Seeking out passive candidates should be a key component in your candidate sourcing strategy. Handling ad response from active candidates is one thing; but sourcing for those elusive passive candidates is something else entirely.
A passive candidate is someone who is currently employed but would still be open to considering other opportunities.
So why you would even seek out someone who is not looking for a new job?
In the 2015 LinkedIn Talent Trends Report, 75% of the 18,000 full-time employees surveyed considered themselves passive candidates. 85% of those said they would be willing to talk about a new career opportunity, however only 61% of companies today are actually focused on recruiting passive candidates. Does yours?
By definition, the passive candidate is going to be tougher to engage than an active candidate (somebody eagerly on the hunt for a new position). But the whole point of passive sourcing is to find candidates who don’t think they’re interested in leaving their jobs and convincing them to give your open role a chance.
Passive candidates are motivated by better compensation and benefits, greater opportunity for career advancement, and better work-life balance. Meanwhile a better job title or a different job location don’t necessarily push their hot buttons.
Would you like to know when the best time is to catch the attention of a passive candidate? What about the best way to actually attract them?
Our friends at Armstrong Appointments in South Africa have put together a fantastic infographic highlighting how and why tapping into the passive candidate market is often the best way to find someone who best matches the skill set you’re looking for, rather than waiting on the ideal candidate to come to you.
Author
Paul Slezak
With over two decades of experience in the recruitment and human capital industry, Paul Slezak has established himself as a transformative force in the realm of leadership and career coaching, group facilitation, and talent acquisition. His unique perspective, drawn from his early career as a leader in global recruitment firms and his entrepreneurial success with his own start-up, has enabled him to make a significant impact on leaders, teams, and organizations across the world. Paul's passion for helping others achieve success and high performance is evident in his commitment to transforming leaders and their teams at local, national, and international levels. He specializes in promoting the importance of human-centered intelligence, focusing on soft skills such as authenticity, transparency, and trust to complement business-centered acumen and drive better workplace outcomes. As an impartial facilitator, Paul brings his expertise to team offsites and strategy days, ensuring alignment on goals, values, and culture while keeping participants on task. His engaging and energetic presence, coupled with his unique "entertraining" and "edutaining" delivery style, enables him to connect with audiences both large and intimate, sharing personal and professional anecdotes that inspire and energize.
