternative” sourcing methods, not everyone will knock it out of the park. The most talented are able to quickly grasp the process of cold-calling, social media, blogosphere, x-raying, etc. But they must also know when it’s time to move on, stop spinning their wheels and try something new.

Ultimately, most people involved won’t ask how you got from point A to point B, because the end result is much more coveted than understanding the effort to get there. To be at the top in this industry, results are everything and a solid, strategic sourcing foundation will always trump a little bit of flash.

About WilsonHCG

WilsonHCG is an award-winning, global leader in total talent solutions. Operating as a strategic partner, it helps some of the world’s most admired brands build comprehensive talent functions. With a global presence spanning more than 65 countries and six continents, WilsonHCG provides a full suite of configurable talent services including recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), executive search, contingent talent solutions and talent consulting. TALENT.™ It’s more than a solution, it’s who we are.