Today I want to post about “talking” as a sourcing tool. Recruiters often tell me that they have searched every paid resume board, all the freebies, LinkedIn, the ATS, etc. and they just can’t find anyone that fits the spec. That is when I typically recommend that they try a low tech tool – the telephone! If you have checked every site in your arsenal and can’t find anyone – maybe there is a true shortage or maybe there is something wrong with the way you are searching or the pitch you are using. But you won’t know for sure until you start talking to the people that would really know – the people that work alongside the people you are trying to recruit. Or, the people that work for the people you are trying to recruit – or maybe even people who used to do what you need your candidate to do. In other words, stop looking for the perfect resume and start talking to those “Compromise Candidates” that I mentioned in the last post.
Now – don’t expect gainfully employed, busy people that you have never spoken with to drop everything and call you back, that is not what I am recommending. Rather, call the people that you have spoken to in the past, people you used to work with, candidates you have placed or people that already work for your company.
Be upfront and honest, tell them that you are not calling to recruit them, and tell them that you need their help. Explain the challenges that you are facing – whether it is finding the right combination of skills or getting people to call you back. Ask them what they think of the position as you describe it and tell them what you are saying in your pitch. You will get immediate feedback on what is important to your target candidates, where they network, how they like to be contacted, why they are in high demand and you will probably even get some referrals!
So, next time you are frustrated with the results you are getting and find yourself searching for the latest and greatest Internet sourcing tool, try picking up the phone and see what you get. And, if you have success with this approach, please comment here so we can all learn from each other!
December 10, 2008 at 10:00 pm
As usual, you hit the nail on the head! I recently had the chance to recruit on a Corporate Goverance legal position… but having zero experience in the field I didn’t know where to begin. One call to our corporate lawyer and I was pointed to the main association website and had a complete list of companies in our area that specialized in Corp. Gov. We were able to submit 5 candidates within a week– all from getting on the phone and admmitting we needed help!!!