Why the Best Candidates Aren’t Always Looking for a Job
When you start a hiring process, you're probably thinking "post the job, promote the job, wait for applicants, and pick the best of who shows up." That’s a great start, but it could mean you are leaving your best candidate out of your search. Using a consultative hiring partner can help you expand the search to passive candidates you might otherwise miss.
What is a "passive candidate"?
Passive candidates tend to be more experienced and highly skilled, simply because the people doing great work aren't the ones actively applying elsewhere. In a highly competitive job market, this can mean less competition because they aren't fielding offers from every other employer running the same job ad. Since they aren’t looking to make a move, they are more selective, which means when they do select you, there is a higher likelihood they stick around. This makes them a win for retention and not just a seat fill.
Why should you hire them?
Passive candidates tend to be more experienced and highly skilled, simply because the people doing great work aren't the ones actively applying elsewhere. In a highly competitive job market, this can mean less competition because they aren't fielding offers from every other employer running the same job ad. Since they aren’t looking to make a move, they are more selective, which means when they do select you, there is a higher likelihood they stick around. This makes them a win for retention and not just a seat fill.
Grabbing a passive candidate's attention
Since a passive candidate isn’t looking, the best way to connect with them is by building a relationship. You can do this through networking or through a talent partner. Talent partners have the advantage of having worked with different types of candidates, and by staying connected, they can know when someone is ready to make a move. Timing can play an important role here too — the right conversation at the right moment could lead to something neither side expected. That's why a talent partner spends time understanding what a candidate is looking for, and what's quietly frustrating them in their current role, long before there's an opening to talk about. Once those pain points are identified, a talent partner can keep their eyes and ears open for roles that not only can solve those challenges for the candidate but also pair the employer with top talent.
Building relationships in the Greater Rochester area for the last 40 years and backed by the Greater Rochester Chamber's network of over 1,300 members, Beyond TalentEdge is well-positioned to help you reach the passive candidates you'd otherwise miss — including someone we may already know.