Most people think sourcing and recruiting are interchangeable terms but while they are related, they are actually different. One reason for the confusion could be the overlap in the job descriptions of both. In some cases, usually in smaller recruitment firms, both roles can be even filled by one person.

However, the two roles have distinct responsibilities which we’ll explore today in the blog. 

What do talent sourcers do?

Did you know that 90% of potential talent out there aren’t actively looking for a job? It’s either they’re already employed or there is currently nothing appealing enough for them to apply. However, that 90% are the ones you want because they’re not currently interviewing for any positions. Before they can fill any of the openings in your company though, they first need to be sought out and engaged with so they become interested in applying.

But do you have the time and resources to look for these passive candidates and convince them to work for you? We’re guessing no and that’s where sourcers come in! 

Here are some of the main tasks talent sourcers do: 

Finding candidates

Talent sourcers are adept at finding passive candidates, whether it’s through social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, etc.), email addresses on public information, or by searching for companies and their competitors. For specific skills, they browse niche communities and job boards to find the right candidates.

They also utilize Boolean strings to find resumes, about me pages, and even candidates who went to specific schools, all to identify the most qualified candidates.

Selling the company and position

Talent sourcers are also good at getting a potential candidate interested in the company and the role they will fill. This comes from an understanding of what motivates the candidate which helps craft a message that will sell the job.

Engaging potential candidates

Whether through email or phone call, it’s important to know how to engage a potential candidate so that you get a response or call back. Because sourcing candidates won’t matter if you can’t get them to engage.

Every candidate is different and the approach needs to be tailored to each one. Talent sourcers are great at creating attention-grabbing subject lines and writing compelling descriptions of the job without overloading the candidate with information. And for the times they are unsuccessful, they tweak and improve their approach so they have a better chance on the next candidate engagement.

Networking

Talent sourcers know building a strong professional network is key to finding qualified candidates. They can network with referrals, candidate references, or colleagues in other industries to boost their talent acquisition outcomes. 

What does a recruitment specialist do?

Once a candidate becomes interested in applying, the sourcer then hands them off to the recruiter, who then takes care of the relationship with the talent moving forward. They are then in charge of screening and interviewing, among other things.

Here are some main recruitment specialist tasks:

Screening sourced candidates

Now that the sourcer has built a talent pool, recruiters screen their applications to find the ones most suited for the job. They then present these screened candidates to the hiring manager of the company and guide them both through the hiring process.

Scheduling interviews

Recruiters are also in charge of scheduling the interviews of the candidates. They coordinate with them and the hiring managers to find a common time for all. They also craft interview questions that can give them a lot of information about the candidate and whether or not they are qualified for the role. They also have questions about the candidate’s personality to know if they are a good fit for the company’s culture.

Negotiating salary and benefits

Recruiters make sure that the candidate is happy with the salary offer since they know that this means a higher possibility of the candidate staying with the company for longer. They are also knowledgeable about the company’s budget and the current going rate for the position so they can negotiate properly with the candidate.

Find sourcing and recruiting experts

As you can see by the different responsibilities listed, sourcers and recruiters play integral parts in getting your company or business the talent it needs to grow. When you try and do it yourself, you can waste a lot of your already limited time and resources. Not to mention the likeliness of hiring the wrong candidate can also cost you more in the long run.

The good news is finding one doesn’t have to be complicated! As recruitment specialists ourselves, Remote Workmate can help you find the talent sourcers and recruiters with the best skills and most experience. All you need to do is the final interview!

Talk to us about your needs by setting up an obligation-free consultation with us today!