Sep 3, 2013 | Blog

The Myth of Passive Candidates

Acquire the Right Talent
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In June of 2013, LinkedIn announced that they have more than 225 million members in over 200 countries.  It is hard to find a professional now who does not have a LinkedIn account and roughly 40% of LinkedIn users log on at least once a day.  LinkedIn exists as a social network to connect the workforce, share content, endorse coworkers and find jobs.

 
Many active job seekers use social networks like LinkedIn to find jobs on a personal level, and one can see many talent acquisition professionals using these same networks and tools, to source “passive” candidates on a professional level.   A passive candidate is a qualified individual who may not be actively seeking new employment opportunities but would be interested for the right job.  It stands to reason though, that if one asked any coworker if they would be willing to do the same job for more money, better benefits or improved work/life balance, the answer would be yes.  The reality is almost everyone is open to the idea of a new job; they are just open to or engaged to that idea at various degrees.  

 

The role of the talent acquisition professional then is to judge and evaluate where these “passive” candidates fall in that spectrum and figure how to best engage them.  Savvy recruiters will know how to match the culture and brand of the company to the background and personal brand of individual candidates.  

 

What is important to the candidate?

  • Does the candidate want to be working with cutting edge technology? 
  • How important are green initiatives to the candidate the firm is talking to? 
  • Does the firm have a history of great mentoring and career stewardship to offer interested candidates?

 

Candidates view themselves as highly individualized.   No one wants to see his life as a replaceable cog in a machine.  Recognize the candidates who have taken the time to develop their personal brands, showcasing how their work is important to their life.   Whether they have been actively seeking jobs or just keeping their eyes open for the next opportunity, understanding what motivates a candidate will ensure a stronger connection.  

 

Join HCI September 17, 2013, at 1pm ET for the webcast, Connect with Passive Candidates and hear Nicole Guiet, global talent acquisition director at CH2M HILL, share her experience developing the CH2M HILL brand in a multi-national environment and the role talent communities can play in delivering first rate results.