Depending on who you ask, companies are either favorable or unfavorable to passive candidates. But what are they, and how do you hire them? Learn more about passive candidates, and how your company can get onboard with this talent pool.
What Are Passive Candidates?
It’s actually pretty simple; a passive candidate is a job candidate not active in their search for employment. The difference is they are being considered for the role. Confusing? Not really. These are the people who companies are looking for, even if they aren’t actively looking for the job.
What Are the Differences?
A non-passive candidate is one who is looking for an opportunity. You’ll find them looking online at social media job posts, perusing message boards, putting in applications, and so on. A passive candidate may be found on social media platforms, but they use that to network within their job sector. Nothing they do is related to finding a new job. Instead, they are looking to hone their skills, create new contacts, and as mentioned, network with others.
One issue that may come up when contacting a passive candidate is that the response may be less-than-favorable. Getting notified by a recruiter may not be what they’re looking for. This is why it is crucial to hold their attention by building a rapport.
How Do You Approach a Passive Candidate?
If you see someone you’d really like to bring onboard or learn more about, there are a few ways to get started.
First of all, don’t expect that they’ll be open to a phone call right from the start. The best course of action is to drop them a message or email. Explain that you wish to have a short conversation with them, and include links to your company. If they do not respond, it is important to respect their decision. Yet, if they do – give them a call.
You might start out with something like this:
Hi. I’m Bob from Company X. I appreciate you responding to my message. I believe this opportunity will greatly expand your career, and if you can give me just a few minutes, I’d love to discuss it.
It’s that simple, and it’s a start with someone who has expressed interest.
How Do You Find Them?
Finding a passive candidate is not as difficult as it may sound. There are a few places to look.
Employee Referrals
An excellent source is through your own talent pool. These employees already have a grasp of what you’re looking for. So, if someone suggests a potential hire, it’s a good idea to follow up.
Social Media
Start with the places you are most active in. This is because you can spend countless hours on a variety of platforms, and still be lost. And use hashtags. They allow you to look for keywords that a potential hire may have used. For example, if you’re in the business of architecture, then #architect is a good hashtag to use.
Other places to look include online resume platforms, and in-person.
About Synergy
Synergy Solutions is an executive and search firm focused on roles within the technology sector. If you have questions regarding this article or would like to discuss strategy on open roles at your company, please contact us and someone will get back to you within the next 24 hours.