How To Reach Passive Talent
In a quarterly research eBook with HCI, Jim Povec, CEO and founder of HiringQ, said the best way to approach passive talent is to discuss growth, improvement and additional responsibility. He said the value of working in an industry they’ve wanted to work in their whole life will amount to more than money.
By Povec’s definition, the needs of a passive candidate are partly intangible, making the job of recruiting them difficult. The recruiter has to discover what the passive candidates are specifically looking for and find a way to meet those needs. A keen HR professional will research what channels these candidates are using to seek out opportunities and then strategically build a presence on those channels.
Courting a passive candidate requires a lot of patience and a more refined long-term approach. This recruiting tactic can actually be compared to dating. Let the candidate know that you like them, and then give them a reason to like you back.
One proven way to do this is to showcase your industry expertise and become a resource of information. Start an industry-specific blog and find ways to get published in leading magazines both on and offline. This lends additional credibility to your brand and increases the likelihood of attracting top talent to your company.
Joey V. Price, CEO of JUMPSTART: HR told HCI, “Passive candidates have the ball in their court…they won’t make the leap unless you communicate a unique proposition that scratches an itch not being met by their current employer.”
Sourcing from the passive talent pool requires you to utilize a direct, highly targeted approach in your recruitment strategy. Not every job you send their way is going to meet those needs and it may take a long time before you present them with what they view as a golden ticket.
Find a way to present an opportunity with both monetary and intrinsic value to your desired candidate. Top talents know their value and in a job market that is increasingly shifting power to the employee, it takes an honest and compelling approach to bring them out of their current positions.