What is HR sourcing
HR sourcing, often referred to as "human resources sourcing" or simply "sourcing," is a crucial function within the field of Human Resources (HR) that involves the process of identifying, attracting, and recruiting qualified candidates for job vacancies within an organization. It is an essential step in the overall recruitment and talent acquisition process.
Key elements and activities associated with HR sourcing include:
1. Candidate Identification
Sourcing professionals actively search for potential candidates who possess the skills, qualifications, and experience required for specific job positions. This can involve searching internal databases, external job boards, social media platforms, professional networks, and other sources.
2. Candidate Engagement
Once potential candidates are identified, sourcing specialists engage with them to gauge their interest in the organization and specific job openings. This may involve initial outreach, answering candidate questions, and providing information about the company and the role.
3. Building Talent Pools
Sourcing is not limited to immediate hiring needs. Sourcing teams often build and maintain talent pools or candidate databases of individuals who may be suitable for current or future job openings. These pools can include both active job seekers and passive candidates who are not actively looking for new opportunities.
4. Market Research
Sourcing professionals conduct research to understand labor market trends, salary benchmarks, and the availability of talent in specific industries and regions. This information helps organizations make informed decisions about sourcing strategies.
5. Networking
Building and maintaining relationships with potential candidates, industry professionals, and other sources of talent is a key aspect of sourcing. Networking helps sourcing specialists tap into referrals and recommendations.
6. Employer Branding
Effective sourcing involves promoting the organization's employer brand. A positive employer brand can attract top talent and make the organization an attractive place to work.
7. Utilizing Technology
Sourcing teams leverage technology, including applicant tracking systems (ATS), candidate relationship management (CRM) software, and sourcing tools, to streamline candidate identification and engagement processes.
8. Candidate Assessment
While sourcing primarily focuses on identifying candidates, it may also involve initial assessments to ensure that candidates meet basic qualifications and criteria. Which means candidate assessment will be done initially.
9. Collaboration with Recruiters
Sourcing and recruiting often work in tandem. Sourcing professionals identify and engage potential candidates, and once candidates are interested and qualified, recruiters take over the interviewing, assessment, and job offer stages.