Active Sourcing: Definition, Methods and Tips

Active Sourcing: Definition, Methods and Tips

How proactive recruitment works

The search for qualified specialists and managers should be quick, targeted and cost-effective for companies. However, due to the prevailing shortage of skilled labour and the so-called "war for talent", recruiting personnel is often more difficult than hoped. The trend towards active sourcing provides a remedy. 

"Active sourcing" is the magic word in modern recruiting; an effective method with which you can find the specialists you are looking for and win them over in the long term. 

If you are eagerly awaiting applications from suitable candidates and your recruitment process is dragging on, simply turn the tables: With active sourcing, you can stop waiting and become active yourself.  

Active Sourcing:
Definition

Active sourcing means that companies themselves actively search for qualified candidates and approach them directly.  

Companies search for future employees on social networks, job boards or with the help of recruitment agency databases. They make direct contact through personal messages or phone calls. They also contact people who are not actively looking for a job at the moment, but who might be willing to change jobs. A company's recruiters therefore take on the role of a headhunter, identify suitable talent and approach them in a targeted manner. 

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Successful active sourcing with Hays 

We ensure a high level of quality in talent acquisition through active sourcing and increase the efficiency of your recruitment process.
We take over the active search and direct approach of your future talents so that you can quickly meet exactly the people you need.

How does active sourcing work?

With active sourcing, companies actively search for suitable candidates for their company, either independently or with the help of a recruitment agency, and approach them in a targeted manner. 

They search applicant databases, social networks and job boards for future potential employees. The teams of competitors are also scrutinised in order to discover potential talent. 

The companies analyse the qualifications of the individuals and try to find out as much as possible about their profile. In the next step, they approach the candidates they have found in a targeted manner - this can happen via various channels. 

The application process is then continued through personal contact, allowing companies and talents to get to know each other better. 

The most important steps in an active sourcing process are: 
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Determining the requirements for sought-after candidates 
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Identification of suitable channels 
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Research for suitable talent in various channels 
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Personal contact e.g. by e-mail, chat function or telephone 
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Getting to know the person & examination of all documents
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Mutual decision on future cooperation
  • Wir gliedern das Rekrutierungsmanagement sorgfältig nach Fachbereichen
  • Unsere Recruiting-Experten und -Expertinnen sind stets auf dem aktuellen Wissensstand Ihres Fachbereiches
  • Unsere Beurteilung der Qualifikationen und Eignung erfolgt nach objektiven und bewährten Kriterien
  • Wir übernehmen die erste Kontaktaufnahme und prüfen die Hard und Soft Skills der Kandidatinnen und Kandidaten

Active sourcing methods: How it works 

Social Networks

Social networks such as LinkedIn or Xing make it easy to find specialists in your own industry. Thanks to extensive search and filter options, you can find suitable candidates and contact them via direct message. Thanks to this simple and fast option, social media has become one of the most important channels for active sourcing. 

(Online) talent pools

Recruiters such as Hays store all their contact data in talent pools. This allows them to filter for future vacancies according to certain characteristics and find the right talent for a vacancy.  

Our Hays talent pool contains around 500,000 specialists and managers who could be a good fit for you

Trade fairs and events

At trade fairs, you can target people from certain specialisms, expand your talent pool and get to know suitable people directly. Here you can hold discussions in a relaxed atmosphere, promote your company and make valuable contacts at the same time. 

University recruiting

Universities and academic events are also a good way to get in direct contact with potential applicants who are still at the beginning of their career. 

Depending on which active sourcing channel you use, there are subtle differences that you should bear in mind when communicating with your ideal candidates.  

In the first contact, refer to the profile of your contact person, briefly introduce the vacancy if necessary and write in a tone that suits your company and the respective channel. 

The active sourcing process with Hays

Active sourcing requires a great deal of resources, time and frustration tolerance. You will most likely be looking at numerous profiles in your database and social networks. This work is time-consuming and cannot be done "on the side". By outsourcing active sourcing to Hays, you will save your HR department a significant amount of time and avoid fluctuation due to frustration. 

As soon as we have discussed your vacancy and know your requirements for candidates, we analyse the applicant market and develop an individual recruitment strategy. Firstly, we search our extensive pool of experts for suitable candidates. We also consider those who are not actively looking for a job.

We use the following recruitment channels for active sourcing: 
  • Own candidate pool with over 500,000 quality-assured profiles
  • Active contact in networks and career portals such as Xing, LinkedIn, Monster or Stepstone 
  • Trade and recruitment fairs (with own trade fair presence) 
  • University recruitment 
  • Print and online media as well as active internet research 

We contact people who come into question and check them both professionally and personally. As soon as we have found a convincing candidate, we will send you the relevant application documents. 

Then it's your turn: you get to know the talents we recommend in interviews and then make your decision. 

Your advantages through active sourcing with Hays

Through a focussed search, we guarantee you faster results, a reduction in your recruiting workload and thus a significant reduction in costs and the conservation of resources in personnel, administration and management. 

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Time Saving
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Cost Reduction
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High Quality
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Efficiency
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Resource and Process relief
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Flexibility

Active sourcing as the basis for all our services

If you want to find the best talent, you have to actively approach them. That's why we apply our tried-and-tested active sourcing method to all our recruitment services. Whether in direct placement, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) or when temporary employees are given a permanent contract and retained for the long term (temp-to-perm): We find the right specialists and managers for you. 

Active sourcing is not enough? 
Then benefit as a strategic key account from Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)

Do you want to hire a large number of employees or outsource your entire recruitment process? Then Recruitment Process Outsourcing is just right for your company. 

At RPO, we don't just want to fill a single vacancy for you. We are an integral part of your holistic recruitment strategy. This enables us to increase the speed, accuracy of fit and candidate retention in your favour.  

In addition to active sourcing, our customised recruitment includes all measures to search for, identify, proactively approach and hire suitable talent. This service is complemented by our high level of expertise with regard to current compliance guidelines, our excellent communication skills and professional candidate management. 

We bundle your search assignments and fill your vacancies quickly, easily and reliably with top talent. 

Your advantages with Recruitment Process Outsourcing:

 

  • Time savings, cost efficiency and planning security through customised recruiting with 100% transparency. 
  • One central contact person for your entire recruiting process. 
  • An exclusive team that understands your requirements and works with you to optimise processes. 
  • The most efficient recruiting solutions for finding qualified candidates. 
  • An analysis of the current candidate market and an assessment of your employer brand. 

Our Services:

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Filling vacancies reliably

Do you have several vacancies in your company? We can also search for you on a grand scale!

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Executive
recruitment

We understand which people fit your company and find your future qualified managers.

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The right experts for every project

Are you looking for specialist project support in a wide range of industries? Engage self-employed per service contract!