Looking to Hire Passive Candidates? Follow these 3 Simple Steps

Ask any recruiters and most of them would be of the same opinion – passive candidates make some of the best possible hires. This is a major reason why every company usually has a passive candidate sourcing strategy.

Job seekers may be completely dedicated and happy in their current role, but most would at least listen if a better opportunity came along.

According to a LinkedIn survey of 18,000 full-time employees across 26 countries and a variety of industries, most passive candidates are interested in better work/life balance, opportunity for advancement and of course the biggest factor: More money. According to the survey 85 percent of respondents would be willing to talk with a recruiter, with the other 15 percent saying they were completely satisfied and wouldn’t change jobs.

The underlining meaning – the passive candidate will definitely become active when the right opportunity comes along. So, how do employers go about sourcing passive candidates?

Well, the first step towards doing the same happens to, think and act like a passive candidate. And then of course implementing proper passive candidate sourcing strategies. Some of the best known passive candidate sourcing strategies are explained in the subsequent paragraphs:

#1. Mine your applicant tracking system (ATS)

Your existing applicant tracking system (ATS) is a storehouse of database. It goes without saying that a company’s ATS is one of the best places for passive candidate sourcing. Studies have proven that, though passive candidates are not really looking for an immediate job change, they are always open to discussions and willing to know about new opportunities.

#2. Start blogging

Well, the act of regular blogging on your website can actually be a great passive candidate sourcing idea. Start writing blogs on a regular basis and make sure that you use the social media judiciously promote it. This is said because, people tend to engage considerably over good content and such an act can help in attracting passive talent to a considerable extent. Understand that a blog represents your authority over your particular field.

#3. Treat you present employees well and they will spread the word

A lot of passive candidate sourcing depends on how you treat your present employees as. Employee referral also acts as a good passive candidate sourcing strategy. Organizations must realize that if their present employees are genuinely happy at the workplace, they will definitely go about spreading the word to others. This way, the organization will get to know about a lot more new passive candidates, who are probably open towards discussions about new job opportunities.

Passive candidates may be the greatest assets available to your organization. That’s because they represent a subsection of the potential employee population that you do not find from active candidates (those that may be unemployed or unhappily employed and are actively looking for a job).